That is what I learned to operate on back in 1955!, those little Bantams were quick and you had to have your stuff together to keep up with them!
@TKevinBlanc3 жыл бұрын
Probably a physical workout, too. Running it, I mean.
@georgej70775 жыл бұрын
It's crazy how quick those old cable machines cycled. Early hydraulic machines wouldn't catch up for years. It's nice to see someone with skill putting the old girl through her paces.
@gregj79165 жыл бұрын
yep it's pretty nifty but red always makes things go a bit quicker..
@knotbumper5 жыл бұрын
And when things broke, just reeve a new line. No going down to the hydraulic store to find they don't have the correct ends in stock.
@farmingforfunandprofit9405 жыл бұрын
@@knotbumper There were exceptions..... read my comment
@Flyanb5 жыл бұрын
George J I can’t believe how fast it goes and the operator is very clearly skilled.
@georgej70775 жыл бұрын
Flyanb Agreed! It's always nice to see a skilled operator making the most of their equipment. Chris is no slouch on the new stuff either, one of the best I've seen. Cheers
@brianfonsen18783 жыл бұрын
Back in the day u had to b a real operator major hand eye coordination. Now adays any Tard head can hop in a machine and get sumthing done. I learned on 580s with case controls. Now its all buttons and joy sticks. This guy has obviously dug a few holes with the old Bantam. Didn't even splatter mud on machine. Cool vid. Makes u appreciate modern technology.
@trolling4dollars8165 жыл бұрын
A skilled operator makes it look easy. Kudos for keeping the old school Bantam in action.
@shammi81335 жыл бұрын
Just think how grateful those men where to receive that machine so they didnt have to shovel for hours and days on end
@marcryvon5 жыл бұрын
In what era this Bantam was built ?? The thirties ?
@jimrhoads98105 жыл бұрын
@@marcryvon no that bantam is late 50s.......
@bigteddy663 жыл бұрын
@@jimrhoads9810 wow 50s and still running petrol engines.
@Titan6043 жыл бұрын
@@bigteddy66 Due to low Gas prices petrol engines remained popular on machinery into the 70's in the USA, certainly long after everyone else was running diesel.
@bigteddy663 жыл бұрын
@@Titan604 interesting, I didn't know that, USA must have gone through a lot of petrol, engines loading up and down like the one in the vid just drink the stuff. 🍻
@johnnyholland87655 жыл бұрын
When I was little I had a neighbor who ran draglines in Florida mines for years. He retired and bought a small farm near us. He built two or three small ponds with a Link Built machine he got out of Florida. I would ride over on my bike after school and watch him for hours. I remember him as slow but methodical in his repeated movements on the levers. Watched him replace the cable from a big drum once. Don't remember if it was gas or diesel (heck it's been 43 years ago). Remember too he always wore striped overalls and an old engineers hat. He died years ago and the old dragline is long since gone. Ponds are still there........ This guy is good.
@Huskiedrive3615 жыл бұрын
Nicely restored Bantam and the owner obviously knows how to run it. To make it cycle as he did, you can see how busy he is at the controls!
@kengamble85955 жыл бұрын
Now that was great, enjoyed it! 🙂 I'm an old man now but I remember when I was young and going with my dad and he run one very similar to this! He called it " sweet thang " and talked to it like he did his work mules and horses ! I often think about what a tough and good person he was ! Thanks for sharing and take care. 👍
@Donkusdelux5 жыл бұрын
Reminds me of my grandfather, run older equipment and went on farming after ww2. never in my life have I met much a tough and caring man... its a real shame we are loosing all the old timers. I was young when he passed, but I still look up to him :) soon we wont have many left that knew the old ways! computers and programmers seem to be taking over
@RockBrigadeCommunityForum5 жыл бұрын
Who knew watching an ancient Cable Excavator would be so damn entertaining.
@JimsEquipmentShed3 жыл бұрын
That operator site made it look easy didn’t he. “Here, now you try it!” ;-)
@JimsEquipmentShed3 жыл бұрын
@S.p Bean I’m sure there are better operators, but I can certainly show you worse. (Like my on anything cat pattern for example......) That guy was very quick, and very efficient, it’s not an uncomplicated machine.
@jessebarnes78595 жыл бұрын
And operators today complain about the machines we don't know how good we have it
@The_JEB5 жыл бұрын
"oh my gosh the AC doesnt work that great, what the hell!"
@Joe.M5 жыл бұрын
What the hell!? No radio or CD player!!?? I couldn't imagine running that for 10 hours.
@historicbeef5 жыл бұрын
Radio, the most complaints are from radios.
@driver15053 жыл бұрын
Yeah i know of one that complains just because his air conditioning doesn't blow cold enough
@waynetharp5 жыл бұрын
No bells or alarms going off and nobody had to plug a laptop in it all day! This beast is right up my alley and about my speed! Thanks for getting it dirty for us and some great video as well.👍👍👍
@digginforalivin29305 жыл бұрын
On the next letsdig18 video... *so I bought a bantam cable excavator🤣
@billymcclanahan17945 жыл бұрын
Diggin For a livin lol
@marcryvon5 жыл бұрын
Only if Volvo built it.
@dpsears240z5 жыл бұрын
If you operate anything older, you may have to learn to shout "Wilma" and "Yabba, Dabba, Doo!"
@michaeldane1975 жыл бұрын
How many dino power is that I wonder.... (Instead of Horse Power... Dino Power)… Don't forget to have your feet checked every 10000 miles...
@NenadKralj5 жыл бұрын
Hey !! It (: works :) that needs to mean something ?
@b.a.brackus63715 жыл бұрын
Please make a video talking about how you found this machine, and the restoration process.....Fascinating little machine!
@alansmith47345 жыл бұрын
Back in the day, when that excavator was used, a person could buy dynamite at the store. Men were men!
@admiralfaffy5 жыл бұрын
yep you could go to your hardware store buy a 45. cal tommy gun and dynamite, then fill your car's tank for 70 cents
@tlr-nut72754 жыл бұрын
But your paycheck for the week was $25.
@mariodinovo40184 жыл бұрын
@mistermodified1 or getting sued
@brianwalter16895 жыл бұрын
Those machines of the pass will let you know that you put in a days work.I use to play around with a Manitowoc,all hand levers and drag lines.What a work out.😗
@wyldbladze4 жыл бұрын
Man, just watching that, you would know you put in a days work when you climbed down from that thing to go home. Much respect to the ole timers running that stuff.
@user9900775 жыл бұрын
Well, at least the contraption won't leak hydraulic oil anytime soon...
@myselfremade5 жыл бұрын
Garret calls it 'devil's oil'
@KDill293 жыл бұрын
Just snap a cable, that could possible go flying into the open cab.
@mikeemter4883 жыл бұрын
I’ve got one of these saved it from the scrapper It’s yard art but I run it every few months to keep it happy
@nicktharp3425 жыл бұрын
Mike Mulligan could dig more in a day than a hundred men could dig in a week.
@grassgobbler72145 жыл бұрын
My favorite book as a kid!
@not88me5 жыл бұрын
@@grassgobbler7214 Mine, too!
@Juksemakeren3 жыл бұрын
kzfaq.info/get/bejne/gcCki9eTv9SZlmQ.htmlm54s
@ford300rippergarage3 жыл бұрын
tears man
@waveranger49743 жыл бұрын
Love that book!
@davehertle5 жыл бұрын
Back in the day, they were called Steam Shovels, even if they had gasoline engines.
@lfsheldon5 жыл бұрын
A "steam shovel" bucket points the other way, doesn't it?
@davehertle5 жыл бұрын
@@lfsheldon Yes - nearly always. a few were dragline. Turning the bucket around was the more "back-hoe" or escavator approach of today. The traditional steam shovel was always pulling away from the machine into the load.
@billgiordano99753 жыл бұрын
I used to run an old 1933 Bucyrus Erie drag. Line, with a continental engine, with the pony motor. I used to have to prime the injectors by loosening them up before she'd crank up..everything was manual, including the. Brake bands for the drum cable. You're hands and feet were constantly moving!
@Brutalford5 жыл бұрын
It's a cool old piece of Machinery but I sure would hate it if a cable snapped
@GhostlyMeows5 жыл бұрын
Yeah not really any cab protection. Would be a really bad day for the operator ahaha.
@marcryvon5 жыл бұрын
@@GhostlyMeows And with cables, it's NOT if but WHEN they're gonna fail.
@josevilla74423 жыл бұрын
They don’t snap like you think they do that one is probably good for 8k pounds I highly doubt it’ll ever snap
@manitoba-op4jx4 ай бұрын
@@marcryvonfunny thing about steel cable, it's still available for purchase.
@ArthurDentZaphodBeeb5 жыл бұрын
Holy crap. That ol' gal can do some work when in competent hands...
@KODArunner5 жыл бұрын
Yep, that BANTAM will surely separate the MEN from the boys! Yep, I see how that Volva hydraulic operator handles a real machine. LOL No sweat buck-a-roo, back in the mid '80's I had to learn to operate a BANTAM 15 T Crane as part of a new job. The mechanic knew how to start it but nothing else. At least you have someone to teach you how to operate that one. That was some fun times building Deck Barges back in my youth. By the way, I was a Gallon Cherry-Picker operator in the Golf Coast Oilfield construction industry and that summer operating that BANTAM taught me a whole lot of respect for the "Old Timers"!
@stevelutzke96005 жыл бұрын
Hi Chris, my dad owned and operated one when I was much younger. Ours was a replacement for a Bucyrus Erie that had 3 options for attachments. It had the cable Hoe, Dragline or Shovel option. Never used the Shovel but the dragline and hoe were used. He then purchased the Bantam for a small hoe and ditch digging and a Link Belt dragline for bigger jobs. A pair of Allis HD16 cable dozers with a pull scraper and a pair of Allis 160 scrapers. He got out of the business when I was like 10-11 years old. I always wished I could have been able to operate those machines. Love your channel and appreciate your skills as an operator.
@user-pw9lw4uc2g5 ай бұрын
This Bantam is way older than me by far yet it runs phenomenally. Made back when quality was inherent in the American worker . The old American products were built to last. Pick up one end of a couch made before 1990 and you'll see how heavy it is made with solid wood held together with joinery. Pick up a new couch in the showroom and and it can be lifted with one arm.
@jdshenanigans92655 жыл бұрын
You got to love the old girl . No safty mec. No sound proofing . No vibration damping. And no easy smooth control hydraulics. My type of machine . Id be 10 year old in that . Its takes a bit of learning but well worth it .
@Alejandro-vb2fx5 жыл бұрын
I'm a pipeline operator (local465) I run a hoe on backfill, tie ins and stringing (getting faster and faster every day so I can dig ditch one day) and if that's how they used to dig pipeline ditches with equipment like that then that's crazy. I'm amazed at how much work goes into running this hoe I'd be wore out by lunch time lol. Cool piece of history man, thanks for sharing.
@KPearce575 жыл бұрын
Machines like this built America.
@-mike--m-96295 жыл бұрын
@Oops Oops Is that comment what you call the race card ?
@mikedobson29885 жыл бұрын
Thanks Chris, just shows people it's not as easy as it looks, new or old, watching a good operator can make anyone think it's easy. Your a good sport for showing us that,lol
@bobvernon89255 жыл бұрын
Absolute brilliant bit of video, and great to see a good operator, still plenty of life in the old girl yet, Cheshire England
@ohhpaul73645 жыл бұрын
All that talk of draglines really got to you last year, huh? Did Justin get a chance to run the machine? Seems a bit cruel to bring the man all that way just to make him stand there and watch somebody else have all the fun. Thanks for running the camera, Justin.
@normankeoghan52982 жыл бұрын
The most fun you can have on a machine is playing on the old ones, very cool
@gimle55355 жыл бұрын
Ooo, some of them new fangled gasoline machines? Still won't beat steam power though. Jokes aside really impressive speed on that old thing. Edit: lol when run by a skilled operator that is - quick learner though but the owner hanging on for dear life made me laugh
@ExcavatorDaily5 жыл бұрын
OMG! We cover excavator works regularly, but never seen this kind of mini excavator. Really amazing.
@thailand69895 жыл бұрын
Cat 365c
@BigAgitator3 жыл бұрын
The operator rips! I’m blown away by the cycle time per scoop. I never expected they could be run so fast. That’s such an awesome machine. Requires a lot of skill to run it like that.
@regsparkes65075 жыл бұрын
Take a lot of skill to be able to run one of the old beasts. I used to watch the Bucyrus Erie B22 ( I think was the model ) Those operators back then very apparently knew what they were doing. They were noisy buggers too, I seem to recall! Stay with it Chris,..you'll get the hang of it really soon, by the looks of it.
@Roadhammer335 жыл бұрын
Imagine setting culvert pipe with that. Great video, nice to see an old excavator in action.
@brucet80335 жыл бұрын
Definitely not hydraulic Chris, lol. I smile because I started on a cable dozer stockpiling and stripping land. Lots of bouncing around, not designed with operator comfort, but fun to learn on. Good vids, thank you.
@michaelsmith-wv3ee3 жыл бұрын
very intriguing, thanks for posting and all the camera angles. Fairly simple machine but moved a lot of earth. Looked like a workout for the operator too. What was the hole for?
@coasttocoastmedicalandfire59364 жыл бұрын
Nice paint job! All my years in construction I have never seen a rig like this. I think it should be in a museum before the paint job gets messed up. Dave
@dennisadkins27775 жыл бұрын
That brought back some great memories of my Dad Clearing a ditch bank with a K Ensley
@73DiamondReo4 жыл бұрын
i have an insley k12 front shovel on my channel
@SuperIanjohnson5 жыл бұрын
A marvellous machine, but not easy to handle, I think!
@george88735 жыл бұрын
That thing digs much better than I thought it might. It's pretty cool you got the chance to run an old machine like that. Bet it made you appreciate your Volvos even more, lol.
@WernerS015 жыл бұрын
I enjoyed every second of this Video, Thanks
@LiLGooZ215 жыл бұрын
Well you don't need DEF for this one boys and girls...
@duanecarter98505 жыл бұрын
Wow. I worked for E. C. Pace back in the 70s early 80s. They had 2 and were just huge monsters just rusting away. But I be dang if the guy who used them waaay back when didnt get them up and running for a job to do. Great video of a gorgeous machine. 🙏✌from Va. 🚜🚜🚜🚜🚜
@steveallarton983 жыл бұрын
Lovely little machine, and a credit to its owner both for the restoration and his skill in operating it ! I have a Ruston Bucyrus 19 RB with a hoe equipment - a gentle machine that’s light and easy to drive - all you have to remember is to put your foot on the brake pedals, when you release the hoist or drag clutches ! It’s most unforgiving, if you forget, as Chris found out !
@rodneystewart89585 жыл бұрын
This reminds me of what my father and grandfather had to work with thanks for showing us
@BeytekinConstructionMachinery5 жыл бұрын
Awesome old equipment. So old but still running. No modern machine can live & work for such a long time!
@christopherh64315 жыл бұрын
Very nice piece of vintage heavy equipment. 👍👍👍
@Armorcreations15 жыл бұрын
Its mind blowing to think that this helped build the industrial revolution. Awesome thanks for showing it!
@myselfremade5 жыл бұрын
This is like 50 years later than the industrial revolution at least
@myselfremade5 жыл бұрын
Industrial revolution would be steam shovels
@ToreDL873 жыл бұрын
Mind blowing? Are you blind too? Look at how fast that thing cycles!
@73DiamondReo5 жыл бұрын
@letsdig18 maybe next time you're out in chambersburg at volvo ill have the front shovel ready for you to try out.
@TacoStacks5 жыл бұрын
I never seen one like that, thats cool stuff
@kellyfreeman95144 жыл бұрын
Amazing watching old cable machine dig after all these years done a really good job restoring it to its beautiful machine somebody put a lot of hard-working making that machine look that good glad to see it still work love love them old machines
@altonhearn33285 жыл бұрын
110 hp getting the job done. Crazy if someone build a hi-po engine with offenhauser or clifford performance parts for something like this.
@lamebubblesflysohigh5 жыл бұрын
cables and pulleys :) must be fun sitting in that cabin if one of them snaps under tension
@ToreDL873 жыл бұрын
Heard about them snapping and no damage done other than having to roll a new cable out. It might be that they were smart and designed the pulley angle so that when cables snapped they'd fly anywhere but the cabin, so as to make sure operators didnt die on a daily basis.
@johnapel28565 жыл бұрын
That was cool! Reminded me of watching guys drive the old twin stick and triple stick trucks back in the day. You were starting to catch on, but man, complicated! How did you like it? Thanks for the video.
@DIYMyWay5 жыл бұрын
What a marvelous old machine! And way more effective than I would have thought! Great video!
@tdgdbs15 жыл бұрын
This machine will beat you up after a day work. Much respect for those operators!
@donaldmends22443 жыл бұрын
I have run a Bantan gradal, many years ago in 1967, at that time there wasn't even a Catipillar out yet, the first one I seen about 1978 or 68. It was a 225 Catipillar.. around 1968 my foremen wanted me to run the old Northwest draglines, I said hell no, I worked around lots of dragline , especially moving the wood pads they set on top of.
@johnniewelbornjr.89403 жыл бұрын
I wonder where the def goes on this one... lol Ready to lay out some mats and do some pond dredging??? :))) Loved watching him operate this classic. That gives ya quite a workout to run efficiently, too, and definitely makes one appreciate the fingertip-precision of the joysticks today.
@Nathan-pw7do5 жыл бұрын
It's a lot faster than I would've thought. It'd be pretty cool to see it in Denton this July.
@Boot_1855 жыл бұрын
What you think time to sell those volvos and upgrade to a Bantam? LOL That sure a high water table there.
@knotbumper5 жыл бұрын
Two observations: 1) The first load of logs I ever hauled in 1966 was loaded by a Bantam, it was a dipper stick rather than a hoe. 2) Look how we have changed/grown. The controls are build for a man (no women in those days except my aunt) about 5'6". A 6' man has a hard time operating the machine due to size.
@davidphillips65715 жыл бұрын
Chris out of his comfort zone.
@edpiner49605 жыл бұрын
yep, my Dad used to operate shovels and draglines like this, this has been a joy to watch many fond memories.
@johnnyholland87655 жыл бұрын
@@edpiner4960 But hey he gave it a try. Little difference between his Volvo............
@BigBadWolf1st3 жыл бұрын
I'm floored at how much digging power these cable rigs actually have.
@manitoba-op4jx4 ай бұрын
when the engineers were designing it they found the sweet spot between good torque and decent speed. the reduction between the motor and drums and leverage of the arm can turn a hundred lb-ft of shaft torque into a couple thousand!
@larrymccready67785 жыл бұрын
That would be a work out on a daily basics. I bet the old timers coukd do some cursing.😁
@yvonnejohnson15575 жыл бұрын
Looks like it would give ya good work out. Tks gary nice vid
@TB-il3lo5 жыл бұрын
Can we anticipate this in the bigdeal 2020 fleet?
@thomasdesmond22485 жыл бұрын
Just think how many things where built using machines like that. Amazing those guys where tough.
@bantam3505 жыл бұрын
Great to see how a good operator can move dirt. Chris, you operate that bantam like I do.... poorly at best. Yes I have one too just a little newer, and mounted on a Bantam truck chassis. Good job, keep up the wonderful videos.
@allthegearbutnoideamanwest31745 жыл бұрын
This guy makes it look easy.. it was hard work driven them machines,
@sfranklandnf5 жыл бұрын
I am surprised no one brought up the old dragline comments. Having said that this old girl has some serious go with the right operator.
@General_Confusion5 жыл бұрын
They used one of those to dig out the footings for The Hoover Dam Chris. Might take you a little longer to deal with that puddle though mate. ;)
@jonathanunnasch18255 жыл бұрын
Chris was getting his ass kicked by those winches
@Todd.Roberts5 жыл бұрын
Nice old machine . It makes you appreciate that Volvo
@eddiekilby5 жыл бұрын
This thing looks like a hand full to operate. Reminds me of the old drott I used to operate that had pedal controls for the swing and bucket.
@stephenkeefer34365 жыл бұрын
Bantam- “ This is the way we did it in the old country “
@atomicwedgie81763 жыл бұрын
Made in Waverly, Iowa. My uncle and a few other relatives worked there.
@donbraden85335 жыл бұрын
That old girl sure can do her stuff very nice 😀👍👍👍👍
@thomasdesmond22485 жыл бұрын
That old flat head six running that excavator. Wow just wow.
@NotJustaTool5 жыл бұрын
Not bad operating by letsdig18 for little time at learning. SO MANY LEVERS! Nice Job!!!
@TL643294 жыл бұрын
The new hydraulic machines are fast and very efficient but I really enjoy these old cable machines. These are what started it all.
@rcasper47003 жыл бұрын
I can only imagine where one of those cables would land when they snap
@dewainwoodard48405 жыл бұрын
He is good with the old cable shovel he made it look easy
@larrylittletonjr96445 жыл бұрын
Buddy that's quick. He might put you outta work on a valvo
@anthonymontgomery48615 жыл бұрын
You and Justin should buy a Bantam and install twin seats. You could use one half of the controls and Justin ,the other half. Hilarious video.
@MrDynamitd5 жыл бұрын
At first , I thought this may be a home built job , but soon realized the difference. Awesome machine and has the stirrings of a long term project coming to mind
@GradyRho925 жыл бұрын
Gotta be weird not being able to articulate the bucket it self.
@barrymcbride5 жыл бұрын
Cool Excavator your friend made it look easy after you got in the clip of inside the cab i could not be-leave how busy you are in the cab feet hands forearm wow. Did your friend restore the excavator and the truck.
@barrysteenerson48905 жыл бұрын
nice video thank you for it ,? is the swing by cable or gear , i see chain final drive ,nice paint job , thanks .
@pnwRC.3 жыл бұрын
It looked liek you were sure having FUN operating that machine!
@randymorrison68043 жыл бұрын
What a beautiful piece of vintage equipment. Thank you for sharing this. Also I love the old k whopper.
@davids.98345 жыл бұрын
worked much better than I thought it was going too. I recently saw a guy digging out a pond with an old TD14 dozer and honestly, it only took him about 20% longer than I could have done with a modern machine. The difference is I would not have gone home tired ;)
@VintageFarm10865 жыл бұрын
Thanks for sharing your video. There's a antique road construction show in Brownsville Pa . They have some old shovels there that I go to and watch them work. Those old guys at the show can really make those machines move some dirt.
@garretwilson30645 жыл бұрын
My #16 grader was there for the August '18 summer show and this past spring.
@jamesbond98735 жыл бұрын
Beautiful machine. Just needs a big Koolaid sticker.
@slicksloth_4165 жыл бұрын
I thought i was the only one that spray painted smiley faces on my bucket...
@markbridle93295 жыл бұрын
Can't beat the vintage stuff
@reddirtfarm77045 жыл бұрын
A Bantam front shovel is the first one I learned to operate. Way easier than some.
@brandonmason58225 жыл бұрын
Beautiful machine, my late boss in Okeechobee Florida had one but it wasn't in nearly as good of condition as your friends, it was more of a heavy equipment yard art.
@cbboggs64595 жыл бұрын
I used to have an old Bay City cable machine with a backhoe and a shovel front. Never used the shovel. It was a blast to play with.