1913 Galion road grader

[Larry]

Just unbelievable - Congratulations !

[simplyloco]

I can see that you've made the grade!
John

[tghs]

just have to love all that brass!!!!

[kvom]

I'd love to see another video with you turning the various cranks to show what they do.  Or Crueby can lend you an elf to operate it.   

[simplyloco]

Bring it over the pond: we have a National 'Elf Service!

[gbritnell]

Gentlemen,
Here's the second video of the machine. Several people had asked if I would do a video showing the operation of the different functions of the machine. I did the best I could at filming it.
gbritnell
<a href="https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PDwxCcs-yOo" target="_blank">http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PDwxCcs-yOo</a>

[crueby]

Splendid demonstration George, thank you for sharing it with us!

[ogaryd]

Amazing workmanship, thank you for sharing the construction and operation of this wonderful model.

[tghs]

amazing work,, fighting the scale vs function also.. around 50 years back I watched a grader of this type reworking a dirt and gravel road.. the operator was very very busy.. a tractor was the pulling force,, hard to imagine someone working the grader and minding a team of draft horses at the same time..

[MJM460]

Beautiful work George.  I have been watching over your shoulder from the start and it is very special to see it all in action.  It illustrates just what complexity is involved in making the good roads we tend to take for granted.

I used to build roads in the sand pit with a Tonka Bulldozer, but a fully functioning grader like you have built would have a major upgrade.  I wonder if Tonka will take up the challenge to add a few working parts to their model graders?

Thanks for taking us all along With you on this amazing build, and for the video showing us all the different functions in action.

MJM460

[mikemill]

George

Anyone who understands engineering will know this working model is a work of art, created by a master craftsman. Not only does the model function as the original but the finish is superb. The video demonstrating the various functions is the icing on the cake.
George completing the model you must feel a great deal of satisfaction, I think it will be a long time before you surpass this project, but if past is anything to go by you are already planning to leave us all in total awe.


Mike
 

[Johnmcc69]

 
 Absolutely amazing! & such smooth operation!
 I couldn't imagine the effort required in operating the full size machine.
 "When men were men"...

 WOW

 John

[Admiral_dk]

Thank you for a fantastic demonstration video George 

I for instance never imagined the right reason for why the wheels could tilt, until you mentioned the obvious lack of friction between the surface and the wheels 

It also shows how much progress has been made since (Chris big steam shovel, similar thing). I have only operated a few different modern ones - and though they have "Joysticks" with many buttons etc. - they are kind of simple - like if you change the angle of the "arm" -> the shovel will still stay at the same angle as before. I know a lot of this is down to smart linkages on the booms, shovels, etc. - but it's also smart linkages on the controls - both hydraulic and electronically.
Back in the day you really needed to know how to operate the equipment to use it. Don't get me wrong I'm aware of the difference between an amatur at the controls and the skilled operator - but the amatur can still do useful work with modern machines, as long as it doesn't have to be delicate or extremely accurate.

[scc]

George,  THANK YOU for making the video. I do not have the vocabulary to add to the previous comments. You are truly a master craftsman.             Regards       Terry

[gbritnell]

Thank you one and all for the very gracious comments. I'm truly honored by the replies. I'm glad to be able to share my work with my peers.
gbritnell