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DATABASE INDEX

An image and fact database of as many types of Coles cranes as it has been possible to obtain, some are catalogue details but most are of real cranes still working out there in the real world. I must thank the many people who have supplied photographs and details for this database.

For a full description of all the different types of crane see the 'Crane Types Section' on the Homepage or to see that section now 'click here' .

A section for 'Neals' cranes, who were taken over by Coles has been placed at the bottom of the page.

Vintage Cranes 1987 - 1947, There is not much material from this period has survived but here as a selection to show how diverse Coles was and how meny things they tried before settling on a standard petrol eletric system. Any additional images welcome.

goto - Vintage - DATABASE
Carry Cranes also known as Yard Cranes or Deck Cranes have one single common factor, they are all designed to pick up and carry loads short distances, with these units the crane operator able to move the whole crane unit under its own power, from within the crane operating position.

goto - Carry Cranes - HISTORY or DATABASE
Lorry Mounted Lattice Cranes were only to come into existence when vehicles and engines of sufficient power were available to carry a crane unit. As engineering and need pushed up the size of these machines it did not take long before there were colossal crane units able to lift as much as 100 tons. Eventually a Coles crane would reach 300 tons.

goto - Lorry Mounted - HISTORY or DATABASE
Mobile Tower CranesColes never made what we now call tower cranes or fixed base cranes. What they did produce were mobile port cranes, semi tower high reach luffing cranes and container handling cranes. These were available in two different types; self propelled mobile cranes; and truck mounted mobile cranes.

goto - Hydraulic - or DATABASE
Lorry Mounted Hydraulic Cranes From 1966 when Coles introduced the first Hydraulic crane its development was rapid. It answered the problem of the lattice jib mobile crane, that of setting up and assembeling the machine before it could do any work. The first hydraulics were not made by Cole but a firm who Coles were to take over Taylors of Manchester.

goto - Hydraulic - HISTORY or DATABASE
Hydra Husky. These machines are specifically designed for working in poor ground conditions in particular, they work on construction sites, bridge building, road making and mining.

goto - Hydra Hudky - HISTORY or DATABASE
The All Terrain (AT), Ranger and Transit
These are the heavy duty runabouts of the collection, made in various configurations they are rough terrain units made to be road legal. They can road travel between distant rough terrain sites.

goto - All Terrain - HISTORY or DATABASE
Speedcrane Rapidly developed after the take over of Taylors the Speedcrane was the first hydraulic crane to be sold under the Coles banner. Developed over the years but retained it early configuration. This light road legal fast travel industrial crane proved very popular.

goto - Speedcrane - HISTORY or DATABASE

The Military Cranes Coles started making cranes for the military in 1937 when the Air Ministry order 82 EMA type unit. From that time Coles supplied many types of crane for army and airforce use. These were based on their civilian range but built to a much higher specification.

goto - Military Cranes - DATABASE
Rail Mounted Cranes This is where Coles started, making steam grab cranes for the expanding railways. There are not meny remaining examples of theses units. Here are a few that I have manages to find.

goto - Rail - HISTORY or DATABASE
Neals Cranes, the cranes made by Neals of Grantham before the Coles takeover in 1959. Neal was an important manafacturer in their own right, but there is not alot of information from this period so any additional images welcome.

goto - Neals - HISTORY or DATABASE
F Taylor and Sons (Manchester) Ltd, made a different style of crane they were few in number but often adapted for particular work. These are examples of most of their output, with details where available. Coles were took over in 1959 and developed the hydraulics.

goto - Taylors - HISTORY or DATABASE



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