The Keller Brothers

The Keller Brothers: A Knack for What’s Next

As key contributors to innovation at Bobcat, the Keller brothers' story is a testament to their profound impact on the company's forward-thinking mindset. They had a gift for making one-of-a-kind solutions, and their knack for invention kickstarted the creation of the compact equipment industry. 

It All Started With a Challenge.

Hearing about the Keller brothers' reputation for repairing and building custom machinery that boosted productivity, Minnesota turkey farmer Eddie Velo came to the brothers with a challenge. His two-story turkey barns needed cleaning, but his tractor loader couldn’t maneuver around the upright poles in the barns. The only alternative to date was hours of hard, dirty physical labor that cut into his bottom line. Velo needed a solution that was light enough to be lifted to the barn’s second floor and maneuverable enough to clean around the support poles. The only problem was that no machine existed to handle the job.  

The Kellers could have written Velo off for the impossible ask, but it was an intriguing request for the up-and-coming innovators. Soon, the Kellers assembled a simple front-end loader with two drive wheels and a small rear caster wheel. Powered by a six-horsepower engine with a rope starter, it was steered by independent right and left control levers using a unique clutch mechanism. The front scoop’s fork tines were made of bars from the Rothsay, Minnesota, jail, the only steel hard enough to do the job. The loader worked so well that the Kellers built six more and sold them to nearby farmers. 

From humble beginnings, this first-of-its-kind design paved the way for Bobcat to eventually sell more than a million compact loaders worldwide. 

The Meeting That Led to a Million Loaders Sold 

While the machine made them local legends, it wasn’t until they met the owners of Melroe Manufacturing Company that our growth story truly began to take shape. The Kellers' uncle, a Melroe farm equipment dealer in Elbow Lake, Minnesota, introduced his nephews to the Melroe brothers in the summer of 1958. They invited the Kellers to demonstrate the loader at the Minnesota State Fair, which drew huge crowds. Realizing the potential, the Melroes purchased exclusive manufacturing rights to the machine on a royalty basis. Louis and Cyril Keller became Melroe Manufacturing Company employees, and they were assigned to design and manufacture the first Melroe self-propelled loader. 

This legendary loader and its future iterations became a jobsite staple worldwide, eventually leading to the company selling more than a million compact loaders.

The Birth of an Icon

Like any startup story, the work had only begun. After years of improvements, redesigns and a few setbacks that would cause the average person to call it quits, the reimagined skid-steer loader was ready for mass production under a new name, logo and fresh paint design that would soon become an icon of American progress and symbol of the get-it-done mindset. They called it Bobcat.

The Brothers’ Impact Is Still Felt Today.

The Keller brothers' invention of the skid-steer loader has left a lasting mark on jobsites worldwide, revolutionizing how industries handle heavy lifting and maneuvering in tight spaces. First developed to help with small farming tasks, the skid-steer loader has evolved into a versatile, indispensable machine across construction, landscaping and agriculture. Its compact design and powerful lifting capabilities allow for improved efficiency and safety on jobsites of all sizes. In 2023, the Kellers' well-earned induction into the National Inventors Hall of Fame honored their vision, innovation and lasting contribution to modern work environments, underscoring how their creation continues to drive productivity and innovation today.