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 which balanced on a vertical support. On one end a heavy weight was connected and on the other end of the beam, a bucket was attached.
During the first century, cranes were made to be powered by animals or humans that were moving on a wheel or a treadmill. These cranes had a long wooden boom referred to as a beam. The boom was attached to a base that rotates. The wheel or the treadmill was a power-driven operation that had a drum with a rope which wrapped around it. This rope also had a hook that was connected to a pulley at the top of the boom and carried the weight.
Within Europe, the huge cathedrals established in the Middle Ages were made utilizing cranes. Cranes were also used to unload and load ships in key ports. Eventually, major developments in crane design evolved. Like for example, a horizontal boom was added to and became known as the jib. This boom addition allowed 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.
Cranes utilized humans and animals for power until the mid-19th century. This all changes quickly once steam engines were developed. At the turn of the century, electric motors and IC or internal combustion engines emerged. Cranes also became designed out of cast iron and steel as opposed to wood. The new designs proved more efficient and longer lasting. They could obviously run longer also with their new power sources and hence finish bigger jobs in less time.