The crane was brought to Sardis in 1911 by the Howard Crosby Butler Expedition and was used for lifting and moving fallen architectural blocks during excavation of the temple of Artemis, 1910-1914. The crane was operated by hand, had a lifting capacity of five tons (column capitals weigh about two tons), and was moved around the temple site on a narrow-gauge Decauville railroad track by means of a small locomotive.
The crane was made by the firm Dorman Long of Middlesbrough, England. Its cast- and wrought-iron parts, fastened together entirely with bolts and rivets, were assembled at Sardis (the small stamped numbers on the parts are guides for assemblage). The crane has two gears, a larger one (7) for heavier loads, and a smaller one (2) for lighter loads. The gears were changed by moving the shaft (13) from side to side. The weight of the block was balanced by a movable counterbalance (1) mounted on rails and filled with stones or workmen.
Key
1. counterweight box
2. low-range gear
3. small gear
4. shifting gear
5. top collar
6. fly wheel
7. high-range gear
8. shifting gear
9. central pivot
10. bottom collar
11. drum
12. pawl for locking high-range gear
13. horizontal shaft
14. manual handle
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