Numbering of the ColorTran Mini-Crab Dolly

The manufacturer's tag on the back panel of our dolly. The SarKell designed ColorTran Mini-Crab Dollies were numbered from 1 to "possibly" 250. No one knows exactly the final build-to number, but it's been speculated to be around 250.

There's a total of three stampings on each Mini-Crab Dolly. The dolly's serial number is stamped twice...once on the manufacturers tag which is located on the rear panel of the dolly (top photo) then, the same number is stamped a second time on-top of the dolly's deck. This is at the base of where the steering control fastens into the dolly's internal steering mechanism (photo above). If you look closely, you'll see 157 stamped on the base. Click on any image to super enlarge.

The two images above are of the same stamping.

Now, there is a third stamping and it's an entirely different number than the dolly's serial number. This is the serial number of the hydraulic camera lift (in this case, #144) which can be found on the hydraulic lift just above where the lift meets the internal hydraulic connection.

The hydraulic lift number is not the same as the other two 'identical' numbers found on the dolly. Hope this sheds some light on the stampings you'll find on the Mini-Crab.

If you have a Mini-Crab and have not yet registered with us, please do so and e-mail the dolly's serial number and a photo to: gregoryz@centurylink.net

General Cleaning of the Mini-Crab Dolly

Like all production equipment, the Mini-Crab should be no exception, it should be wiped down, cleaned and checked after each use. We use a detail cleaner made by Turtle Wax (shown) to clean the deck, push bar and tires. We then do a visual check on all moving parts to insure they are tightened and properly functioning.

Aside from cleaning the deck, we'll wipe down all 8 tires, which incidentally, our dolly needed recently due to the fact we had to briefly push the dolly on a 'salted' sidewalk. This was to get it from the drop-off point and into the building we were dolly-gripping in.

As you can see, the rubberized deck of the Mini-Crab cleans very well, maintains the original luster and looks like new...not so bad for a 40-plus year old dolly!

Once we've cleaned and checked #157, we'll put the cover on it to keep the dust off. Mini-Crab #157 is now ready for its next assignment.

Many people have repainted their dollies to modernize and freshen them up. In fact, it's hard to find a Mini-Crab that has not been repainted.

We've chosen to keep our dolly in its original condition with its factory trademark 'ColorTran-Blue' paint finish intact. It's a little scuffed up, but not too bad considering its age. Some Mini-Crab owners have done an awesome job sanding and repainting their dollies making them look good as new.

Given the fact that #157 was once owned by Academy Award winning filmmaker, David L. Wolper, (first owner of #157) tells me it would be best to keep the 'pedigreed' dolly in its original condition. More to come...in a future posting about #157's previous owners including the late and great, Mr. Wolper.

Ideas on Transporting the Mini-Crab Dolly

My son and I were again hired out to film another MMA fighting match here in snowy northern Ohio. Here Mini-Crab #157 in 'stripped-down' mode is waiting to be loaded into the back of our Mercury Mountaineer.

It takes three people to safely lift the dolly into the back of the SUV, that's without the heavy hydraulic lift (one on each side and someone in back). I suppose if you work-out...maybe two. If you're lifting the Mini-Crab with the hydraulic lift attached, then four people (two on each side) should be able to do it comfortably "hearse-style", without throwing any one persons back out.

All packed up and ready to go! Mini-Crab #157 and it's accessories is on it's way to do another 'on-location' job. The hydraulic lift is in the red milk-crate. Weighing in at a whopping 71 pounds, the hydraulic lift is braced inside the milk-crate to prevent tipping during transport.

We first thought about getting a 6' garden-tractor trailer to transport the dolly when we're hired out. We found the family's SUV works just as well and has better protection against the elements. After all, William Sargent designed the dolly to be perfectly compact (yes...Mini!) and easy to transport.

Hope these photos/ideas help in transporting your ColorTran Mini-Crab Dolly. Especially, if you're not fortunate enough to own the carrying case that was originally designed by Mr. Sargent.

Incidentally...if you have the carrying case and don't need it...contact me and I would be happy to purchase it from you! My son and I seem to have a lot of 'on-location' shoots using the Mini-Crab and we would love to have one! If you have other ideas on transporting the Mini-Crab...please share them with us!

Mail your ideas to: gregoryz@centurylink.net

Vintage Ad of the Mini-Crab Dolly

An attractive model taking a bubble bath and the Mini-Crab from a photo shoot...What more could one say? Perfect!

What's inside the Mini-Crab Dolly? Steven Bradford...Keeper of Mini-Crab #34 Shows Us!

Our good friend, Steven Bradford of Seattle, Washington has been restoring his Mini-Crab Dolly. Steven is currently working on the hydraulic system and has carefully flipped his Mini-Crab over and removed the lower panel. Here are some great shots of the 'mechanics' of our favorite dolly! The ColorTran Mini-Crab. Click on any image to enlarge for greater detail.

An image of the undercarriage soon after the lower panel was removed.
This image shows some of the hydraulic and CO2 fittings.
The chain and its intricate path. This truly took a mastermind to design! William Sargent is the genius designer and inventor of this self-contained dolly that was way ahead of it's time.

Footage of the ColorTran Mini-Crab Dolly used during filming of The Rain People

One of the greatest filmmakers of all time, Francis Ford Coppola. Mr. Coppola is seen here behind a Panavised Arriflex 2C and is also known to have a ColorTran Mini-Crab Dolly.

Fellow SarKell member, Steven Bradford, discovered some awesome footage of the ColorTran Mini-Crab Dolly in action. This film footage is from the production of 'Filmmaker: A Diary' which is a documentary of Francis Ford Coppola that was produced/filmed by George Lucas.

In this footage, you'll see Mr. Coppola's ColorTran Mini-Crab being used during the time he was filming his movie, The Rain People. You'll see perfect footage showing how compact, nimble and swift the Mini-Crab is during film production.

It was told to me by the past president of ColorTran, that Mr. Coppola ordered a Mini-Crab Dolly soon after they became available. I'm planning to reach out to Mr. Coppola to find out more about his Mini-Crab and to invite him to become a member of the SarKell Society. More news to follow in a future posting.

Copy and paste this address in your browser to see the ColorTran Mini-Crab Dolly at work: www.youtube.com/watch?v=A2qqIzwjiIQ

Meet Darryl Humber from Dollygrippery

Allow me to introduce a good friend of ours! Darryl Humber, or also known as "D".

Darryl is a professional working Dolly-Grip. Pictured here is Darryl next to his preferred machine, a state-of-the-art, Hustler IV by Chapman. The Hustler IV is made in the same facility as the ColorTran Mini-Crab Dollies were once manufactured. Chapman purchased the facility from ColorTran. This was taken just last week on the set of HBO's 'True Blood'. Click on this image to enlarge.

Darryl also hosts an awesome website for Dolly-Grips called Dollygrippery. The Dollygrippery site is the definitive site for professional Dolly-Grips. The site features awesome images and commentary from working Dolly-Grips straight out-of Hollywood and beyond.

If your just starting out in dolly-gripping or you're a seasoned Pro...it would be to your advantage to visit Dollygrippery. You can learn the in's and out's of being a Dolly-Grip and follow-up on the newest state-of-the-art techniques and related grip equipment. You can visit Darryl and the other professional Dolly-Grippers at: www.dollygrippery.com

We also wish to thank Darryl as he was good enough to post a link to our ColorTran Mini-Crab Blog and SarKell Society on his website. We would also like to extend a warm welcome to all the visitors from Dollygrippery!