Wrecking Ball

construction · machines · demolition

Smashing down buildings. A wrecking ball is a huge steel sphere hung from a crane cable that swings back and forth to tear apart large buildings. Workers control the crane to swing it at walls and structures until they crumble.

Super heavy and sturdy. These balls are made of solid steel and weigh tons, giving them enough force to knock down thick walls and concrete. The weight does all the work, like a giant pendulum of destruction.

Popular in mid-1900s. Wrecking balls were most commonly used during the 1940s and 1950s when cities were tearing down old buildings to make room for new ones. They became the go-to tool for big demolition jobs back then.

One early giant project. One of the first documented uses was in 1888 to 1889 when Henry Bath and Co used a wrecking ball to break up a famous old ship called the SS Great Eastern at Rock Ferry near Liverpool, England.

Still used today. While other modern methods exist now, wrecking balls are still used on construction sites around the world when demolishing large structures efficiently.