This $4,500 Otis Railroad Shovel Model Could Be All Yours for $5

The Historical Construction Equipment Association (or HCEA for short) is a non-profit organization dedicated to preserving the history of the construction equipment industry. To help do so, HCEA is hoping for some kindly raffle donations from you, Compact Equipment connoisseur. For $5, you could win a $4,500 1:10 scale Otis railroad shovel model, which you can see from the photo above is pretty much the awesomest equipment model ever.

Designed in 1835 and patented in 1839, the Otis Steam Shovel is the earliest known land-based single-bucket excavator. Originally built for use in railroad construction by the contracting firm in which inventor William S. Otis was a partner, it remained in production in small numbers until the early 1910s. The design concept of a railroad-mounted shovel whose boom swung approximately 90 degrees left and right was continued by several manufacturers into the late 1920s, and its digging action is seen in today’s cable- and hydraulic-operated shovels.

The 1:10 scale model features a swinging boom, extending and retracting dipper stick, rolling wheels and operational levers, gears, drums and bucket trip, and it comes on a section of railroad track for exhibit. It is the first of a series of scale models being produced exclusively for the HCEA and was introduced at CONEXPO-CON/AGG 2011.

The model sells for $4,500, but raffle tickets are available for only $5 each. All proceeds will go to fund development of additional models of historic equipment. Tickets are available from the HCEA at www.hcea.net or by calling the HCEA office at 419-352-5616. The drawing will be held September 15, 2012, at the HCEA’s membership banquet in Bowling Green, Ohio, and the winner need not be present.