Rotheisler Kangaroo

[LodiCal]

08/04/2021 - EDIT. Ernest Rotheisler is semi-retired. He states that we have one of the "new ones" because this one has hydrostatic drives. Ernest states that for the first 100 machines, they used car differentials. Our serial number is 255 and it was built in January 1979. My original post from 08/03/2021 follows:

I have more photos that I will share later. This is a Rotheisler Kangaroo built by Rotheisler Equipment LTD, Oliver B.C., first produced circa 1955. This unit was purchased new in northern California circa 1957. Engine is a 12HP Kohler K301S. The following link sums up just about everything I currently know about this piece of equipment other than what I shared. Oh why not? - Oliver Daily News (I found this info. on the Oliver Daily News (orig. article here) website but the photos do not render. The publisher directed me to the link first provided)

Has anyone ever seen/used one of these or know anything about this piece of equipment or the company? One of the articles I found indicated that Rotheisler employed approximately 100 people during it's heyday.

 

[grsthegreat]

man, that syre looks tippy to me, but im not sure how far up it reaches

 

[ning]

From the linked article:

 

[grsthegreat]

Oh, so it hooks up to a tractor. Was thinking it was self propelled. That would help with stability

 

[ning]

Oh, so it hooks up to a tractor. Was thinking it was self propelled. That would help with stability

yeah I saw 2 wheels and no obvious outrigger and I'm like ".... no. way."

 

[LodiCal]

I should have included this photo as well. re: stability, they used this in the orchards and the farmer stated that he could crawl over 6" cuttings with no problem or suffer from any stability issues.

 

[Jstpssng]

I don't see that it would be any less stable than one of those van mounted lifts with no stabilizers which the cable company uses around here.

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[the old grind]

Looks to be self-powered. Orchard next door has a smaller one that's powered by a PTO pump with just a reservoir, IMO looks simpler than using tractor's remotes. I have a bucket truck, but watching the neighbor put up Christmas lights makes me wish I had the maneuverability of the towable say when limbing trees to be selectively felled/thinned. Sooo nice to have either.

 

[Jstpssng]

Looks to be self-powered. Orchard next door has a smaller one that's powered by a PTO pump with just a reservoir, IMO looks simpler than using tractor's remotes. I have a bucket truck, but watching the neighbor put up Christmas lights makes me wish I had the maneuverability of the towable say when limbing trees to be selectively felled/thinned. Sooo nice to have either.

That would be nice.
I have a 13 foot fruit picking ladder, anything I can't reach from that get's cut off.

 

[Midniteoyl]

man, that syre looks tippy to me, but im not sure how far up it reaches

Ya, I'd need to hook up a couple outriggers to the front at least.

 

[LodiCal]

I edited my original post to reflect new information.

 

[Ron Pratt]

I know this is an old thread, have you got your Kangaroo running?

I heave one a few #’s up from yours
Not many around via google searches.

We live in north eastern Washington . The Kangaroo was built in Oliver BC. That’s an hour away. We wrote a letter to Ernest Rotheisler as the museum says it’s the only way to contact him. So far no reply. Been a month.

Hoping we can run up and get a visit in.

 

[LodiCal]

I corresponded with Ron via private message. I have not made much progress. The engine now runs. I cleaned up the rusted fuel tank and installed a new fuel bowl. The hydraulic motors were leaking so I purchased gasket kits for both and they are on the bench waiting for me to rebuild. Currently I am waiting for a friend of a friend to stop by and help me make heads & tails of the hydraulic system. Prior to my getting this lift it was said that one of the motors was not working or not working well. Motors checked out fine, so I need someone to help me assess they hydraulic system. I will update when I make mentionable progress.

 

[Shazzy]

Does anyone have an Operator's manual for this? I have one of these too!

 

[LodiCal]

Your Kangaroo looks like it’s in great shape! For the sake of the thread, are you able to post the serial number and maybe some other photos?

It’s been a few years now, and I don’t recall whether Mr. Rothlisberger indicated that he had any owners manuals but prior to speaking with him, I corresponded with the folks at the museum. They may have documentation like owners manuals and such. This is the information I have from that time. Keep us posted. Good luck!

Rebecca Rizzo
Curator
Curator@oliverheritage.ca
Oliver and District Heritage Society Museum and Archives
www.oliverheritage.ca l 778.439.3100 l 474 School Ave., Oliver BC

 

[LodiCal]

Before the Kangaroo, there was a Girette. This is a GH-16 that was recently sold in Stockton, CA. Since it sold, I don't know how long this link will work, but there is a video of the seller driving it around: Facebook listing: Motorized Man Lift for Tree Pruning - Girette GH-16 $4,000

Because there is not much info. out there, I will share the following.

1. Source unknown:
John Chapman says: It is my understanding that the Girette in the Penticton parade (first clue being the spotted “neck” of the lift) was actually invented by John Rotheisler himself when he worked for Ted Trump at Trump Industries which used to be located on the old General Coach site. Shortly after this John left Trumps to start a new machine shop on his own just south of town which he ran very successfully until he passed away. During this time, John developed another lift to compete with the girette, calling it the Kangaroo. I well remember John making several trips towing a new kangaroo behind his old El Camino to deliver them to customers as far away as Ontario and the East coast of he US. He would often take his wife Marguerite along with him and make it a bit of a holiday. To this day a small yellow replica of a kangaroo stands atop a post by the driveway of the family home on Panorama Cr. John, our neighbour, was the consumate inventor for most of his life. He would often come across our street to get me to come and look at one of his new “projects”. These ranged from new powered wood splitters, to automatic levellers, retractable steps or lifts for his newly purchased trailer, to anything for which he saw a need. If anyone needed a part for a task, it was with great pleasure that John would set about designing and fabricating something which would do the job. You could always tell by the glint in his eye and little giggle as he showed things off, that he drew tremendous pleasure and pride from his creations.

2. Source Unknown
NOVEMBER 17, 2013
The Oliver Osoyoos Branch of the Okanagan Historical Society is having its Semi-Annual Meeting on Sunday November 17 at 2:00 pm in the lower level of the
Oliver United Church located at 511 Church Avenue
The guest speaker is Ernie Rotheisler and his topic will be “The Evolution of the Cherry Picker”. He will start with the Trump Giraffe, and then talk about the Girette, Chipmunk, Squirrel and of course the Kangaroo, which was designed and manufactured by the Rotheisler Family.
The design, manufacture and use of these machines are an important part of Oliver’s Heritage and Ernie’s father, John played a role in their development. There are still people in the South Okanagan who worked at the Trump plant where it all started and Ted Trump had a very high profile in our community for several years. Also many of us have memories operating these fascinating machines.