Pawling & Harnischfeger Crane Operator and Maintenance Manuals PDF

P&H Mining Equipment Inc. is an American company engaged in the design, manufacture, and sale of machinery and equipment for the mining and quarrying industries: excavators, drilling rigs, etc. It is a subsidiary of Joy Global Inc. Headquartered in Milwaukee, Wisconsin.

Two industrial craftsmen, Alonzo Pawling and Henry Harnischfeger, created a manufacturing business that grew into P&H Mining Equipment Inc. in 1884, located in Milwaukee. Pawling made casting molds. Harnischfeger worked as a machinist and had engineering training. Both worked at the Whitehill sewing machine factory, which opened in 1881 in Milwaukee.

Concerned that the Whitehill Company was heading toward bankruptcy, Pauling left the company to start a small machine shop and mold shop in 1883. Needing capital and his machining expertise, Pauling persuaded Harnischfeger to join the company as an equal partner. The Pawling & Harnischfeger Machine and Mold Shop officially opened on December 1, 1884.

In the early days, Pauling and Harnischfeger supplied large Milwaukee manufacturers with parts and assemblies for industrial equipment and serviced that equipment. They served brewers, industrial knitting machine manufacturers, grain dryers, and other customers.

Cranes

When an overloaded overhead crane collapsed during a foundry operation, the only heavy equipment manufacturer nearby was the Edward P. Allis Manufacturing Company. Alonso and Henry rebuilt the crane, simplifying and improving its design. The lifting machine, easy to maintain and reliable in operation, quickly became famous.

Soon, manufacturing and warehouse companies began asking their partners to make similar machines for them, which were increasingly called by the initials of their last names ("P&H"). Over time, this short acronym would become a strong trademark for the company, with its product line and service. Then "Pawling & Harnischfeger" reoriented its business to the development of industrial cranes and their service.

The banking panic of 1893 caused a sharp decline in demand for cranes. However, the crisis forced P&H to look for another direction of activity that would help it survive the economic downturn. They turned their attention to earthmoving equipment. At that time, America was experiencing a construction boom and such equipment was needed in large quantities.