The History of Bobcat

Brothers Cyril and Louis Keller ran a small machinist-blacksmith shop in Minnesota in the 1950s, where they built and repaired machinery for local farmers. One day, a farmer asked them to create a light, self-propelled loader. In 1957, the brothers successfully built a three-wheeled loader, the direct precursor to the modern skid-steer loader.  It caught the attention of the Melroe Manufacturing Company (now Bobcat Company). The company leaders invited the Kellers to demonstrate their invention at the Minnesota State Fair in 1958. After the successful demonstration, Melroe secured exclusive manufacturing rights to the brothers’ machine and hired them to refine and produce it.  In 1960, a second set of drive wheels was added to the back and with the addition of this four-wheel drive, the M400 model became the world’s first true skid-steer loader. Over time, the brand name “Bobcat” was established because of the machine’s toughness, speed, and agility. Today, Bobcat offers over 100 products with over 400 unique attachments. The company’s machines are frequently used in landscaping, forestry, agriculture, construction, and snow removal.