While this is likely true it doesn't detract from Christensen's point, which is that the steam shovel companies went out of business because they couldn't switc

While this is likely true it doesn't detract from Christensen's point, which is that the steam shovel companies went out of business because they couldn't switch. The steam shovel companies saw hydraulics as toys, or a sideline, or as sweeteners to throw in with a big steam shovel contract. They didn't understand how to exploit hydraulics when they finally developed enough to move earth by the ton more cheaply than large steam shovels.