The Old Crane

The Old Binger Rhine Crane is a wooden tower crane in Bingen am Rhein with its current, previously renewed structure dating from around 1787. The uncovered foundation stone indicates the year of construction as 1487.
The harbor crane with a rotating boom and dome roof stands next to the former customs administration on the former harbor site.
The crane house (side length approx. 7 m, height of the roof edge approx. 6 m) is a half-timbered construction made of oak beams, and the outer walls consist of wooden cladding. The rotating, bell-shaped crane dome is covered with slate and topped with a tower ball. The boom consists of a solid oak beam along with support beams and is clad with lead foil. A crane has been documented here as early as the 15th century. An inscription found in 2007 on a base stone indicates the date of the laying of the foundation stone as August 7, 1487 (St. Afra). It is said to have been built in just 78 days.
The wooden framework of the current crane has been dendrochronologically dated to 1785–87. After another renovation in 1819, the crane was decommissioned in the second half of the 19th century. The structure was preserved from demolition by the then-valid new monument protection law of 1907. Heavily damaged in World War II, the crane was restored starting in 1950. A comprehensive restoration was carried out in 2005. In 2007, a water basin with a connection to the Rhine was built in front of the crane.