Load-a-Matic In the 1950's, Lodal Inc., of Norway, Michigan, first marketed a component shovel loader attachment suitable for mounting on a standard dump truck and suitable for loading all manner of loose material such as snow, dirt, leaves and the like. In late 1957, John R. Brisson of Norway, Michigan, applied for a U.S. patent for what would be known as the Load-a-Matic front loader, this patent then being assigned to Lodal Inc. The Load-a-Matic was true modern front loader body with hydraulic lifting of detachable containers and full stroke compaction; a direct competitor with Dempster's Dumpmaster system. However, Brisson had come up with an ingenious method of coupling the loader frame to the container that is not only simple and effective, but also quite versatile in its ability to connect at variable approach angles. The Dempster type system of coupling containers is very much like a forklift truck, with two long forks sliding into horizontally disposed slots on either side of the container. With the Lodal system, a single triangle, pivotable slightly on the loader frame, engages a corresponding V-opening on the container. Thus, only the apex of the triangle needs to catch in the container, and then the triangle is tilted and/or the frame hoisted to move the container into alignment and drop into positive engagement. Once the container is inverted during the dumping action, arrester hooks welded below the V-opening are automatically locked via linkage into the loader frame, preventing the container from sliding off the triangle and into the body. As did rivals Dempster and Cobey, Lodal marketed a "container train" system for household collection, which was in vogue around mid decade. These systems utilized a small truck to tow trains of wheeled containers along the collection route, which were emptied by "mother truck" front loaders at a central collection point. Such systems were designed to keep crews productive and save fuel where long runs to the disposal point were necessary. As can be seen from the photo at left, the Lodal containers have another advantage: they may be stacked sky-high since no fork slots protrude from the sides.These 1-6 yard containers resemble a stack of modern plastic recycling bins! Despite the success of the Load-a-Matic, the company was not to stand back and rest on its laurels. For 1968, a revolution, or rather an evolution in refuse truck design would be forthcoming. Next: The EVO CLICK HERE TO SEE VINTAGE VIDEO OF A 1961 LOAD-A-MATIC IN ACTION 11/21/04 © 2004 Eric Voytko All rights reserved Photos from factory brochures/advertisements except as noted Logos shown are the trademarks of respective manufacturers