The topic which may fit well into H&W shipyard subject, and into the construction and technical aspect as a whole:

Is there more detailed info on the famous Floating crane built by Deutsche Maschinenfabrik AG (Demag)??

45 m height, 200 tons weight, load capacity of 150 tons... Something else, may be? More specific characteristics??







Thanks in advance for any help!!

Very best wishes and kindest regards,

Eugene.

Attachment #1, (jpg file)
Attachment #2, (jpg file)

Hi Eugene,

I don't really know if this question is an out of topic or not, but this is what that I can tell you:

The H&W purchased this crane for £30,000. For for some additional (technical) information look (Marine Engineer n.31):

- http://archive.org/details/marineengineer31londuoft
pages 116-117;

Here you can see an image (in color) taken in July 1971. If I'm not wrong this crane was in service until the middle of the '70.

- http://www.shipspotting.com/gallery/photo.php?lid=1284548

Best regards

Livio

The following is from "The Marine Engineer and Naval Architect" Vol. 30 (August, 1907 - June 1908):

LAUNCHES — Scotch.

Pontoon. — On October 25th, the Greenock & Grangemouth Dockyard Company Limited, launched from their shipbuilding yard at Greenock a large crane pontoon, dimensions 150 ft. by 86 ft. by 13 ft. This has been built for Messrs. Harland & Wolff, shipbuilders, Belfast, and is to carry the largest crane in the world to lift the gigantic weights required for their mammoth ships. The crane is being constructed by Messrs. Benrather Maschinenfabrik Actiengesellschaft, Benrath, Germany, and is to lift 150 tons to a height of 150 ft. and revolve right round on a radius of 100 ft. The pontoon has been constructed with 15 watertight compartments and has been specially designed by the builders so that it will be capable of taking the strain of the above load of 150 tons when revolving, and also so that the 150 tons load can be deposited at any place on the deck, the deck being specially strengthened for this purpose. The pontoon has been built to the design of the Greenock & Grangemouth Dockyard Company, Ltd., who are responsible for the strength of the structure. Before work was commenced the design and calculations were submitted to expert German constructors and the calculations completely verified.


Regards,
Scott Andrews
TRMA Trustee

Scott,

That's an interesting bit of information. It seems odd that Harland & Wolff didn't build the pontoon themselves -- perhaps they had too much other work on hand at the time.

Here's an artist's impression of the crane from 'Engineering'.



Regards,
Ralph

Attachment #1, (jpg file)

Ralph,

That's a nice illustration -- first time I've seen that one.

Regarding the pontoon, until coming across various period articles descrbing the crane, I had always assumed the same thing -- that H&W had build the pontoon upon which the crane floated.

This revelation makes me wonder what else was subcontracted on this particular job. Did H&W people outfit the pontoon with its boiler and electrical plant, or was this done at Greenock, too? And, what about the final on-site erection of the crane itself? There are quite a few pictures of this work being done at H&W in the NMNI picture archive, but was this work performed by H&W workers, or did Benrather send over a crew of their own people to perform this work? I don't suppose we'll ever know for certain.

Regards,
Scott Andrews
TRMA Trustee

Thank you so much, guys, for all these cognitive replies and for your contribution to this topic!

There are 2 massive discoveries to me after all, in fact:

1) that the crane was active untill so late, even in the 70s!! Thanks, Livio!

2) that the pontoon was built neither by H&W, nor by Germans themselves, but by the 3rd firm, actually! Really surprised to know!

And, of course, this picture (artist's impression of crane) is truly wonderful & spectacular! Thank you for posting it, Ralph!
Dreaming to find the higher res. version of that artwork one day...

Cordially and thankfully yours,
Eugene.

Hi Eugene,

I found this a few days ago in a French journal from 1909.



It seems to be a touched-up photo of a scale model (perhaps the builder's model?).

Regards,
Ralph

Attachment #1, (jpg file)

Very interesting pic, as well, and from the unusual point of view! Thanks again, Ralph!!

Looks a bit like a model, indeed! :>

PS. Check your PM, btw, please!

Cordially and thankfully yours,
Jenya.

Hi everybody

Thank you very much Ralph!!!

A very interesting and unusual image.

Best regards

Livio

>Hi Eugene,
>
>I don't really know if this question is an out of topic or
>not, but this is what that I can tell you:
>
>The H&W purchased this crane for £30,000. For for some
>additional (technical) information look (Marine Engineer
>n.31):
>
>- http://archive.org/details/marineengineer31londuoft
>pages 116-117;
>
>Here you can see an image (in color) taken in July 1971. If
>I'm not wrong this crane was in service until the middle of
>the '70.
>
>- http://www.shipspotting.com/gallery/photo.php?lid=1284548
>
>Best regards
>
>Livio
>

Livio,Thanks for posting the color picture from july 71,it's fantastic!