50 Year old CM Lodestars Brochure on LTM Website!
2006-02-10
Lift-Turn-Move, last year celebrated the 50th Birthday of the production
industrys favourite electric chain hoist the CM Lodestar with a special edition reprint of
the original 1955 product brochure that was available at the PLASA show.
Demand far outstripped supply, so theres now a fully printable high resolution PDF of the same
brochure available on LTMs website www.liftturnmove.co.uk in the publications section.
LTMs John Jones says, I could hardly believe the interest in the antique brochure, but it
seems people genuinely want to learn about the products history. The fact that its changed
very little in certain ways over time is testament to the true quality and practicality of
its design, build and engineering.
He adds the fact that a piece of production industry technology is still in fashion after
50 years is an achievement in itself!
The CM Lodestar
The CM Lodestar hoist, manufactured by Columbus McKinnon based in Amherst, NY was
launched in 1955. Since then it has been used for innumerable lifting, moving and
rigging tasks in all corners of the world.
Columbus McKinnon reckon built the millionth Lodestar last year, and its now an
industry standard for much of the worlds concert touring and event productions.
Although the Lodestar retains the same classic shape as it was in 1955, the
interior components have changed, reflecting the latest thinking on safety regulations.
One of the major reasons Lodestar users have enjoyed such longevity is that revised
parts generally fit in place of older components.
Jones reckons there are about 20,000 Lodestars in Europe now. He sold his first
units in 1993 to Light & Sound Design (now PRG Birmingham) for a Van Halen tour
after the first ones came into the UK in the early 1990s. The oldest one hes
encountered to date is about 25 years young - on the Disney On Ice show.
These were single phase units that came in for repair. After 2 hours work
on each and a paint job, they looked good as new!
