The No. 944 is a short Caterpillar promotional film from the late 1950s or early 1960s that highlights the features and abilities of the new Cat 944 Traxcavator (later renamed the wheel loader). The 944 is manufactured in Aurora, IL, and is powered by a four-cylinder Cat D330 Diesel Engine or a Cat six-cylinder gasoline engine. The film opens with a man climbing onto a 944 Traxcavator. A 944 is operated in a field (00:50). A man climbs onto a 944 and demonstrates the machine’s adjustable seat, controls, and bucket controls. He uses the 944 to shovel dirt and then dumps it. A Traxcavator is driven along a gravel road (02:30). An operator drives a 944 down a paved road. On a rural road, the 944 stops for a school bus (03:55). At a gravel pit work site, the 944 makes quick work of moving gravel into a truck (04:40). The film shows the two engines that 944 customers can choose between (06:17). The Caterpillar transmission is shown as it hangs from a chain at the Aurora production plant (06:58). The film shows the 944’s chassis frame, then the clip ends.
Traxcavator was originally a namebrand of the Trackson Company of Milwaukee, Wisconsin. The word “Traxcavator” came from combining “tractor” and “excavator”.Trackson commenced business in Milwaukee in 1922 and built tracked attachments for primarily Fordson tractors, initially – then built tracked attachments for other tractor manufacturers. The early Trackson tracked attachments were popular on tractors used for road grader power units, as well as for tractors used in poor ground conditions.In December 1951 the Caterpillar Company purchased the Trackson Company, and the cable Traxcavators and the HT4, became Caterpillar Traxcavators.
In late 1952, the all-new No.6 Caterpillar Shovel was announced by Caterpillar, and cable Traxcavator production ceased. The Caterpillar HT4 and No.6 Shovel were the only hydraulic Traxcavators available from Caterpillar until the all-new 933, 955 and 977 made their appearance in early 1955. The name “Traxcavator” was a registered Caterpillar brand name for many years, but has developed into common usage to describe any tracked shovel/loader.
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