Mystery Machines

[Britman]

I think it is a Marion....I remember having two on one of my jobs back in 1970..and it looks familiar..

[XS650]

Thanks Britman, with some serious googling it is something I have never heard of a Babcock Marion 47 MB , made under licence in UK by Babcock , pics are from 1965.
Craig

[FOWLER MAN]

Yes Craig,
Babcock & Wilcox certainly did produce Marion cranes / excavators in the UK in the 50s and, I think, into the 60s.
I remember working on a 43 MB back then. I think it was about a 27/28 ton machine on dragline with about a 1.1/4 yard bucket.
It had a GM 4-71 engine and accccording to the parts book it was also available with a Cat engine.
Fred

[Britman]

I think the 47MB was around the size of a 38 RB as that is what we wanted on the job in Kent .We hired 2 from Roads and Runways from Sidcup,Kent and they performed ok..

[FOWLER MAN]

Hi,
This is all I can find on Babcock Marion.
You will see from the first add. that Babcock & Wilcox were into all sorts of construction plant.
I know they bought Muir Hill from E Boydell shortly before Muir Hill production was moved to Gloucester. I think there may at one time have been a tie up with Blaw Knox too???
As a matter of interest Ransomes & Rapier used Marion designs for their early excavators too.
Fred

Babcock.jpg

Babcock Marion crawler.jpg

[XS650]

Thanks Fred I thought you would know what it was!
Craig