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 initially used 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.
Cranes which were made during 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 known as a boom. The boom was connected to a rotating base. The wheel or the treadmill was a power-driven operation which had a drum with a rope which wrapped around it. This rope also had a hook that was attached to a pulley at the top of the boom and lifted the weight.
In Europe, the enormous cathedrals established in the Middle Ages were made utilizing cranes. Cranes were also designed to load and unload ships within major ports. Eventually, major developments in crane design evolved. For instance, 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 really 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. When steam engines were developed, this all quickly changed. At the turn of the century, electric motors as well as IC or internal combustion engines emerged. Moreover, cranes 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 bigger tasks in less time.