Rediscovering Nelson Loaders and Their Forgotten Legacy

[MikePhua]

The Rise and Fade of Nelson Iron Works
Nelson loaders were manufactured by Nelson Iron Works, a company based in Clifton, New Jersey, that began producing wheel loaders in 1957. Their first model featured a 1.75 cubic yard bucket and was powered by either a gasoline or diesel Hercules engine. Over the next decade, the company expanded its lineup to include 2.25, 2.65, and eventually a 4 cubic yard model by 1967. All models were built with rigid frames and rear steering axles—a configuration common among early wheel loaders before the industry shifted toward articulated designs.
Despite their robust construction and practical design, Nelson Iron Works eventually disappeared from the heavy equipment landscape. The reasons remain speculative: limited distribution, lack of innovation, or simply being overshadowed by larger manufacturers like Caterpillar, Michigan, and Hough. By the 1970s, Nelson loaders had become rare sightings, often tucked away in barns, scrapyards, or municipal yards.
Design Characteristics and Mechanical Simplicity
Nelson loaders were known for their heavy steel construction and straightforward engineering. Loader arms were fabricated from nearly 2-inch thick plate steel, and the machines were equipped with Allison transmissions and Rockwell off-road axles. Many components were off-the-shelf, making repairs feasible even decades later.
Key mechanical features:

• Hercules or Detroit Diesel engines (later repowered with Cummins 4BTA or GM 371)
  
• Allison automatic transmissions
  
• Rockwell planetary axles
  
• Rear-wheel steering with kick-out for roading
  
• Rigid frame design with high ground clearance
  

One technician who rebuilt a Nelson loader noted that the machine used rubber-mounted engine and drive plates. This configuration caused harmonic impulses that eventually destroyed the drive plate—an issue resolved by isolating only one component with rubber mounts, as per Allison’s recommendations.
Field Use and Restoration Stories
Despite their obscurity, Nelson loaders have proven durable in real-world applications. In Massachusetts, a restored unit was used for pond excavation and heavy clay loading. After replacing axle seals, brakes, fluids, and installing a new Cummins engine, the loader ran reliably—even in subzero temperatures where its predecessor, a Cummins J-series, struggled to start.
In Quebec, an elderly operator still uses his Nelson loader, originally powered by a GM 353 and later upgraded to a 371. The machine, dating from the late 1950s or early 1960s, continues to function with minimal issues. Another unit in New York was retrofitted with a commercial snowplow and used for winter road maintenance.
Restoration tips:

• Replace all bottom-end seals and bearings during engine swaps
  
• Use heavy-duty battery cables to ensure cold-weather starting
  
• Avoid dual rubber mounts between engine and transmission
  
• Source parts from older Oliver or municipal surplus inventories
  

Oliver Rebadging and Market Confusion
Some Nelson loaders were rebadged and sold under the Oliver brand, though this practice was short-lived. Oliver, better known for its agricultural equipment, attempted to enter the construction market by rebranding Nelson’s loader line. Few units were sold, and the effort was eventually abandoned. This has led to confusion among collectors and restorers, with some mistaking Nelson loaders for Oliver originals.
In one instance, two Oliver-branded loaders were rescued from a scrapyard and restored by a collector specializing in Oliver machinery. The machines were found to be structurally identical to Nelson models, confirming the rebadging theory.
Survivability and Parts Availability
Contrary to rumors that only eight Nelson loaders were ever built, field reports suggest a much higher production volume. While exact numbers are unknown, sightings across Ontario, Quebec, New York, and Massachusetts indicate that dozens—if not hundreds—were manufactured. Their use in municipal fleets and junkyards throughout the 1960s and 1970s supports this.
Fortunately, many Nelson loaders were built with standard components, allowing for continued operation and restoration. Parts such as transmissions, axles, and hydraulic fittings can be sourced from compatible models or fabricated as needed.
Common replacement strategies:

• Use Cummins 4BTA engines for modern repowering
  
• Retrofit hydraulic cylinders with universal seal kits
  
• Replace worn bushings and pins with machined equivalents
  
• Upgrade lighting and electrical systems with modern harnesses
  

Conclusion
Nelson loaders represent a forgotten chapter in North American heavy equipment history. Built with brute strength and mechanical simplicity, they served farms, towns, and contractors with quiet reliability. Though the company faded from view, its machines endure—sometimes buried in sheds, sometimes roaring back to life under the hands of restorers. In an age of digital diagnostics and emissions controls, the Nelson loader stands as a reminder of an era when steel, sweat, and ingenuity were all you needed to move the earth.