James Ferguson's crane, 1764-1776.

Ferguson's Crane James Ferguson's crane, 1764-1776.

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Ferguson's Crane
Science Museum Group
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum

Science Museum Group Collection
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum

Ferguson's Crane

Model of Ferguson's crane, 1764-1776. James Ferguson (1710-1776) devised this crane in 1764 to overcome two problems: the disastrous effects of letting the load drop in a common crane, and the inefficiency of raising a small load with an unnecessarily large mechanical advantage. Ferguson stated that his crane could be installed in a room 8 feet square.

Details

Category:
King George III
Object Number:
1927-1930
Materials:
mahogany (wood), box, brass (copper, zinc alloy), iron and lead (metal)
type:
cranes and mechanical handling devices
credit:
King's College, London