William Dana Ewart, Date of Birth, Date of Death

William Dana Ewart

Date of Birth: 24-Apr-1851

Date of Death: 03-May-1908

Profession: inventor

Zodiac Sign: Taurus

William Dana Ewart (April 24, 1851 – May 3, 1908) invented and patented the linked belt, a square detachable link for chain belts, on September 1, 1874.
The metal chain "linked belt" replaced the leather and strap belts used on agricultural equipment at the time. A resident of Belle Plaine, Iowa, Ewart was a farm-implement dealer when he conceived of the idea.
In 1875 Ewart established the Ewart Manufacturing Co.
in Belle Plaine, Iowa.
In 1880 he founded the Link-Belt Machinery Company and in 1888 the Link-Belt Engineering Company.
In the early 1890s, Ewart's companies produced the first wide-gauge, steam-powered, coal-handling clamshell crane, the further development of which would eventually lead to the modern Link-Belt construction equipment.
Link-Belt chain drives were used in a variety of applications, including auto assembly lines, coal mining, concrete mixers, and agricultural machinery.Ewart was inducted into the Association of Equipment Manufacturers Hall of Fame: in 1996 at CONEXPO-CONAGG.