cranes

In the top line of this page I dated the Cranes 1937 - 1957. In 2008 I found a 1930 Tri-ang catalogue

with three earlier Cranes. Now, April 2009, I almost sure Tri-ang made these Cranes before 1930.

Why? The 1930 and later Cranes have 3 or 6 side windows. The very early Cranes however had just one window. The 1930 catalogue is List as No.25.

So there must have been 24 (!!) catalogues listed before 1930 and the first catalogue must have been published in 1906. Let's have a look at the Cranes Tri-ang made during the years.

1930

Introduced in the early '30 ties of the last century, Tri-ang released three different Cranes in the

ALL STEEL SERIES . A No.1 ; a No.2 ; and a No.3 All models were stoved enamelled red, with a black under- carriage. The partially unbreakable joints were welded together. The Cranes were fitted with disc wheels. Only No.3 had rubber tyres.

No. 1 (a)

The No.1 Crane is the smallest of the All Steel Series with a Length of 21 cm, Width 19 cm and a Height of 23 cm.

As said, I'm almost sure the below Crane with one side window is made before 1930.

No. 1 (b)

After 1930

To keep the boom in place Tri-ang used a chain as well as solid steel bar. ( see the black arrows)

No. 2

As with the number one., I'm almost sure the below Crane No.2 with one side window

is made before 1930. The No. 2 is larger than No 1 and has 6 side windows.

Length : 38 cm, Width: 21cm, Height: 28cm.

This Crane No.2 was produced till 1957!!!

No. 3

Crane No.3 was produced till 1940. The below sample is earlier. It has a Tri-ang plate on the roof.

Length : 47 cm, Width: 28cm, Height: 29 cm.

1937 - 1938

In 1937 the Lines Bros increased the Crane Series with a simple Dock Crane

1947

Just two models remain after the war. No. 1 and No.2

1955

In the mid 50 ties of the last century Tri-ang introduced a new range of cranes and other steel built working scale models. An Excavator , two Job cranes and the famous Jones K&L 44.

Tri-ang Excavator No.2

The first Excavator was generally similar to the No.2 crane. It was fitted with a mechanical shovel with a manually operated release.

Tri-ang Excavator No. 300

This new Excavator was more detailed with 7 controls for slewing, boom hoisting, "crowd" control, shovel hoisting and bucket discharging. It was mounted on a track laying chassis with rubber crawlers. It is a pity that (again) Tri-ang used rubber of a bad quality. Most of these are perished

New Zealand Tri-ang Excavator

The Excavator was also produced in New Zealand. My Australian friends and enthusiast Tri-ang collectors Michael and Tracey sent me these photo's.

Super Jib Crane

Tri-ang gave this description : A fine new model incorporating track laying chassis with rubber crawlers with a folding jib. Ratchets operated hoisting gear and lever operated jib.

Mobile Jib Crane

This Jib crane is similar in specifications and construction to the above Super Jib Crane but fitted with a 3 wheel chassis.

R.A.F. Mobile Jib Crane

This R.A.F. Jib crane realesed in 1962 is similar in specifications and construction to the above Super Jib Crane but fitted with R.A.F. decals .

Kryn and Lahy JONES Steel works

Kryn and Lahy Jones were two Belgium refugees from WW I, who build a steel works factory in Letchworth.(U.K.)

They built the famous Jones KL 44 cranes.

These Jones Cranes also played an invaluable part in the war, producing over 1000 mobile cranes. These were used in many international locations including unloading the first barge to land on the beaches at Arromanches, Normandy on D-Day. To meet the demand for cranes needed for D-Day, Jones produced 180 cranes in just 25 weeks.

The picture shows a Jones Crane Barge at Arromanches, Normandy, D-Day 1944

Tri-ang Jones KL 44 Cranes

As a keepsake to Kryn and Lahy Jones, Tri-ang released the KL Cranes

This Jones KL44 was Tri-ang's the most successful crane . It was sold in three variations.

With a bucket, with a Priestman grab and one with an electro magnetic grab with a

battery box with an on and off switch.

Tri-ang Jones KL 44 with an electro magnetic grab.

Thank's to an Australian collector, Pete Willing, I can show you photo's of this remarkable crane.

In all the years I'm collecting Tri-ang vehicles, I had never seen this crane.

The grab is operating from a switch on a battery box at the rear. It houses 2 standard batteries.

Tri-ang Jones KL 44 with bucket or Priestman grab.

All Jones cranes have a slewing jib unit with a ratchet controls for the jib elevation and hoisting gear.

The crane was supplied with weather a bucket or a Priestman grab.

On the bottom of the chassis there is a decal with this text:

- A model of the 4 ton JONES MOBILE CRANE made by K&L STEELFOUNDERS & ENGINEERS LTD of Letchworth, England, makers of the world's BEST MOBILE CRANES which are distributed in Great Britain by GEORGE COHEN SONS & CO LTD.

The Priestman grab was separate sold for the Jones Crane. It is very collectable and hard to find!

How this grab operates you can find on this website which belongs to "Meccano man" Alan Esplen

A Jones KL 44 crane has 2 strings. If you don't know how to fit these strings, just sent us an email. We have a simple diagram we can mail you.

To contact us: click here

DOCKCRANE

In 1962 Tri-ang released a giant free-standing Triang Dockside Crane this impressive model crane stands approximately 120cm tall, red cab and counterweight container, blue jib and stand, black bucket, with additional cradle , a lifting platform and a sling . Hard to find with these accessories