brian wrote:Dunno about chickens and eggs, but I do know about the IH/Hough Model 12 Payloader, in production from 1956-1962. Not hystat, but the engine was in the right place. Caterpillar bought one from IH.
This Manitou is a new beast to me. Anyone know any more?
Matbro invented and patented the pivot steer system or wheel loaders and collected royalties from IH and Cat to name but two but are now virtually forgotten. The Matthews brothers owned many patents and are said to have made far more from licencing their use by others than from selling the complete machines that they manufactured. I'm sure that someone will correct me if I'm wrong but I believe that their back-hoe loader the Matbro Mantis preceded the similar machines from both Whitlock and JCB.