Sixty-Year-Old Grove RT Still Does the Job

October 9, 2018 - Back in 1962, John “JJ” Curran was a budding young entrepreneur starting a crane company in Detroit. His first purchase was a Grove RT-58. Nearly 60 years later, the crane is still making money for JJ Curran Crane Company. 

“This RT-58 was built to last,” said Jeff Curran, son of JJ, who is now co-owner and CFO. “It’s a simple tool that is easy to operate. We always find work for it. The crane is very mobile and can fit into tight spaces, and it’s great for pick-and-carry operations. It is still generating revenue for us almost 60 years later!” 

Curran Crane uses the rugged old crane for tasks that require a compact rig, such as lifting inside steel mills, refineries, and cement plants, and working outside, transporting boats or handling materials. Curran Crane’s loyalty to Grove and the RT-58 have paid dividends. Jeff Curran estimates the crane has completed some 300 jobs in the last seven years. 

Larry Curran, president of JJ Curran Crane Company, says “This RT-58 does have sentimental significance to me. My father started the company in the 1950s and began building the crane business in the 1960s. It was the first hydraulic crane we bought. This crane is part of the family now. It’s that old beater you keep on the family farm.” 

Curran is still a big Grove customer. The company has several models, many of them all-terrain cranes. Over the years, Curran Crane has purchased more than 80 Groves, more units than from any other manufacturer. Larry Curran credits their reliability, performance, and life-cycle value, as well as the support from Grove dealers. 

“We love our big new cranes, but the RT-58 takes us back to our roots,” Jeff Curran said. “It reminds us of all the great people that have come through here over the years. They may have gone on, but this crane is still working!”