R. H. Neal and Co
Plant House, Ealing, London and Grantham.
1918 Company founded when Robert Neal, A.M.I.C.E., M.I.Mach.E. returned from the First World War.
1923 They were appointed sole concessionaires for the Austin Machinery Corporation.[1]
1925 Private company.
1937 Crane manufacturers and engineers. Rapid Cranes, Hoists and Pumps. Moved to Dysart Road, Grantham to increase their production. To begin with, the cranes shared the facilities at Grantham with Neal's other equipment.
1940s Cranes became Neal's sole product. The factory expanded considerably as new assembly and fabrication shops were built to increase production.
1953 Company made public.
Built much equipment for Public Works Contractors and Civil Engineers - a tractor-mounted hydraulic grab, known as the Pelican Loader, was particularly suited for the fast handling of coal and other bulk, materials. Another product was the Lorry Loader - a small hydraulically-operated crane which can be mounted on standard lorries close behind the driver's cab. For travelling purposes and when not in use the jib folds neatly away without interfering with load space.
1959 Taken over by the Steel Group of Companies which then became part of British Crane and Excavator Corporation; incorporated by Henry J. Coles [2]
1961 General engineers and makers of mobile cranes from half-ton to ten tons.
1969 Put the first Hydra Husky on the market - this was a large wheeled machines designed, like the excavators for working on unmade ground and using, like the truck cranes, diesel-hydraulic transmission systems.
Until this time Neals had still been trading under its own brand but now the whole groups of companies was re-branded under the Coles name. Modern production techniques, up to date equipment and a highly skilled work force combined with a new factory complex produced a range of world beating rough terrain cranes, taking the name of Coles, to crane users all over the world.