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The first stretch-scrapers debuted on the Trinity Dam project near Redding in the late 50s.There, the operator would pull up underneath a hopper, pull a rope and get a load of 30 yards," explains Jim Easley (retired Peterson salesman/1990) who often saw operators get buried because they forgot and pulled twice. Buster began lengthening scrapers to make a bigger payload. Jim worked with Buster and the CAT researchers in the experimenting phase.

pictured: experimenting with lengthening scrapers, at Peterson's shop in San Leandro

Caterpillar had initially designed their DW20 scrapers with a payload spec'ed for Peoria dirt which was much heavier than California soil. By lengthening the scraper an extra 18 inches, Buster increased the payload 11.5% which helped the contractor shave off an entire year from their deadline using a fleet of 20 stretch scrapers.

pictured: testing out at Howard Peterson's Triple J Ranch in Dublin