Mud Cat
In 1962 two men named Norbert Degelman and Harold Morgan had an idea, a device capable of removing sediments from the lakeshores of Minnesota. They decided to build their own machine, but first it had to meet certain criteria. It had to be very portable. It had to operate in a roto-tiller, vacuum cleaner-type fashion, and it had to be a two man operation. With this in mind, they set out to build such a machine in a one car garage in the suburb of Fridley, Minnesota.
Their first attempt was a very crude and cumbersome machine that actually didn't float too well, but the idea of using the auger-type cutter proved very successful.
After 3 years perfecting this first prototype of the auger dredge, they decided that they had an idea worth pursuing. They found some investors and formed their first company. They also came up with a name, Mud Cat. They built 4 more Mud Cat dredges and started the first auger dredging company.
The investors decided to take this idea to National Car Rental Systems to promote the idea of rental dredges. National liked the idea and bought the manufacturing rights in 1970. This was the beginning of the 2nd generation of the Mud Cat dredge. National built over 500 units over the years and marketed the idea worldwide. You can still find these 2nd generation Mud Cats in service today.
This Mud Cat is sitting in a settling pond near the RH Gorsuch Powerstation outside of Marietta Ohio. A section of 'portable' pipeline is seen floating in the distance.
Mud Cat
In 1962 two men named Norbert Degelman and Harold Morgan had an idea, a device capable of removing sediments from the lakeshores of Minnesota. They decided to build their own machine, but first it had to meet certain criteria. It had to be very portable. It had to operate in a roto-tiller, vacuum cleaner-type fashion, and it had to be a two man operation. With this in mind, they set out to build such a machine in a one car garage in the suburb of Fridley, Minnesota.
Their first attempt was a very crude and cumbersome machine that actually didn't float too well, but the idea of using the auger-type cutter proved very successful.
After 3 years perfecting this first prototype of the auger dredge, they decided that they had an idea worth pursuing. They found some investors and formed their first company. They also came up with a name, Mud Cat. They built 4 more Mud Cat dredges and started the first auger dredging company.
The investors decided to take this idea to National Car Rental Systems to promote the idea of rental dredges. National liked the idea and bought the manufacturing rights in 1970. This was the beginning of the 2nd generation of the Mud Cat dredge. National built over 500 units over the years and marketed the idea worldwide. You can still find these 2nd generation Mud Cats in service today.
This Mud Cat is sitting in a settling pond near the RH Gorsuch Powerstation outside of Marietta Ohio. A section of 'portable' pipeline is seen floating in the distance.