The plant in Colmar did not make cranes. They designed conveyor systems, manufactured parts and then shipped to site for erection. Besides belt conveyors there were traveling chains in floor, overhead conveyors. While most of the work was done for coal and iron ore handling there were also systems designed for handling newsprint rolls, mail bulk handling, sewage system processing, large dryers for such things as coffee beans. The dryers and larger pieces usually shipped out on gondolas out of the inbound overhead. Steel, usually from Bethlehem, came into the outbound overhead.
There was never a shelter at this location that I can remember, 50s - 70s.
My father was one of two engineers who were the first transferred from the plant on Hunting Park Ave to an office in Lansdale near the station. This was before the plant was completed. We moved to New Britain in '52. My father retired in '82 after 36 years. Knew many people that took the train outbound to L-B and one or two who got on in Doylestown or New Britain to ride to work in the morning.
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Thanks for the correction and details, Jeff! Looks like Wiki got that one wrong in regards to what the Link Belt Company manufactured.
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That may be because now a days the only public vestige of Link-Belt is the cranes. FMC bought Link-Belt back in the 60s. Link-Belt as a brand disappeared. Colmar became Material Handling Systems Division. At some point much later the cranes, "Speeder", were let go and I think insiders bought and revived the Link-Belt brand. The other parts of Link-Belt were spun off by FMC into FMC Technologies. I think in the 80s the plant was closed and the engineers were retained and moved to the High Point Office Park in New Britain Township. I believe the office is still there.
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