The company was founded in 1907 by William Henry Insley (born 1870). The company holds many patents for cable-operated digging equipment such as Dragline excavators and power shovels. Insley lost its independence in 1975 when purchased by United Dominion Industries; the name is currently held by Badger Equipment Co.
Badger acquired the Insley product line of crawler-mounted knuckle boom excavators in 1986 as a result of manufacturing plant consolidation. Insley was a sister company at the time. Badger acquired the Burro product line of locomotive cranes under the hook lifting devices in 1990 as a result of manufacturing plant consolidation. Burro was a sister company at the time. Badger acquired the Cruz-Air line of rubber-tired excavators from J.I. Case in 1994. The first model of a new family of high-pressure hydraulic telescopic excavators was introduced in August 1995.