RAAF Derrick Trucks

[Stuart Kirkham]

Rod

I have seen the photo you are talking about on your website. The crane setup is original ex RAAF and not off a boat/ship. Whats interesting about this crane is that it has had two 'stabilizers' mounted on each side of the boom. Not sure if this is a civvy or military mod..



There are two of these cranes here in Perth. A 'pyramid base/mount' and the boom are sitting in a yard not far from me and another complete derelict example awaits rescue nearby.

[gordon]

Well the ones with the vertical booms I know nothing about, so I'll just ignore those.

The ones with the tripod booms are configured like the Chevrolet (US) K 43 Signal Corps Telephone truck - the pole setter, although the booms are longer and higher.

The Signal Corps truck had the same winch setup, tripod boom (with the centre part two sections with a sliding joint for different rake angles) and the same drop down rear supports as you see dangling beneath the CMP trucks.

It's definitely the same sort of kit, and would collapse and store the same way, just not sure if the extra height on the CMP trucks is significant or if it is just another version of the pole-setter truck.

[Keith Webb]

http://www.oldcmp.net/Images/collect.../Derrick_1.jpg

http://www.oldcmp.net/Images/collect...Derrick_10.jpg

This was based on the long wheelbase chassis.

More pics here.

[Jared Archibald]

G'day again everyone,

Thankyou to all that have posted so far.

I realise now that I should have been more specific as to what I was looking for. I was after the crane type truck that is in the pics that Keith, Rod, and Tommy K have posted. I used the word derrick as that is what I remembered them being referred to. But having thought about it, it really is a crane truck and the term derrick probably fits the fixed pole/tripod type crane the best.

The specification sheet posted by Keith is the same as the truck that is up here.
Now, some more questions:-
I assume that the winch lifts the load up, but how do you lower it? Can you reverse the PTO direction? Does it have some sort of brake mechanism you engage to lower the lifted load?
Thr Trinity Beach picture shows a hand winch(?) near the base of the mast. This looks to me like the mechanism for lifting or lowering the jib - before a load is lifted by the winch. Is this correct?
How does the crane slew? It looks like you just push it around once you have lifted your load - not nice if you are not on level ground.
There does not seem to be any provision for stabliser legs - can anyone see any in the pics?
What was the Safe Working Load/rating of the crane?

Crikey, that is enough for now! I welcome any more input about these cranes.

Jared

[Tony Smith]

Originally Posted by Jared Archibald

G'day again everyone,

I realise now that I should have been more specific as to what I was looking for. I was after the crane type truck that is in the pics that Keith, Rod, and Tommy K have posted. I used the word derrick as that is what I remembered them being referred to. But having thought about it, it really is a crane truck and the term derrick probably fits the fixed pole/tripod type crane the best.

Jared

You probably used the term "Derrick" for the crane type trucks as that is their official Aust name!
Here is a data plate off one, marked "1 1/4 ton Derrick Truck" with D^D and 1945:

[jim sewell]

Jarred
It appears from looking at the picture of the derrick lifting the engine that it operated from with in the cab of the truck.
If it was a blitz with a transfer case then the winch would be driven off the t/case pto which would give the winch forward and reverse speeds by using the truck gearbox. A braking device would also be available for the operater to hold the winch in any position.
I am sure some sort of slew locking device would also be used.
Outriggers do not appear to be in use on the blitz , but looking at the picture of Ford truck with derrick one can see outriggers and looking at the nearest outrigger a chain and pin can be seen dangling and holes on the outrigger bar so it can be pinned in the appropriate position , I am sure these would be available in the other pictures but not in use at that time.
Regards
Jim S.

[malcolmh]

Originally Posted by Keith Webb

This was based on the long wheelbase chassis.

More pics here.

Hi Keith, I was wondering if you could please repost the photos that were here as I a would like to compare them to what I am restoring. Many thanks Malcolm.

[motto (RIP)]

There were a couple of these cranes up for sale at about the same time earlier this year. The ads were posted on this forum. Both were fairly complete, one was a Chev and the other a Ford.

Refer page 4 of 'For Sale Or Trade', Clearing Sale Yass Gap Range.

David

[malcolmh]

Thanks, yes I did hear about them. But only some time after... thanks though

[Mike Cecil]

Built by G H Olding (Plate tag: GHO). The RAAF, in typical fashion, had to call it something different to the Army!

Mike C