Crawler Crane
The crawler crane is a particular kind of mobile crane that is available with either a lattice boom or a telescopic boom which moves upon crawler tracks. Since this unit is a self-propelled crane, it is capable of moving around a jobsite and accomplishing jobs without a lot of set-up. Because of their huge size and weight, crawler cranes are fairly costly and even difficult to transport from one location to another. The crawler's tracks offer stability to the equipment and allow the crane to work without utilizing outriggers, although, there are several units which do use outriggers. Moreover, the tracks provide the equipment's movement.
Early Mobile Cranes
Initially, the first mobile cranes were mounted to train cars and move along specifically made short rail lines. When the 20th century arrived, the crawler tractor changed and this brought the introduction of crawler tracks to the agricultural business and the construction business. Not long after, the crawler tracks were adopted by excavators and this further showcased the versatility of the equipment. It was not long after before manufacturers of cranes decided that the crawler track market was a safe bet.
The Very First Crawler Crane
Around the 1920s, Northwest Engineering, a crane manufacturer within the United States, mounted its very first crane on crawler tracks. It described the new machine as a "locomotive crane, independent of tracks and moveable under its own power." By the mid-1920s, crawler tracks had become the preferred means of traction for heavy crane operations.
The Speedcrane
Developed by Charles and Ray Moore of Chicago, Illinois; the Moore Speedcrane was amongst the first to attempt to copy rail lines for cranes. Manufactured in Fort Wayne, Indiana, the Speedcrane was 15 ton, wheel-mounted, steam-powered crane. In the year 1925, a company known as Manitowoc Shipbuilding Co, from Manitowoc, Wisconsin recognized the tracked crane's marketability and potential. They decided to team up with the Moore brothers so as to produce it and go into business.