Crawler Crane
The crawler crane is a particular kind of mobile crane which is offered with either a telescopic boom or a lattice boom that moves upon crawler tracks. As this unit is a self-propelled crane, it could move around a jobsite and accomplishing tasks without much set-up. Because of their enormous size and weight, crawler cranes are fairly costly and even hard to transport from one site to another. The crawler's tracks provide stability to the equipment and allow the crane to function without utilizing outriggers, although, there are several models which do utilize outriggers. In addition, the tracks provide the equipment's movement.
Early Mobile Cranes
The first mobile cranes were initially mounted to train cars. They moved along short rail lines that were particularly made for the project. When the 20th century arrived, the crawler tractor evolved and this brought the introduction of crawler tracks to the agricultural industry and the construction industry. Not long after, the crawler tracks were adopted by excavators and this further showcased the equipment's versatility. It was not long after when manufacturers of cranes decided that the crawler track market was a safe bet.
The First Crawler Crane
Northwest Engineering, a crane company within the United States, was the first to mount its crane on crawler tracks during the 1920s. It described the new equipment 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 Ray and Charles Moore of Chicago, Illinois; the Moore Speedcrane was amongst the first to attempt to replicate rail lines for cranes. Manufactured within Fort Wayne, Indiana, the Speedcrane was 15 ton, wheel-mounted, steam-powered crane. During 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 manufacture it and go into business.