 
Ray Gaskin Service
Pasadena, California
If Bowles and Bemars were small independent builders, Ray Gaskin Service was perhaps the west coast "micro builder". Gaskin built and repaired refuse bodies for a half century at his Pasadena shop, going back to the days of when the open body dump truck was the norm. Starting in the mid-1950s, Gaskin-built mechanical loader bodies were being produced such as the rear bucket loader pictured above. This 1960 prototype features a rail guided bucket which was adaptable to hoist small containers as well. Though this non-compacting body may seem primitive even by the standard of the day, they nevertheless still found favor with may haulers and municipalities in the region.
GASKIN FRONT LOADERS
In the early 1960s, Gaskin had acquired an International Harvester truck franchise and was also selling Pak-Mor refuse bodies. However, the company was still building their own truck bodies, and worked with municipalities to custom-design refuse systems to meet the customers specific needs. This Gaskin front loader from the mid-sixties was one of several built for the City of Pasadena, and was used in conjunction with a satellite vehicle system. The extremely agile and quiet satellite "scooters" scavenged the alleys, periodically feeding the massive 50-cubic yard front loader. This system was also claimed to have saved fuel by transferring most of the "leg work" to the smaller vehicles. With standard flat forks, this Gaskin front loader could also be used for commercial container routes when not doing residential pickup.
This later model Gaskin full-pack for Pasadena now wears over-the-cab type (OTC) lift arms, and is being used on a hand-loaded collection route. Gaskin front loaders were built at least through the 1970s. Although the firm no longer manufactures packer bodies, they remain in the refuse equipment business at a new location in Fontana.
Below: 1978 RGFL-1, 50-cubic yard front loader
SELECTED PATENTS
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Patent # |
Description |
Inventor |
Assignee |
Date |
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US4096956A |
Refuse vehicle |
Gaskin |
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July 1, 1975 |
12/10/05 (revised 7/25/22)
© 2005
All Rights Reserved
Logos shown are the trademarks of respective manufacturers
Photos from factory brochures/trade advertisements except as noted
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