Pettibone celebrates 50th anniversary of first Extendo Telehandler

Posted on Jan 20, 2020 in Nuts & Bolts, Products

Pettibone/Traverse Lift, LLC is celebrating the 50th anniversary of the Pettibone Model 88 Extendo, believed to be the first telescopic handler ever produced. Developed in the late 1960s, the first Model 88 Extendo unit was completed and delivered in early 1970, as documented by the original bill of sale from March 24, 1970.

“Pettibone has a rich heritage of which we are extremely proud,” said Scott Raffaelli, vice president and general manager for Pettibone. “For almost 140 years, Pettibone has established a very high standard for rugged, reliable material handling equipment, and that’s a standard we continue to try to exceed today.”

Current Extendo models include the 944X, 1246X and 1258X, all part of Pettibone’s next gen X-Series lineup. The X-Series also includes the unique Traverse, the only telehandler line currently on the market with an extendable traversing boom that moves loads with a horizontally sliding carriage.

Pettibone/Traverse Lift, LLC is part of the Pettibone, LLC Heavy Equipment Group. Founded in 1881, Pettibone has been recognized as the industry leader in material handling equipment since the company revolutionized the industry with the first forward-reaching, rough-terrain machines in the 1940s.