Manley crane identification

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Rumbler
Posts: 127
Joined: May 21st, 2017, 4:27 pm
Body Type: 82-A Stakebed
Model Year: 1928
Location: Central Illinois

Manley crane identification

Post by Rumbler »

A friend of mine has a Manley crane as shown in the attached pictures. It has a Manley tag but with only a serial number and no model or capacity identification. Can anyone identify this unit? The entire crane appears to be able to pivot on a lower support frame, but I wasn't able to get close enough to determine how that part worked. I'm guessing it's newer than the Model AA period.
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oldtimetowing
Posts: 44
Joined: January 21st, 2008, 4:45 pm
Model Year: 1930
Location: Palo Alto, Ca

Re: Manley crane identification

Post by oldtimetowing »

Greetings

The Manley crane you are looking at is most likely a Manley No. 101 Wrecking crane. it actually pre-dates the AA era as is was developed by the Manly Manufacturing Co. in the mid to late teens. The exact date is subject to debate. The No. 101 was Manley's most common wrecker crane. It also had a steel base available that turned it into a shop crane or engine hoist. The crane was rated at 2.5 tons.

This one seems to be missing a swivel head at the end of the boom. There were two swivel heads available, one gave you a two part line and the other a three part line to the load. Without them it is only a one part line so when you crank the load up you have the total weight of the load, with a two or three part line the effort needed to raise the load, that's you on the crank, is reduced significantly.
User avatar
Rumbler
Posts: 127
Joined: May 21st, 2017, 4:27 pm
Body Type: 82-A Stakebed
Model Year: 1928
Location: Central Illinois

Re: Manley crane identification

Post by Rumbler »

Thank you oldtimetowing for your response. I too was surprised that it lacked the swivel head, which I feel would have made it much more desirable. I'll share this with my friend as I'm sure he will be interested to hear this information.

Thanks,
Brian
oldtimetowing
Posts: 44
Joined: January 21st, 2008, 4:45 pm
Model Year: 1930
Location: Palo Alto, Ca

Re: Manley crane identification

Post by oldtimetowing »

Greetings

The other two things to look for is the original Manley snatch block and winch crank. These are usually missing on all of these early wreckers
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