Dinky Supertoys #571 Coles Mobile Crane 1949-1954 6 1/4' Long Good Condition. $14.95 0 bids + shipping. Vintage DINKY TOYS FORD MUSTANG / Die Cast 1/43 - England ( Good For Parts ) $16.00 + $5.00 shipping. Picture Information. Opens image gallery.
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This site is about cranes, in particular Coles Cranes and the history of Coles. To see why this site came about see the 'About Site' section. This site will discribe somthing about mobile cranes, the history of Coles Cranes and contain a database with pictuers of most of the cranes made by Coles along with some intresting little technical details.
Coles stopped trading in 1984 and and the last working factory closed down in 1998. Coles 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 and to those people who worked there.
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About This Site and Database Navigation
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 an odd looking machine has to do with this story.
Also find out about how to navigate the database of images used by this site also how to make contact about any information on the site or to add information.
Select Here or the image to left to go to this section
| Main Database
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.
Select Here or the image to left to go to this section.
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Original Coles Crane Site
This is a link to the original Coles Crane site which had to be abandoned when the server closed down. It is not as extensive as the above but does contain things not in this site. These include the History's of J S Neal & Co and F. Taylor And Sons Manchester Limited. Also technical details, catalogues and other miscellaneous items. which just seemed interesting at the time. Select Here or the image to left to go to this section.
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| Description Of Crane Types
A brief description of the various types of cranes that are in use today with an illustrated example. Not all these types were made by Coles.
Select Here or the image to left to go to this section.
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| Picture History - Chronology and Time Line
A time line showing when certain models of the basic cranes were developed and introduced by Coles over the years.
Also a Chronology of dates with short notes on some of the significent events in the history of the Cole Crane Company.
Also here a list of all the Cranes made
Select Here or the image to left to go to this section.
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| History Books
Read on line or download any of a series of PDF books about coles cranes. These can be viewed online or downloaded to you own computer and kept. You can also link through to the photographic database to see the photographs in the books,this database contains extra images not included in the books due to space constraints. To read online or download booklet select here or image to left.
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| Works Models and Others
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.Also we look at toys that have been made based on types of Coles cranes. Here we see Dinky, and other die-cast models, Schoco, Victory and finally hobby made cranes form paper wood metal Lego and Maccano.
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Coles Mobile Crane Manual Transmission
Main Database > Military 1937-1989Military Cranes 1937-1989
Click on any picture to be taken to the files images.
If you have not done so already read the section 'About Site' which explains how the database works.
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| Military Cranes
Coles first involvement with the military came when they won a tender to make cranes for the Ministry Defence in 1937 the order was for a general purpose self propelled light crane for use with the RAF. This order was for 82 units, a large order at that time. From that time on Coles were almost entirely given over to making the same crane throughout the whole of the second world war. From that time Coles had supplied many types of crane for the army, navy and airforce. Not only to the UK but all round the world.
All these crane have been based on their civilian range but built to the much higher military specification required by the services and generally heavier and more reliable systems. This of course made them far more expensive so these cranes often have a very good second had value after the military had finished with them.
Left is a brochure about Coles Military cranes this was produced in the 1980.
The cranes on the cover are,
top - Hydra 180 AT 18T,
bottom left - All Terrain Hydraulic Husky At422,
bottom right - Jumbo Speedcrane.
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| Model - EMA Mk1First made in 1937 the continued to be made right up until 1946 when it was updated to become first the Aries then the Argus Mobiles.Developed for the air ministry the EMA (Electro Mobile Aerodrome) is a self propelled, twin axled , four tyred, electrically driven mobile crane with 360 slewing and 3 ton 2.4m jib. One major development of this machine was the non-rigid jib made of welded sections.This machine developed from the 2 ton Mk1 through Mk II, III, V, VI, and VII versions increasing capacities up to the 6 ton Mk VII.
Images - 5
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| Model - EMA Utility Mk1Notes - Lattice Jib 2.4 to 3m Long.The EMA slewing unit was also made as a Utility version for use on suitable lorry chassis. This unit was a stripped down version with the minimal parts necessary to make it work. It was intended for the electrical power to be taken from the truck it was mounted on. This was fed by a cable so the crane had to have a limiter on the degrees of rotation. Where the truck could not provide the electrical power a separate small engine and generator were fitted either on the truck chassis, as in the Matador or bolted onto the slewing unit. During the war this slewing unit was fitted to almost any suitable lorry chassis.
Two of the most widely used were the 6 ton 6x4 Thorneycroft Amazon and the 6x6 AEC Matador. Also fitted to the Austin K6 and Layland.
Note- there is a photograph in the 100 years book showing eleven Thorneycroft Amazon trucks on a row saying they are fitted with the EMA slewing rig, this is incorrect these are a much later units from 1948 fitted with the Ulysses 6T self contained slewing unit.
Images - 10
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| Model - Slewing Recovery CraneNotes - Coles only made the crane unit for the AEC Militant Mark 3 truck. The crane unit took its power from the truck including hydraulic. It could slew 90 degrees each way rase hydraulically under fill load and extend hydraulicly to about 10 feet. Also fitted with powerful cable hook winch. The crane unit weighs 5 to 5.5T.
Images - 9
Drawing - yes
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| Model - Hydra AT 18TNotes - Developed for the military, 4 wheel drive. Both Crane and Truck can be driven from either truck cab or slewing cab position. Not armoured but military specification fittings. This was available from the 1970 but was later updated in 78 and called the Coles/Grove 315M MK2.
4 wheel drive 360 Degree Fully slewing with rear cab, joystick controls, 19m reach, 4 x outriggers, axle locks, PAT 150 DS safe load indicator, ZF 6 speed transmission.
Images - 12
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| Model - Speedcrane MK 2 |
| Hydra Husky 36-40 TSC |
| Model - Jumbo
Notes - In 1982 and 1983 a stripped down version of the Speedcrane was introduced harking back to the Taylors crane hence the name. I was meant to be a fast simple yard crane.
Images - 1
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| Model - Ranger 530
Notes - To make the Husky TSC suitable for extended road use Coles came up with the swing cab. Driving from the normal forward looking position meant that half the drivers sight was blocked by the boom when in the parked position. Developed for the military the answer was to allow the cab to swing 180 degrees to face over the rear allowing free vision.
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| Model - Husky 15-17 TCC ATBuilt after Grove took over and using more of the Grove house design features
Images - 2
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| Model - Grove AT422
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Mobile Crane Manual
- This site will discribe somthing about mobile cranes, the history of Coles Cranes and contain a database with pictuers of most of the cranes made by Coles along with some intresting little technical details. Coles stopped trading in 1984 and and the last working factory closed down in 1998. Coles is now only a part of crane history.
- Crane Specification search result for manufacturer: Coles. Beaver Tree Services Takes Delivery of National 9125A From Select Crane Sales.
- Mobile Crane Safety. Mobile cranes are responsible for the most accidents, injuries, and fatalities of all of the crane types. Be aware of the hazards if you operate or work around mobile cranes. Get proper training on crane operation and load preparation and securing.
- The Grove Manufacturing Company was founded in 1947 and is one of the world’s leading producers of mobile hydraulic telescope cranes. In 2002 Grove was acquired by the Manitowoc Company. Other brands manufactured by Manitowoc include Manitowoc crawler cranes, National cranes (articulating truck-mounted cranes) and Potain tower cranes.