A Smalley is a type of small excavator with two wheels on a single axle. It had no drive to the wheels, moving instead by 'walking' using the excavator or 'backhoe' arm. Once in location the machine worked as any other 360° excavator, with two fixed-adjustable front legs, and two rear legs which could be mechanically height-adjusted from within the cab. For larger distances the machine could be towed on the road at moderate speeds using a suitable vehicle such as a Landrover or large van.
Richard Smalley is credited with being the inventor of the world’s first mini excavator in 1959, although now superseded by tracked derivations of the compact excavator at the concept was highly successful in allowing a compact and cost effective machine, with these 'walking' or 'tow-behind' excavators having been sold into more than forty countries throughout the world (including over 100 machines to Japan before 1968) and hence likely being the design inspiration for these tracked compact excavators which dominate the market.
The manufacturer, Richard Smalley (Engineering) Ltd. was based in Osbournby near Sleaford in Lincolnshire, England.