Lorain, OH: Thew Shovel Co, first fully revolving steam shovel invented in 195

(Satellite)

danielebrady, Courtesy Dennis Lamont
Undated aerial photo of Thew Shovel

danielebrady
July 1949 newspaper ad
"Captain Thew designed and built the first full-revolving power shovel in 1895." The company was incorporated in 1989. "Today Thew's position as the world's largest producer of commercial size power shovels and cranes is proof of the continued leadership of its products."

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Captain Thew invented a shovel that did not need railroad tracks so that an iron ore dock could be cleaned up more quickly. The company's line of shovels was redesigned in 1924, and the Lorain trademark was introduced. [ConstructionEquipment]

Fred Schwiers commented on a post:

The company credited with developing the first practical steam-powered shovel with a full 360° rotating cab (i.e., a full-swing steam shovel) in the United States was the Thew Automatic Shovel Company of Lorain, Ohio. Captain Richard P. Thew invented and built a fully revolving steam shovel prototype around 1895, and this design became the first successful full-revolving steam excavator built in America.

Here’s a quick breakdown:

Earlier steam shovels (like those invented by William Otis in 1839) could dig but did not rotate a full 360°; they were “partial-swing” machines mounted on rail chassis.

The full-swing (360°) steam shovel concept was developed in England in 1884, but the first practical and commercially successful fully revolving steam shovel in the U.S. was produced by Thew Automatic Shovel Co. in the mid-1890s.

So the best answer is: Thew Automatic Shovel Company (founded by Richard P. Thew).

eBay
1927 Thew Shovel Co. Ad: Lorain 75 Shovel, Crane, Dragline - Lorain, OhiO

The Lorain Model 80 was built 1939-55. This one was built in 1940. The engine has been removed, thus we can see the center drive.

9:59 video @ 7:31
Thew-Lorain 80 Documentary

I don't remember seeing a Thew Shovel, but I have.

Matt Weyand commented on Mark's post via Dennis DeBruler
It appears to be a Thew shovel with horizontal crowd. The structure on the underside of the boom gives it away.

While I was getting an aerial photo, I included the steel mill and the B&O railyard.

Apr 1, 1952 @ 28,400; AR1UM0000010175

Zooming into this plant.

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