Page 435 - Peterson 85 Years and Going Strong

CAT MODELS VS BUSTER’S CUSTOM MACHINES
MODEL DEBUT Cat D8 1946 Twin D8 1949 Cat D9 1955
Quad D9 1964
SERIAL NO. D8-2U D8-2U D9-18A/19A
D9G-66A
HSP 132 hp 270 hp 286 hp
770 hp
UPGRADED
144hp (1948)
Cat built D9 (1955)
D9D-19A (1956) 320 hp D9D-18A (1957) 320 hp D9E-34A/49A/50A (1959) 335 hp D9G-66A (1961) 385 hp
Cat took over production (1967-68)
The Cat Twins, along with Buster’s many other innovations, laid a solid foundation for Peterson’s reputation in the earthmoving industry. One of his most complicated designs was the Triple 657 built in 1965, used by Peter Kiewit & Sons on its San Luis Canal contract. By then, Buster was part-owner of Peterson, affording him the freedom and flexibility to pursue his passion for custom de- sign.19 “The Triple 657 cost nearly a million dollars to build in those days,” says his son, Don Peterson, who retired as Director of Parts and Service Op- erations in 1977. “Today, it would be more like five million. What it did was help develop sales to the big contractors. Not that they wanted to buy it, but they knew that Peterson was an innovative deal- ership that could do things that Caterpillar either couldn’t do or chose not to do, just because it wasn’t cost-effective. It wasn’t for us either, but it helped to develop a worldwide reputation for Peterson.” That reputation carries on today in the many de- signs and niche markets Peterson has helped to develop. A reputation that is priceless.
19 In the 1970s, while still at Peterson, Buster worked on a retainer for Cat Engineering on several projects, as evidenced in patents where he was a co-assignor along with Caterpillar engineers.
Top to bottom: Buster’s Triple 657 scrapers in 1965; Brothers Buster & Howard Peterson/R receive scale model of the Twin D8
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