Crawler Crane
The crawler crane is a particular type of mobile crane which is available with either a lattice boom or a telescopic boom that moves upon crawler tracks. As this model 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 are hard to transport from one place to another and are fairly expensive. The crawler's tracks offer stability to the equipment and allow the crane to function without using outriggers, however, there are several units which do use outriggers. Also, the tracks provide the equipment's movement.
Early Mobile Cranes
Initially, the first mobile cranes were mounted to train cars and move along specially built short rail lines. Once the 20th century arrived, the crawler tractor changed and this brought the introduction of crawler tracks to the agricultural industry as well as the construction industry. Not long after, the crawler tracks were adopted by excavators and this further featured the versatility of the machine. It was not long after when crane companies decided that the crawler track market was a safe bet.
The First Crawler Crane
Around the 1920s, Northwest Engineering, a crane company in the United States, mounted its first crane on crawler tracks. It described the new machinery 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
The Moore Speedcrane, developed by Ray and Charles Moore of Chicago, Illinois was amongst the first attempts to copy the rails for cranes. Manufactured in Fort Wayne, Indiana, the Speedcrane was a steam-powered, wheel-mounted, 15 ton crane. In 1925, a company referred to as Manitowoc Shipbuilding Co, from Manitowoc, Wisconsin recognized the tracked crane's potential and marketability. They decided to team up with the Moore brothers in order to manufacture it and go into business.