THE HISTORY OF PATHFINDER
Pathfinder Snowplows was founded in 1965 by Fred Hone in North Kingstown, Rhode Island. Pathfinder commercial plow blades are uniquely designed with a trip edge which enables the plow to leap over destructive fixed obstacles, (raised sewer covers, shut-offs, curbs, train tracks etc.) that wear and damage competitor plows.
Kubota Tractor Corporation (KTC) of Osaka, Japan, was the first original equipment manufacturer (OEM) to purchase Pathfinders in 1972. The snowplows were painted Kubota orange with the KTC logo and exported by Kubota to various dealers worldwide. This relationship lasted through the 1970’s, when other tractor manufacturers also secured OEM arrangements with Pathfinder. Ford, John Deere, White Iseki, Deutz Allis, and Massey Ferguson-as well as Subaru of America used Pathfinders on Subaru vehicles. During this time, Pathfinders were also produced with the Pathfinder logo and traditional yellow coloration for direct sales thru Pathfinder distributors, in the US and Canada and dealers for both farm tractors and all models of 2 and 4 wheel drive trucks.
By 1973 the manufacturing of Pathfinder Snowplows had been relocated to an Exeter, Rhode Island Industrial Park off Rt. 95 on a 16 acre parcel of land on Industrial Drive. At its peak, Pathfinder employed over 80 people and used over 500 tons of steel to manufacture over 8,000 snowplows annually for trucks, automobiles, and tractors. NorthEast Hydraulics was the Pathfinder subsidiary that manufactured the hydraulic cylinders, hydraulic pump systems and log splitters. By 1988 Pathfinder began manufacturing of pick up truck dump inserts.
By 1996, Hone purchased the other stockholder’s interests, downsized the business, and changed marketing direction to local and internet sales. Pathfinders have been used in most states in the U.S. as well as being exported to Canada, the Orient, North Africa, South America and Europe for both snow removal and light dozing by farmers.
Pathfinder continued to produce this high quality line of snowplows for light and medium duty trucks, sport utility vehicles, and for farm and industrial tractors. Today Pathfinder continues to be a leading producer of superior snowplows, building quality and longevity into every blade.
Kubota Tractor Corporation (KTC) of Osaka, Japan, was the first original equipment manufacturer (OEM) to purchase Pathfinders in 1972. The snowplows were painted Kubota orange with the KTC logo and exported by Kubota to various dealers worldwide. This relationship lasted through the 1970’s, when other tractor manufacturers also secured OEM arrangements with Pathfinder. Ford, John Deere, White Iseki, Deutz Allis, and Massey Ferguson-as well as Subaru of America used Pathfinders on Subaru vehicles. During this time, Pathfinders were also produced with the Pathfinder logo and traditional yellow coloration for direct sales thru Pathfinder distributors, in the US and Canada and dealers for both farm tractors and all models of 2 and 4 wheel drive trucks.
By 1973 the manufacturing of Pathfinder Snowplows had been relocated to an Exeter, Rhode Island Industrial Park off Rt. 95 on a 16 acre parcel of land on Industrial Drive. At its peak, Pathfinder employed over 80 people and used over 500 tons of steel to manufacture over 8,000 snowplows annually for trucks, automobiles, and tractors. NorthEast Hydraulics was the Pathfinder subsidiary that manufactured the hydraulic cylinders, hydraulic pump systems and log splitters. By 1988 Pathfinder began manufacturing of pick up truck dump inserts.
By 1996, Hone purchased the other stockholder’s interests, downsized the business, and changed marketing direction to local and internet sales. Pathfinders have been used in most states in the U.S. as well as being exported to Canada, the Orient, North Africa, South America and Europe for both snow removal and light dozing by farmers.
Pathfinder continued to produce this high quality line of snowplows for light and medium duty trucks, sport utility vehicles, and for farm and industrial tractors. Today Pathfinder continues to be a leading producer of superior snowplows, building quality and longevity into every blade.