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THE HISTORY AND DEVELOPMENT OF COLES CRANES
This site is about cranes, in particular Coles Cranes and the history of Coles. To see why this site came about see the section "About Site" . This site will discribe somthing about mobile cranes, the history of Coles Cranes and lots of pictures along with some intresting little technical details.
Coles stopped trading in 1984 and is now only a part of crane history. This site is dedicated to remembering what was once one of the largest crane manufacturing companies in the world.


Last update : 16/10/2013 : New - Two updates to the downloadable books - First new information on the Colossus 6000 machines. Second much need information about the Grove years and the final shutdown of the Sunderland plant in the book Coles the Final Years. These PDF files which can be downloaded from the Dounload Liknk Look in the "COLES NEWS" for more information about updated items.
To access Coles News select on any title block

COLES CRANE IMAGE TYPE DATABASE and TYPE HISTORY
The extensive database of this site contains listings of most of the types of crane produced by Coles over it history. Where possible photographs and details are given along with the introduction date of that type.
Also included here is an outline history of the group types and what they were designed to do.
THE HISTORY OF COLES CRANES
Coles Cranes started in 1879 and went on to be a world company only closing 119 years later 1998, when taken over by Grove cranes. Follow this story in words, pictures and time line.
There is the full history of Coles and short historys companys Coles took over, F. TAYLOR and SONS (MANCHESTER) LIMITED and of J S NEAL & Co.



CATALOUGES AND LISTS OF TYPES
This section includes lists and details of cranes from various catalogues OF different periods of Coles history. Currently there are Port Cranes from 1956 the General catalogue from 1970 and the range from 1975, as well a test list of all known units starting from 1964.
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PICTURE HISTORY TIME LINE
A time line showing when certain models of the basic cranes were developed and introduced by Coles over the years.

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TECHNICAL
Technical stuff about how and why of cranes. An outline of Crane Types. Crane part discriptions. Jib and Boom details. Slew ring history.


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DISCRIPTION OF CRANE TYPES

A brief discription of the vairous types of cranes that are in use today with an illustrated example. Not all these types were made by coles.




SPOTLIGHT
These pages shine a spotlight on individual cranes where there is additional infromation or photographs that give a better or intresting profile of specific crane or type of crane.
Hydra 6x4 15 ton 1968 - Argus Mobile 1959
Colossus L6000 - 1975 - Hydra 18/22
Illustrious Truck 1968





TOY COLES CRANES
A section dedicated to the toys that have been made based on types of Coles cranes. Here we see Dinky, and other die-cast models, Schoco, Victory and others.




ODDITIES
Coles related items that do not fit into any of the other catagries.
1. The Thames Barrier, 2. Collectables
THE WORKS MODELS
Here we take as a starting point the scale models made at the Sunderland works. What these models were for and how they relate to the full sized cranes produced by Coles. These include historical Coles cranes, current types and prototype models.



ABOUT THIS SITE
How this site came about. How I came to be the model maker to Coles at Sunderland and a look at the Sunderland works. Find out what the odd looking machine to the left has to do with this story.
The story begins.....

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COLES CROWN WORKS - SUNDERLAND
Details of the main Coles works at Sunderland. Details about where it is and some photographs of the factory from when it was in full production in 1968




CONTACT
How to contact me about any information you have on Coles cranes, photos, make corrections, or ask any crane related questions.

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Site Map Thanks and Links Top of Page
Tony on the Moon