WORLD NEWS
Talbert celebrates 70 years of removable gooseneck
North America-based Talbert
Manufacturing celebrates the
70th anniversary of its mechanical
gooseneck patent, which was
developed by Austin Talbert,
engineer and founder of Talbert
Construction Equipment Co.
Talbert Manufacturing was
originally established as Talbert
Construction Equipment Co. in
1938, in Lyons, Illinois, and served
the Chicago market with crane and
construction equipment rentals
and heavy-haul transport services.
With the advent of the
first mechanical, detachable
gooseneck trailers in 1946 came
its claim to fame. The product was
patented in 1947 and entered the
Canadian market in the 1950s.
The mechanical gooseneck
revolutionised equipment loading
by eliminating the need to drive
equipment up and over the trailer
tyres, enhancing operators’
safety and saving contractors
time and hassle.
Fifteen years later, Talbert
designed and patented the
industry’s first hydraulic removable
gooseneck, which offered the same
safety benefits as the mechanical
unit, but could be removed in as
little as two minutes.
In addition, the hydraulic
gooseneck has virtually eliminated
injuries and fatalities associated
with railroad track hang-ups due to
the trailers’ low clearance. Drivers
can adjust the ride height to a
variety of positions, enabling them
to negotiate tracks as well as other
obstacles, such as bridges.
Talbert patented several other
heavy-haul trailer technologies that
improved safety and efficiency,
Talbert Manufacturing celebrates
the 70th anniversary of its
mechanical gooseneck patent.
Austin Talbert patented the industry’s first mechanical gooseneck in
1947. The design not only enhanced operators’ safety, but also saved
contractors time and hassle.
including the first removable rear
suspension that allowed for safe
rear loading, and the hydraulically
steered and suspended trailer for
navigating tight turns with longer,
over-dimensional loads. ■
JANUARY 2018
7