(Above left) Turner Crane's Custom Crawler Crane (300 ton) loading a 230,000 pound transformer in bakersfield, CA. (Above right) Turner crane employees: Mason Stanley, Randy Choatee, Dennis Maltby, and Mike Given.

Howard Turner and his 300 ton crane prove that size is not an insurmountable limitation in equipment manufacturing. He and his father, Tommy, built a 200 ton crane together in 1977, and that developed into an interim step to the completion of this extraordinary piece of equipment. The process was a long-term labor of love, combining the efforts and expertise of many people. It seemed like it finally all came together in the last few years. Finding things like a Clark boom took months and months of research and inquiry.

(Above left) Turner Crane helped build a rocket test stand at Edwards Air Force Base in the late 1950's. (Above right) Turner Crane returns to Edwards Air Force base to lift a rocket booster.

One critical aspect of the project, the acquisition of the hydraulic tracks and the car body, took Howard's long-time friend, Ted Brown, of Contractors Service Co., over five years! He finally found them as part of a radial tracker in a mining project in Centralia, Washington. He called Howard, who drove up to take a look, but the project owners wanted too much for the parts. Two months later, when the mining operation took over the equipment, they sold it to Turner Crane as scrap! A chance meeting at an auction shortly after that provided the opportunity to have the parts they needed dismantled and shipped down to Bakersfield. The Turner's feel all this coming together was no coincidence. A higher power was directing them. The invaluable support of his banker, Phil McLaughlin of San Joaquim Bank provided the means to do the actual work. The actual construction of the crane took 14 months, and was completed in March of 2002.

(Above left to right) Howard Turner, Dennis Maltby, Crane Operator, and Steve Wisberg, Crane Oiler.

The crane tracks measure an incredible 30' by 30'. It weighs 655,000 pounds, and can go up to 400 feet of boom. The welders, Mike Henry and Gary Rhodes, fought the elemental heat in summertime Bakersfield to get the work done. The machinist, Chris Lack of General Machine worked long hours to ensure precision. Joe Engle did the engineering to insure the design was structurally sound. Klaus with Ace Hydraulics was instrumental in the hydraulics systems. Long-time family friend, Sam Finley, came in and took over the day-to-day operations of the company, leaving Howard free to concentrate on this special project.

(Above left) Turner Crane's CCC 300 Ton working at a chemical plant. (Above right) Turner crane used their CTC 5150 and their 100 Ton Crane to set a rocket booster at Edwards Air Force Base.

Howard's father, Tommy established their company in 1949, facing the challenges and opportunities available after the end of World War II. They have provided equipment for many projects over the years, most notably many of the prisons here in California. They have worked on Victorville, Lancaster, Merced, Corcoran, coalinga, Delano and Wasco. The most memorable project was when they set out the rocket boosters at Edwards AFB. The Turners remember that as being a very exciting and challenging project and an extraordinary opportunity for the company. Turner Crane is definitely a family operation. Tommy and his wife are enjoying a well-earned retirement now, but Howard and his wife of 29 years, Cindy, are carrying on and continuing to grow, ably assisted by their daughters, Amanda and Anna Turner, and their son-in-law, Mason Stanley. Their oldest daughter, Pamela Stanley, is a kindergarten teacher, but still remains interested in the family operation. Also important to the daily operation is the Turner's nephew Matt Woessner. He currently operates the 200 Ton Crane, but the Turner's have high hopes that he and Mason will one day take the reins. Work is the focus of the family, but they still manage to have fun. Howard even manages to get in some fishing from time-to-time, preferring Cabo San Lucas for deep sea fishing when he can get there.

(Above left) Turner Crane uses a Demag AC 335 165-Ton and a Demag AC 435 180-Ton on a water project. (Above right) Turner Crane installs new tank at a dairy in Central California.

The future is very prevalent in the minds and hearts at Turner Crane. One project that Howard and Mason are currently working on is the development of a training program to provide externships for new crane operators. This will teach safety and operations and pave the way for the trend of licensing crane operators. Licenses are required on the East Coast and that practice is making its way out here rapidly. Turner Crane wishes to be in the lead, encouraging that practice. One obstacle to licensing currently is that the only testing locations are in Los Angeles and Sacramento, making it a costly and time-consuming process for operators. With their location in Bakersfield, that could offer an intermediate location solution, if testing could be accommodated. Another advantage of a program such as this could be a reduction or mitigation of insurance rates and costs, and the establishment of standardized safety and operational procedures which will benefit the industry as a whole. Howard sees these as of great concern in the future of the industry. He sees growth continuing, but also huge challenges in the near future, and is encouraged by the participation of his son-in-law and his daughter. He even mentions that he hopes for a fourth generation to follow the path that Tommy started. It does not seem to be out of reach for this charming and determined man.