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CRANES EQUIPMENT (MACHINE HISTORY)

The principles of operation of today's CRANES EQUIPMENT is taken for granted, however, we thought you might be interested in learning a bit about the history of Cranes and their development into the modern age of technology.  Cranes are lifting machines equipped with a winder, wire ropes or chains and sheaves that can be used both to lift and lower materials and to move them horizontally. Put in basic terms, they use one or more simple machines to create mechanical advantage to enable the movement of loads beyond the normal capability of a human.

From the ancient Egyptians to the Greek and Roman Empires following through to the Middle Ages, the Industrial Revolution and into technologies available today, the concepts and ideas inspired by mankind's requirements to be able to lift heavy loads in order to construct towering buildings and enable other large scale engineering feats to become possible, is a fascinating source of reading material.  We hope you enjoy and find useful, the information provided.  There are also a large number of photographs to view and download.

In order to find items quickly, we have categorised the various periods of civilisation  from where lifting equipment first emerged following on with the stages in history where it was further developed up to the present age.  Please consult the links below to navigate to what interests you most.

CRANE EQUIPMENT USED BY EARLY CIVILISATIONS

history buttons image - egyptian, greek and roman technology

The earliest representation of crane equipment appeared during Ramses’ reign in Egypt in 3000 B.C. Although rudimentary, the principles of leverage to lift heavy weights had been mastered!

The first cranes appeared in Ancient Greece and were used to build an entire nation in the fifth century B.C. The word crane is taken from the fact that these machines have a shape similar to that of the tall, long-necked bird of the same name.

Further development and use of the Crane came about during the Roman Empire, when construction activity soared and buildings reached enormous dimensions. The Romans adopted the Greek crane and developed it further. 

CRANE EQUIPMENT USED BETWEEN MIDDLE AGES AND UP TO THE INDUSTRIAL AGE

Image of history button - middle ages, industrial age and railroads

During the High Middle Ages, the tread-wheel crane was reintroduced on a large scale after the technology had fallen into disuse in western Europe with the demise of the Western Roman Empire.

The Industrial Revolution was a period in the late 18th and early 19th centuries when major changes in agriculture, manufacturing, mining, and transportation had a profound effect on the socioeconomic and cultural conditions in Britain.

The link between Transportation and the Industrial Revolution was further increased by the invention of steam trains and railway networks.

CRANE EQUIPMENT AND GREAT ENGINEERING MARVELS OF THE MODERN ERA

history links button image - panama railway and panama canal

While the Camino Real, and later the Las Cruces trail, served communication across the isthmus for over three centuries, by the 19th century it was becoming clear that a cheaper and faster alternative was required. Given the difficulty of constructing a canal with the available technology, a railway seemed an excellent opportunity.
The acquisition of Upper California by the United States in 1848, and the increasing movement of settlers to the west coast, created a demand for a fast route between the oceans, which was fuelled even farther by the discovery of gold in California.

Please consult the links below for information regarding the construction of the Panama Railway and the Panama Canal and the use of Crane Equipment.

Discovery of Panama             Founding Panama City             Panama Railway             Relocation of Panama RailwayIntroduction to Canal             The French attempt             French Era 1882-1900             American Take Over 1904-1909Construction 1910-1914              Employees & Lifestyle             Infrastructure - Pacific              Infrastructure - AtlanticTransportation Methods             Bridges Spanning Canal             Tugs and Electric Mules             Dredging EquipmentCranes 1882-1940             Cranes at work-2009             Shipping 1914-2009             Future expansion of Canal

Consult this link for information regarding the Hoover Dam Consult this link for information regarding the Golden Gate Bridge Consult this link for information regarding the Empire State Building

The Empire State Building is a 102 story landmark Art Deco skyscraper in New York City.  It stood as the world's tallest building for more than forty years, from its completion in 1931 until construction of the World Trade Center's North Tower was completed in 1972.

The Empire State Building has been named by the American Society of Civil Engineers as one of the Seven Wonders of the Modern World.

The Golden Gate Bridge is a suspension bridge spanning the Golden Gate, the opening of the San Francisco Bay into the Pacific Ocean.

The Golden Gate Bridge was the longest suspension bridge span in the world when it was completed during the year 1937, and has become an internationally recognized symbol of San Francisco and California.

Hoover Dam, once known as Boulder Dam, is a concrete arch-gravity dam in the Black Canyon of the Colorado River, on the border between the U.S. states of Arizona and Nevada.

When completed in 1936, it was both the world's largest hydroelectric power generating station and the world's largest concrete structure.

 

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AUSTRALIAN CRANE & MACHINERY PTY. LTD.
42 Glenbarry Road,
CAMPBELLFIELD.  Vic. 3061
AUSTRALIA

Tel:  +61 (03) 9357 7524
Fax: +61 (03) 9357 7521

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CRANES EQUIPMENT (MACHINE HISTORY)