Now this is rare

[essex pete]

Posted from CMN, perhaps the skid is not original to machine?

[Dandy Dave]

It must be rare because I've never seen one. I'm not really even sure what it is? Looks like a piece of road building equipment for laying concrete or used in a stone quarry??? I hope it gets saved as it is unique. Dandy Dave!

[essex pete]

I will let others have guess first about what it is although the make is unknown as yet.

[Nick]

I reckon its something to do with railway building? Although im probably wrong

[essex pete]

It would seem that it is an early backhoe/excavator. The boom/dipper being rope operated. The operator sits to one side and the machin jacks up on the big plate underneathe for slewing, that appear to be hydraulic action. The consensus on CMN was that it might not be the original skid.

[Nick]

Well it sure looks impressive, are you going to restore it pete?

[Dandy Dave]

It would seem that it is an early backhoe/excavator. The boom/dipper being rope operated. The operator sits to one side and the machin jacks up on the big plate underneathe for slewing, that appear to be hydraulic action. The consensus on CMN was that it might not be the original skid.

You could be right. I did not think so at first because I did not see a way for it to swing. I could be that it swings on the round stand underneath and the whole machine turns after the wheels are lifted like you said. It is hard to tell. More pictures from different angles would be better. At first I thought the boom was a conveyor with a belt. Maybe just the way the light is reflected in the photo. Construction equipment was often repowered as the early engines wore out. I've never seen one like it. Dandy Dave!