When wrecking balls were first introduced

Since its inception back in the 1930s, the wrecking ball has become - and remained - the defining image of the demolition industry.

Seldom used for the projects of today, this archive footage from 1938 depicts an early type of wrecking ball - made of stone construction, being used to demolish the St. Louis Post Office, in St. Louis, Missouri, US, to make way for housing. 

Story Copyright: Thomson Reuters
Copyright: GAUMONT BRITISH NEWSREEL (REUTERS)

How demolition used to be done...in 1948 ARCHIVE FOOTAGE: Demo crews collapse chimney stacks