Fairbairn Crane
This entry refers to the type of crane patented in 1850 by William Fairbairn, and not specifically to cranes made by Fairbairn's companies. The patent expired in 1875. In fact the term 'Fairbairn Crane' is applied fairly loosely to cranes having a curved, tapered boom.
The distinctive feature of the original Fairbairn cranes was a curved wrought iron box girder jib.
They were made by a number of firms in the UK and abroad, including Caillard Frères of Le Havre.
The Wikipedia entry provides good information on these cranes.
Richard Byrom identifies 80 known examples of Fairbairn-type cranes from various manufacturers[1]. Surviving examples are referred to below.
1857 'CRANE FOR SALE.— A very excellent 10-ton Tubular CRANE, made about three years ago by W. Fairbairn & Co., Manchester, now in use. To be seen on application at the Wharf of Price's Patent Candle Co. (Limited), Coburg Dock, Liverpool'[2]
Surviving Examples
Survivors are found at the following locations:-
Bristol Harbour (steam-powered, made by Stothert and Pitt).
Calabar, Nigeria. Made by Bedford Engineering Co
Canal de Castilla, Darsena Valladolid, Spain. Photos here.[3]. This is of peculiar construction. The curved jib is of riveted I-beam form, attached to a cast iron frame of more 'traditional' form.
Dover (Wellington Dock). Made by the Fairbairn Engineering Co in 1868. Restored in 2025.
Frankfurt (Oder). Made by H. Gruson - "Maschinen-Fabrik und Schiffsbauwerkstatt H.Gruson Buckau-Magdeburg". Photo here.
Helsingor (Denmark). Made by William Fairbairn in 1862 (original maker's plate intact).
Hull, Former Trinity House Buoy Store.
Koog aan de Zaan (NL)
Langenargen, Baden-Württemberg, at the Bodensee (Lake Constance), Germany. Photo here.
Middelburg (Province of Zeeland, NL). Made in Holland in 1861. Photo here.
Rorschach, at the Bodensee (Lake Constance), Switzerland. Photo here.
Seville (Spain). Originally located on the Muelle de Nueva York along the Canal de Alfonso XIII. Moved 500 metres in 2005 to a plaza at the Puente Alfonso XIII. See photos. Almost certainly made by Fairbairn.
Venice, in the Arsenale. Maker not identified. Converted to electric power at some point.
Vienna, at the Anlegestelle 8 on the Handelskai along the Donau (Danube). At some point this was extensively modernised, with the addition of a cab and conversion from chain to rope hoisting.
Visby, on the isle of Gotland, Sweden. Electric powered. Photo here.
More photos of Fairbairn-type cranes in Flickr Fairbairn Cranes Group here.