Crawler Crane
The mobile crawler crane is specific crane made with either a lattice boom or a telescopic boom. These move upon the crawlers tracks. Since this crane is self-propelled, it could move around certain work sites without the need for much set up. Due to their enormous weight and size, crawler cranes are are difficult to transport from one place to another and are rather expensive. The crawler's tracks offer stability to the machinery and enable the crane to work without using outriggers, although, there are some models which do use outriggers. In addition, the tracks provide the movement of the machinery.
Early Mobile Cranes
Initially, the very first mobile cranes were mounted to train cars and move along specially built short rail lines. Once the 20th century arrived, the crawler tractor evolved and this brought the introduction of crawler tracks to the construction business as well as the agricultural business. Not long after, the crawler tracks were adopted by excavators and this further showcased the machine's versatility. It was not long after before crane companies decided that the crawler track market was a safe bet.
The Very First Crawler Crane
In the 1920s, Northwest Engineering, a crane company within the United States, mounted its first crane on crawler tracks. It described the new equipment as a "locomotive crane, independent of tracks and moveable under its own power." By the middle part of the 1920s, crawler tracks had become the chosen means of traction for heavy crane uses.
The Speedcrane
The Moore Speedcrane, developed by Charles and Ray Moore of Chicago, Illinois was one of the first attempts to copy the rails for cranes. Made in Fort Wayne, Indiana, the Speedcrane was 15 ton, wheel-mounted, steam-powered crane. During 1925, a company referred to as Manitowoc Shipbuilding Co, from Manitowoc, Wisconsin recognized the tracked crane's marketability and potential. They decided to team up with the Moore brothers to be able to produce it and go into business.