Backhoes vs JCBs

[GWR]

The Internet Outage that never was! Only in www.2bangkok.com could a public information thread develop into a thread on what different folks call their tonka toys: -

Some Thai TV Channels have reported that a backhoe somewhere in the Bangkok area has damaged a major telecom link. As far as I know, this line is NOT currently out of action, but it is likely that THE INTERNET WILL OUT OF ACTION THIS EVENING FOR AREAS OF BANGKOK & the NORTH-EAST for restorative work. - Presumably incoming and outgoing. I suppose it is possible that it will bring the whole Thai system to a halt for a few hours. So, make hay while the sun shines!

[Wisarut]

Thaksin's Askign to Shoot down ThaiCom3 ... sicne he thought he has transferred all Internet Connection to IPStar .... That's Why

[The Enforcer!]

a backhoe

Sorry, a what?

The Enforcer!

[ncr]

I thought both of you were British, yet the Enforcer doesn't know the word...?

Maybe this helps?
Merriam-Webster (http://www.webster.com/cgi-bin/dictionary?sourceid=Mozilla-search&va=backhoe)
Wikipedia (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Backhoe)...
...which in turn leads here (http://science.howstuffworks.com/backhoe-loader1.htm). :)

[ncr]

Oh, I see..... ;)

The British company JCB developed the early backhoes. Their first tractor equipped with both a backhoe and a front mounted loading bucket was completed in 1953 and set the standard pattern for future designs. Because of the long-time predominance of this marque in the United Kingdom and Ireland, it has become a genericized trademark there, and all backhoe-equipped diggers are commonly called JCBs, while the term "backhoe" is almost unknown to the general public.

[GWR]

Actually my natural rustic instinct would be to call it a JCB. Backhoe was added as a sop to our North American brethren.

Did you experience any outages? ;)

[ncr]

Actually my natural rustic instinct would be to call it a JCB. Backhoe was added as a sop to our North American bretheren.

Did you experience any outages? ;)1. Well, I'm neither nor (British or American - or native English speaker, for that matter).

Nevertheless, language can be a fascinating subject. :cool:

2. No. No outage, it seems.

[ncr]

Sorry, a what?...I am now inclined to believe he just pretended not to understand (to show his indignation about the term). :p

Am I right?

[GWR]

OK, I'm going to downgrade this thread, as the crisis seems to have been a non event. However, I think we'll leave this thread more or less intact, with a view to exchanging info on the different terminology for our former/present sandbox playthings. I don't see much lacemaking going on on this site. And I just want to let you all know that I could drive a tractor before I could even ride a bicycle. ;-)

To be honest, I'm not entirely sure that it was a backhoe/JCB. It might have been a HYMAC

Figure that one out if you will.

[The Enforcer!]

...I am now inclined to believe he just pretended not to understand (to show his indignation about the term). :p

Am I right?

No ...really had never heard of it before.


The Enforcer!

[von Hirschhorn]

A linguistic joy about - as GWR said - the things we played with in the sandpit.
Shovel - bulldozer - dragline (‘Bagger’ according the Germans) different machines with different tasks and they come in different shapes too. It is even more confusing when the producers name become a brand name or trademark on it self, i.e. Caterpillar. For all whom are not familiar with these solid machines, here’s what the Webster said:
Backhoe: an excavating machine having a bucket that is attached to a ridged bar hinged to a boom and that is drawn toward the machine in operation.

[GWR]

Looks like we are not the only folks who have been taking a bit of a dig at backhoes/JCBs: -

Q: Why is a network engineer never lost?

A: He always carries a piece of fiber with him. Then, if he's ever lost,
he just buries the fiber, waits for the backhoe to come along and tear
it up, and asks the backhoe operator for directions.

JCB images here:-

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Backhoe_fade

Backhoe fade or JCB fade is a humorous term referring to the accidental severing of telecommunications cables by a backhoe. (These diggers are commonly called "JCBs" in the UK and Ireland after their largest manufacturer, J. C. Bamford.) The term comes from the sudden and initially inexplicable loss of signal (fading) experienced when a cable is accidentally dug up and damaged. Depending on the particular cable destroyed, service may be interrupted to just a few customers or, for a large fiber optic cable, millions of customers across an entire continent.



JCB in popular culture: -

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/J._C._Bamford#In_popular_culture

[GWR]

To be honest, I'm not entirely sure that it was a backhoe/JCB. It might have been a HYMAC

This is an actual Hymac. I believe this make is no longer existent. They used to be manufactured at Rhymney Bridge in South Wales. I was in that area a bit back and there's no sign of a Hymac plant there now. Back in the 60s and 70s, these machines were always just known as Hymacs by many non-technical folks in the UK.

http://www.hymachinery.co.uk/hymac_photo.jpg

You know, I now realise that I have no idea what the correct British technical term is for this kind of machine, let alone what they call it in the US. I've got a feeling it's considered a subspecies of backhoe, however.

Serious! I'd like to know!?:D

[ncr]

You know, I now realise that I have no idea what the correct British technical term is for this kind of machine, let alone what they call it in the US. I've got a feeling it's considered a subspecies of backhoe, however.
"A backhoe attached to a swiveling cab on top of tracks is called an excavator." (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Backhoe) Also here (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Excavator).

Digger...? 360...? :confused: :cool:

[GWR]

I notice the picture of the Daewoo labels it a 'Tracked Excavator'. In fact, I remember some folks calling them Traxcavators. That seems to me an adequate decription.

But then there is a variant of this machine which has (if I remember rightly) six or 8 wheels instead of tracks. A 'Wheeled Excavator'? Wheelzcavators?