Crane Toys

Cranes

Today cranes are an integral part of the construction, haulage and all heavy industries. There are many specialized types of crane, fixed and mobile, each designed for specific tasks.

The first mechanical cranes were invented long ago by the ancient Greeks. These simple machines used systems of pulleys and man, horse or donkey power.

The use of cranes enabled fewer workers to construct tall buildings using smaller sizes of stone, a task which had previously been performed by vast armies of labourers hauling larger stones up ramps.

The Romans famously used cranes to assist in the construction of all manner of engineering wonders such as aqueducts and bridges.

For centuries after the fall of their empire these Roman engineering skills were lost. However the early middle ages saw the renaissance of the crane. Cranes then were widely used in ports and harbours to load and unload ships though early cranes were made mostly of timber.

The next big advance in crane technology came with the Industrial Revolution. Around 1800 the first cast iron steam powered cranes came into use.

Modern cranes are made of steel and powered by electric motors or diesel engines. The use of hydraulics has vastly improved the lifting capacity of modern industrial cranes.