This question is not directly related to the main object on the 1856 photograph, but rather to the 15th century crane you can see in the top left corner. Just ran into this photo, after playing with my other "crane" topics.
An 1856 photo of Cologne Cathedral, then unfinished, with a 15th-century crane on south tower.
Simple mathematics suggest that even if they mean 1499 for the 15th century, and the latest photograph was taken in 1868, the crane survived in the elements for at least 369 years.
Question: what was this 15th century crane made of to survive for 369 years in the "tall and proud" original position?
To put this into perspective, it's like if this crane would be standing today (2023), after getting installed in 1654.
An 1856 photo of Cologne Cathedral, then unfinished, with a 15th-century crane on south tower.
Simple mathematics suggest that even if they mean 1499 for the 15th century, and the latest photograph was taken in 1868, the crane survived in the elements for at least 369 years.
Question: what was this 15th century crane made of to survive for 369 years in the "tall and proud" original position?
To put this into perspective, it's like if this crane would be standing today (2023), after getting installed in 1654.
