Raymond Forklifts: A History of Innovation

Back in 1922, George Raymond Sr., an efficiency engineer, bought a foundry in the small town of Greene, New York. In the beginning, Raymond’s business focused on making cast iron wheels, buckboards, and dollies. Raymond’s business made history first with the production of the first hydraulic hand lift truck. Its first foray into the material handling industry, this was just the beginning for what was soon to become one of America’s biggest names in forklifts.

In 1939, George Raymond and William House patented the first double-sided pallet and changed the way materials were handled forever. This simple invention made it possible for lift trucks to easily lift and move large amounts of materials. It wasn’t long before forklifts were adapted to more efficiently lift pallets and pallet racks made their appearance in warehouses throughout the United States.

The innovations didn’t stop there, though. Forklift technology and design continued to be refined and improved, but the basic shape of the counterbalanced forklift never really changed much until 1949, when the Raymond Corporation introduced the world’s first narrow aisle forklift. A radical design idea at the time, the Lyon-Raymond Model 700 SpaceMaker used outriggers placed under the forks instead of the bulky counterbalance system. This enabled the lift trucks to operate in aisles less than 7 feet wide for the first time.

Raymond forklifts: “the pursuit of perfection”

The family-owned company went public in 1956 and in 1959, George Raymond Jr. took the helm as company president and CEO. With greater financial resources and ambitions, the Raymond Corporation began producing a full range of lift trucks.

In the 1980s, the Raymond name made history again when the company introduced the world’s first computer-controlled drive system. This radical innovation also made the Raymond name spread globally and in the year 2000, the company was acquired by Toyota after having been acquired by Sweden materials handling giant BT in 1997.

The Raymond motto has always been, “The Pursuit of Perfection.” When you buy a used Raymond forklift from reconditionedforklifts.com, you’re buying a forklift built by one of the most respected names in the lift trucks and you’re buying a used forklift from one of heartland America’s most respected names in materials handling equipment — Bahrns Material Handling & Equipment.

Founded in 1966 in Effingham, IL, from modest beginnings, Bahrns established a reputation as one of central Illinois’ most trusted material handling equipment and supply companies. With a firm commitment to service, quality, and value, the company continued to expand, establishing a ToyotaLift forklift dealership in St. Joseph and facilities in Champaign. As an authorized Toyota dealer and Toyota Certified Reconditioned forklift dealer, Bahrns knows everything there is to know about material handling and everything there is to know about quality customer service.

At reconditionedforklifts.com, we’re proud to be part of the Bahrns team and proud to be associated with the traditions of excellence of great names in lift trucks like Raymond and Toyota.  Our inventory of used and reconditioned forklifts includes all classes of lift trucks, so whether you’re looking for an electric walkie, a narrow aisle forklift, or a solid or pneumatic tire counterbalanced IC workhorse, you’re likely to find it at reconditionedforklifts.com. If you can’t find what you need or have any questions about a used forklift in our inventory, don’t hesitate to contact us. We’re here to help you find the best-used forklift for your material handling needs.