thew lorain
 

Always a favourite of mine , here we see a Thew playing sand castles on the beach and in service with british forces. The second lifting a halftrack, now that looks like the remains of a packing case underneath so would the vehicle be as complete as seen straight from the case
cheers
Les

Y'know Les, I think you're right, the crane is picking the halftrack directly out of a crate. There are no external stores whatsoever and the M3 is clean as a whistle with additional smaller crates stored within suggesting that it is new. I am surprised that the crane operator isn't using a spreader bar of any sort to relieve the strain across the back of the halftrack, however I see they have placed some timbers in an effort to spread the strain across the entire back of the halftrack.

While we're on the subject of cranes, I have an interesting picture from 1940 of an airfield engineer battalion. I posted pics of a similar small tipper a while back asking for an ID and received a reply of a Muir-Hill tipper. In fact it may have been you who identified as such. In this picture there is a similar small tipper being loaded by one of the smallest shovels I have ever seen. Would you be able to identify it by any chance?

CHIMO! Derek.

Derek,

This dumper (what we call them over here), looks to be built on a Fordson Standard tractor and I think is probably a Muir-Hill. Another make is Aveling-Barford, but I am going for the former. Will see what Les has to say.

Hi Guys

Richard is correct it is a Muir Hill based on the old Ford N series petrol or gas engine type. to be honest they were a pain in the butt to operate as the skip would as always be overloaded and when tipped would fly up with only two chains to restrict it. In my teens and being one of the green onions then, i was given along with two others the job of driving these Donkeys that were the oldest items on the quarry i remember all three of us became pilots as we were catapaulted over the skip into the pile of shingle we had just tipped, needless to say we soon became aware of this problem and held on for grim death as the skip went up we also kept our hands clear of those bloody chains to. On the second photo you can see the loose chains hanging below the chassis frame
cheers
Les

Could Sapper's small shovel be a Ruston Bucyrus - perhaps a 10RB or maybe a 19RB. the attachment looks to be a "Skimmer" Arm - used for levelling surfaces etc.
My first visit to the "Engineerium" - it' big isn't it

Noel

Not a Thew but thought we could use this thread for all sorts of mobile cranes, i think this is a Bay City anyone like to confirm
cheers
Les

This nice example of the Thew survived and worked on the Isle Of Man for many years along with a AEC Matador for a stable mate. The Matador was sold into preservation a while back but i am not sure of the fate of the crane, now that would be something to see this returned to military colours
cheers
Les