The Old Binger Rhine Crane is a wooden tower crane in Bingen am Rhein with its current structure, which has been renewed several times, dating from around 1787. The exposed 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 site of the former harbor.
The crane house (side length approx. 7 m, height to roof edge approx. 6 m) is a half-timbered construction made of oak beams, with the exterior walls consisting of wooden cladding. The rotating, bell-shaped crane dome is tiled with slate and capped with a tower ball. The boom consists of a massive oak beam along with supporting beams and is clad with lead foil. A crane has been documented here as early as the 15th century. An inscription found on a pedestal stone in 2007 indicates the date of the foundation stone laying 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 further renovations in 1819, the crane was decommissioned in the second half of the 19th century. The structure was preserved from demolition due to the new monument protection law in effect in 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 added to the crane.
