Crab with contrate (crown and pinion) gear, in rectangular iron box frame.This one is from the warehouses of the East India Company at Cutler Street, near St Katharines Dock, London, and was made c.1810. The iron framing is significant, being an early example of the use of the material in machine framing (the Portsmouth block-making machinery from a similar date was the pioneer in this particular field).

A crab is a small winch for lifting heavy loads. This one is from the warehouses of the East India Company at Cutler Street, near St Katharine’s Dock, London. The iron framing is significant, being an early example of the use of the material in machine framing. This acquisition is a transfer from the collections of the Museum of London.