 The History of The Fork Lift Truck
Episode 17: 1952: Hyster starts European production
1952 brought news of increased overseas investment and new fork truck models from the major manufacturers in America. The first 'Hyster' manufacturing plant outside the U.S.A was opened in Nijmegen, Holland to produce Karry Kranes and the counterbalance model 'YT 40' (Hyster 40.)
As part of its range improvement plan three optional models, the 'XA 60'(6,000Ibs), 'VA 70'(7,000Ibs) and the 'ZA 80'(8,000lbs) replaced the 'VT 75'(7,500Ibs.) All three-replacement models had Hercules petrol engines fitted with the LPG option if required.
A few months later the company launched its new 'Spacesaver' series with models 'UC 30' and 'YC 40' four-wheeled counterbalance trucks. Both models were available with petrol or diesel engines. The diesel engine option was no doubt in competition with Yale, who produced the first diesel trucks in the USA. Yale also started to break the conventional mould, as even at this late date the American market was still dominated by trucks powered by petrol engines or battery motors.
The 'Clark Company celebrated the completion of a new plant in Mulheim/Ruhr in Germany, for the production of the first Clark forklifts to be built under licence. ACPEV Ltd also became a licensee, building the Clark electric range including Powrworkers and narrow aisle trucks. Formed in 1947, ACPEV was an equal partnership between the Austin Motor Company and Crompton Parkinson Ltd. The associate companies of Crompton Parkinson, Electricars Ltd and A.E. Morrison Ltd were merged into the company.
Back in Britain the search for steel supplies remained a gamble, but the British Iron and Steel Federation's initiative on scrap metal recycling was having some effect. Government figures for 1951 showed 58% of all steel produced was from scrap metal.
 Despite the problems Shelvoke and Drewry produced a new model heavy-duty forklift truck called the Freightlifter. The standard power unit was a Perkins 6 cylinder diesel engine, and capacities ranged from 12,000lbs to 18,000lbs, with lift heights up to 29 feet. Similar in style to the Hyster, this truck was in direct competition with the heavy-duty range of Ransomes Rapier.
The 'Matbro' Company produced a three-wheeled counterbalance truck, for use in limited space storage areas. It had a lift capacity of 1 ton and was powered by a 10 hp Ford industrial petrol engine. The drive - three forward speeds and one reverse - was to the front wheels only, giving the machine a turning circle of 75 inches.
'Cleco of Leicester launched a forklift truck model 'F8SSX' with a side to side swivelling fork carriage and a traversing mast, not unlike some of the modern narrow aisle trucks of today.
Two more trucks were added to the Coventry Climax range. One was a new four-wheeled counterbalance with a lift capacity of 10,000 lbs, and the other was the flameproof FTF, which was now offered for general sale. First produced in 1949 for the Ministry of Defence, this was the first diesel powered flameproof forklift truck in the world. The engine was started by compressed air supplied by an on-board compressor, which charged a holding tank that held enough air for 25 starts.
To be continued
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If you would like to support the National Fork Truck Heritage Centre please contact:
James Brindley
07801 954 167
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