Early Crane Evolution
Over 4000 years ago, early Egyptians created the first recorded version of a crane. The original device was known as a shaduf and was first utilized to transport water. The crane was made out of a long pivoting beam that balanced on a vertical support. On one end a bucket was connected and on the other end of the beam, a heavy weight was connected.
Cranes that were built in the first century were powered by humans or by animals that were moving on a treadmill or a wheel. The crane consisted of a long wooden beam that was known as a boom. The boom was connected to a rotating base. The treadmill or the wheel was a power-driven operation that had a drum with a rope which wrapped around it. This rope also had a hook which was connected to a pulley at the top of the boom and carried the weight.
In Europe, the huge cathedrals established in the Middle Ages were build utilizing cranes. Cranes were also utilized to unload and load ships in key ports. Over time, major advancements in crane design evolved. For example, a horizontal boom was added to and became known as the jib. This boom addition enabled cranes to have the ability to pivot, thus greatly increasing the equipment's range of motion. After the 16th century, each side of a rotating housing that held the boom incorporated two treadmills.
Even until the mid-19th century, cranes continued to depend on animals and humans for power. Once steam engines were developed, this all quickly changed. At the turn of the century, electric motors and internal combustion or IC engines emerged. Cranes also became designed out of steel and cast iron as opposed to wood. The new designs proved more efficient and longer lasting. They can obviously run longer as well with their new power sources and therefore carry out larger jobs in less time.