Early Crane Evolution
Over 4000 years ago, early Egyptians made 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 that balanced on a vertical support. On one end a heavy weight was attached and on the other end of the beam, a bucket was attached.
During the first century, cranes were built to be powered by humans or animals 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 rotating base. The treadmill or the wheel was a power-driven operation which had a drum with a rope that wrapped around it. This rope also had a hook which was attached to a pulley at the top of the boom and lifted the weight.
Within Europe, the enormous cathedrals established during the Middle Ages were build utilizing cranes. Cranes were also designed to unload and load ships in major ports. Eventually, major developments in crane design evolved. Like for example, a horizontal boom was added to and was referred to as the jib. This boom addition allowed cranes to have the ability to pivot, thus greatly increasing the machine'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 humans and animals for power. When steam engines were developed, this all quickly changed. At the turn of the century, Internal combustion or IC engines as well as electric motors emerged. Cranes also became designed out of steel and cast iron rather than wood. The new designs proved more efficient and longer lasting. They could obviously run longer also with their new power sources and hence finish larger jobs in less time.