Main Database > Military 1937-1989Military Cranes 1937-1989
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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.
Images - 2
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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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This Coles-Thornycroft Amazon 7 ton mobile crane, Reg No OMF 514, is pictured here in Colwyn Bay in 1954 not long after Edward Beck had purchased it second hand from the Ministry of Defence. Operating the crane is James Peters while driver Joe Goddard, standing in the road, looks on. The company purchased a number of these ex ministry mobile. 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. 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.
Coles Mobile Crane Manual Transmission
- The 100 Years History of Coles Cranes : A Series o...
By Kemp, Anthony, JamesBook Id:WPLBN0003468533
Format Type:PDF (eBook)
File Size:10.18 MB
Reproduction Date:1/26/2015
| Title: | The 100 Years History of Coles Cranes : A Series of Illustrated Books about Coles Cranes, Book 1 of 2 | | Author: | Kemp, Anthony, James | | Volume: | Book 1 of 2 | | Language: | English | | Subject: | Non Fiction, Technology, History of Mobile Cranes | | Collections: | History, Authors Community, Technology, Marketing, Management, Finance, Economy, Social Sciences, Fine Arts, Literature, Naval Science, Most Popular Books in China | Historic
Publication Date: | 2015 | | Publisher: | Pepperday Publications | | Member Page: | Anthony Kemp | Citation Kemp, A. J. (2015). The 100 Years History of Coles Cranes : A Series of Illustrated Books about Coles Cranes, Book 1 of 2. Retrieved from http://self.gutenberg.org/ |
Description
This first of 2 books is a reproduction of a promotional book given to clients and agents produced by Coles in 1979 called, “Coles 100 years - The growth story of Europe’s Leading Crane Manufacturer -1879 - 1979 ”. It was to celebrate the 100th anniversary of the establishment of the Coles Crane company by Henry James Cole in 1879. This book laid out the history of Coles from the foundation to the then present day 1979.
Summary
This is about the history of Coles Cranes, a company which in the mid 1950s and 1980s became one of the largest mobile crane manufacturers on the world. By 1998 the last few workers walked off the factory site and Coles Cranes was no more. This is the story of the growth of that business and the final decline.
Excerpt
No records can be found relating to Henry Coles’ childhood until he left school at the age of 13, to be articled to S.Worssam and Co. (later called A. Ransome and Co.), who were manufacturers of sawmill equipment with premises on the King’s Road, Chelsea. He was with them for ten years, the first five in the drawing office, the remainder in tile company’s workshops. In 1870 he joined Maudslay, Sons and Field. He spent two years there as a marine engineer, erecting equipment on a Number of fighting ships including HMS Triumph and Swiftsure. Then, in 1872, he joined Appleby Bros, and in doing so made tile move which changed his life.
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