There are a couple of competitions around to identify the oldest working forklift and they're unearthing some interesting relics of bygone eras. It's always nice to uncover history, especially in a young industry like forklifts, but I wonder if we're at risk of losing the heritage. Tighter emissions controls are removing older equipment from workplaces in many jurisdictions, and the old gas-guzzlers will no doubt disappear everywhere before too long. We might have to resort to trips to developing countries to see the old battlers in action - the way the 1950s US automobile has been preserved in Cuba.
Like all things, it's a matter of balance - pitting our environmental concerns against the need to retain our heritage. Let's hope common sense prevails and we can ensure our future without throwing out our past.