Early Crane Evolution
Over 4000 years ago, early Egyptians created the first recorded version of a crane. The original device was referred to as a shaduf and was first used to transport water. The crane was made out of a pivoting long beam which balanced on a vertical support. On one end a bucket was attached and on the other end of the beam, a heavy weight was connected.
Cranes that were built in the first century were powered by animals or by humans that were moving on a treadmill or a wheel. The crane consisted of a long wooden beam which was referred to as a boom. The boom was attached to a rotating base. The wheel or the treadmill was a power-driven operation which had a drum with a rope that wrapped around it. This rope also had a hook that lifted the weight and was connected to a pulley at the top of the boom.
Within Europe, the enormous cathedrals established in the Middle Ages were made utilizing cranes. Cranes were also used to load and unload ships within key ports. Over time, major crane design advancements 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, hence greatly increasing the range of motion for the equipment. After the 16th century, cranes had incorporated two treadmills on each side of a rotating housing which held the boom.
Cranes used animals and humans for power until the mid-19th century. This all changes quickly once steam engines were developed. At the turn of the century, electric motors as well as IC or internal combustion 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 could obviously run longer as well with their new power sources and thus carry out larger tasks in less time.