Champion Road Machinery Ltd was one of the oldest all-Canadian construction equipment manufacturers whose predecessor company began building graders in Canada as far back as 1892. The company had an even earlier heritage with American roots going back to 1875. At that time one Samuel Pennock of Kennett Square, Pennsylvania, was already involved in manufacturing agricultural and railway equipment and patented a two-wheeled grader for pulling behind a team of horses. He went on to improve the grader idea and invented and patented a four-wheel pull-type in 1877 which was known as ‘The American Champion.’
The Champion name of course stayed with the company and became part of its corporate name in later years. Known as S & M Pennock & Sons back in 1878 the firm prospered and enlarged its factory to manufacture graders and other road building equipment. The American Champion graders were produced in large numbers, reaching 800 per year by the early 1880s.
In 1889
