Early Crane Evolution
More than 4000 years ago, early Egyptians created the very first recorded type 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 heavy weight was connected and on the other end of the beam, a bucket was attached.
In the first century, cranes were made to be powered by animals or humans that were moving on a treadmill or a wheel. These cranes had a long wooden boom referred to as a beam. The boom was connected 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 that was connected to a pulley at the top of the boom and lifted the weight.
Within Europe, the enormous cathedrals established in the Middle Ages were build using cranes. Cranes were also designed to unload and load ships within key ports. Eventually, major crane design advancements evolved. Like 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 range of motion for the machinery. Following the 16th century, cranes had included two treadmills on each side of a rotating housing that held the boom.
Even until the mid-19th century, cranes continued to rely on humans and animals for power. When steam engines were developed, this all rapidly changed. At the turn of the century, IC or internal combustion engines as well as electric motors 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 too with their new power sources and therefore complete larger jobs in less time.