Founded by Ed Kouri, Bemars Inc. began building a broad range of front loaders in Montebello, California, just 25 miles southeast of the Bowles factory. Bemars offered buyers a choice of front loaders with full, partial or top-pack bodies. The photo above is reputed to be the first Bemars ever built, a 1962 half-pack front loader delivered to Obradovich Disposal in El Segundo.
Regular CRT contributor Scott Blake identifies the truck above left as a half-pack model. The unusual bracing/construction of the hopper side walls indicates this was probably a "wide hopper" version, to accommodate lift arms that were fitted with side-forks.
The truck at right is an an early Bemars top-pack with horizontal cylinders mounted in the cab shield.
The firm enjoyed a reputation for high quality construction, and the Bemars half-pack front loader, as typified by the above example, was extremely popular in California and several other western states. Twin, single-stage pack cylinders were angle mounted at the front. This style was built right through the 1970's, and many examples remain in service to this day.
Above: Vintage video of a 1964 Bemars front loader owned by Haul-Away Rubbish of Montebello, California
Special thanks to John Belikoff, Sr. and Zachary Geroux
