McCloskey Equipment FAQ: What I Learned from $50,000 in Mistakes

I've been handling equipment orders for energy and mining operations for about 8 years now. In that time I've personally made (and documented) something like 15 significant mistakes — adding up to roughly $50,000 in wasted budget between bad specs, wrong models, and skipped inspections. I now maintain our team's pre-purchase checklist to keep others from repeating my errors. Below are the questions I hear most often, including a few that surprised me.

1. Is McCloskey the same company as Margot McCloskey?

Short answer: no. McCloskey International is a manufacturer of mobile crushing, screening, and stacking equipment — Jaw Crushers like the J50v2, screens like the ES250, stackers like the R230. Margot McCloskey is a completely unrelated individual. I get this question every few months because search engines sometimes mix up results. To be fair, the name is the same, but the businesses have nothing to do with each other. If you're looking for equipment specs, you're in the right place.

2. Who are Mark and Patricia McCloskey of St. Louis, and do they own McCloskey equipment?

That's the couple from the 2020 incident in St. Louis — again, no connection to the equipment brand. I've had a few customers ask if they're the founders or something. They're not. But if you're a quarry operator in the St. Louis area looking for a McCloskey dealer, I can point you to a few reliable ones. Just shoot me an email. The confusion is understandable, but let's keep it straight: McCloskey (the brand) makes crushers and screens; Mark and Patricia McCloskey are private citizens with the same last name.

3. What's this "Henry age" I keep seeing in search results?

I'll be honest — I had to look this one up the first time a customer asked. There's a bit of internet lore about a guy named Henry McCloskey, maybe a former employee or a family member of the original founders? I don't have a verified source on that. What I can tell you is that Henry's age doesn't affect the performance of a J50v2 jaw crusher. If you're trying to date a machine, check the serial number — that's a lot more useful than the age of a person named Henry.

4. Who is Kendall? (I keep seeing that name with McCloskey)

Kendall isn't a model name I recognize. McCloskey's common models are letters and numbers: J50, I54, R230, ES250, etc. I've seen a few forum posts where someone mentions "Kendall" — could be a sales rep or a typo for "Kendall" stacker? Honestly, I'm not sure. If you're trying to spec a stacker, don't search for "Kendall" — search for "R230 specs" or "stacker for sale McCloskey." That'll get you real results.

5. How many legs does a McCloskey crusher have?

I laughed out loud the first time I saw this search query in my analytics. The answer: zero. A crusher doesn't have legs. Mobile units like the J50v2 run on tracks or tires, and stationary units sit on concrete pads or steel legs (which aren't biological legs). I think people might be confusing equipment with animals or robots. But hey, it's a legit question if you've never seen one up close. So there you go — zero legs, but plenty of horsepower.

6. What's the real cost of owning a McCloskey stacker? (The hidden fees I wish I knew)

I once ordered a stacker without asking about delivery and setup charges. The base price looked great — $45,000 for a used R230. But by the time I added freight from the Midwest, a site prep fee, and a week of lost production because I hadn't budgeted for a concrete pad, the total was closer to $55,000. That's a $10,000 surprise. Per FTC guidelines on transparent pricing, a vendor should list all fees upfront. Now I always ask: "What's NOT included in that number?" Before I sign anything. The vendor who shows you the full cost — even if it looks higher — usually costs less in the end.

7. Should I buy a used McCloskey jaw crusher or go new?

Everything I'd read said new is always safer. Then I made the mistake of skipping a pre-purchase inspection on a used J50v2 in 2021. Thought the seller seemed honest — what are the odds? Well, I ended up with $4,000 in unexpected wear part replacements. That taught me: used isn't bad, but you need a mechanical inspection and a history report. I've since bought two used stackers and one screen — all with inspections — and saved roughly 30% vs. new. The trick is knowing what to check. That's why I keep a checklist taped to my office wall. If you want a copy, I'm happy to share.