In today’s world, we have skyscrapers built with cranes and advanced, but how did humans manage the heavy lifting back in the day? Throughout history, great buildings and heavy loads have been moved into place, thanks to the ingenuity of the human mind. Let’s take a closer look at how we’ve moved things throughout the years.
Ancient Structures
Everyone in the UK is familiar with Stonehenge and if you’ve ever been to see it, you know that the stones that make this structure up are insanely heavy. The stones weigh anywhere from 2-30 tonnes. They’re certainly not items that could be picked up and moved by hand. So how did ancient people manage to get these rocks from the Preseli Hills in South West Wales to their current resting place, which is roughly 250 km away?
No one knows for sure how this monumental task was accomplished, but it’s suspected that some sort of hoisting system or sled was used, possibly with a lever. It would have required a lot of manpower even with these tools, however.
The Egyptian Pyramids are thought to have been built by having slaves push the massive limestone and alabaster stone blocks up ramps. It took 50 men to push each 2.5 tonne stone up the ramp.
Early Cranes and Pulleys
In ancient Egypt and Mesopotamia, shadufs were used to get water out of rivers in order to irrigate the land. These were basic crane systems that utilised early versions of the pulley in order to make it easier to lift heavy loads of water. In fact, this method was so useful that it is still used in many areas in India and Egypt to this day.
While the Egyptians may have been the first people to try this method, the Greeks were the first people to use cranes for construction. At some point near 500 BCE, the ancient Greeks built simple cranes which were used to lift pillars and pieces of stone for their impressive buildings.
You can still see the holes in some of the structures in Greece today. This shows where the crane was attached to lift the piece into the air so it could be easily placed where it needed to go. They used up to three pulleys to make it easier to lift heavy pillars into place.
Around this time, Archimedes’ Screw was famously invented, supposedly by the scientist himself. This was designed to work for lifting water by turning a helix-shaped pipe that would spin when cranked by hand. When the lower end was placed in the water and the screw turned, it would move the water up the pipe and pour it out the other end. This has now been used around the world and is still available in some forms.
The Rise and Fall of Rome’s Lifting Equipment
The Romans are well known for their impressive structures and it’s suspected that they used many different pulley and winch systems. These were used to build the famous aqueducts that still exist in some areas, as well as their impressive buildings.
When the Roman Empire fell, there was a lack of knowledge and the ideas and inventions that had been created while they were in power were forgotten. It took over eight centuries for the pulley and winch to become common again.
Treadmills and Treadwheels
In the 12th century, the pulleys and winches appeared again and then the treadmill was designed for those in Europe. Finally, the treadwheel came back, after hundreds of years of nonexistence. These machines were used to build some of the impressive churches that decorate Europe today, as well as many of their castles.
The treadwheel crane was originally invented by the Ancient Greeks and they could lift up to 2,000 kg with just four men. Later, it was improved to work in medieval construction sites. Men would walk in the treadwheel, which was essentially like a large hamster wheel. This caused the wheel to turn and lift or lower large, heavy loads. This was used mainly in the Gothic cathedrals that appeared during this time.
At this point in time, lifted the blocks or building materials directly to their place. They were used for height, not horizontal like the cranes of today. These cranes were set up to serve as harbour cranes, as well, to quickly and easily lift heavy loads off of ships. They became very popular in Holland and later become commonplace across the continent.
The Industrial Revolution
With the Industrial Revolution came better ways to manage the loading and unloading of goods from ships. Harbour cranes were improved upon so they could move loads horizontally in addition to vertically. These were primarily man-powered early on, but these would soon give way to the steam crane.
The steam crane used steam as its power and was designed to move much faster than the man-powered choices available. Instead of wood, these cranes were built with iron and they used wire ropes for strength. Within a few short years, the steam-powered crane was a huge success and revolutionised how the UK and Europe managed their trade-in harbours.
Over time, the harbour cranes became a common sight in port cities and were used constantly. Safety mechanisms helped prevent the all-too-common accidents and ensured the machines could continue working at top speed. It was truly an impressive sight and meant that trade skyrocketed.
Modern Day Hoisting Equipment and Lifting Gear
Now, you’ll see cranes and hoists in all situations, from building skyscrapers to harbour cranes to removing containers from ships and even lifting hot tubs into place. There’s no shortage of need for them either.
Some cranes and hoists are absolutely massive at this point, with up to 260 feet of height. Even when a crane isn’t sufficient to reach the top of a very tall building, we have hoists and winches that can handle it instead. There are many different types of cranes at this point, including tower cranes, mini cranes and everything in between.
You can also use hoists to move things in the water, on land, or even in the air. The basic idea has not changed and still uses pulleys to reduce the amount of effort needed to lift things. However, the design around them has certainly changed and with hoists and winches and cranes all working together, the lifting gear of today has gone further than could ever have been imagined back in ancient times.
Something else that has drastically changed is access to lifting gear. At this point in history, nearly anyone can hire a crane or a winch if they need it. Most people don’t need a crane for the rest of their lives, but they may need it for a few days while they finish a building project. This can be a great way to ensure you get your project done faster, as well.
Where to Hire Hoisting Equipment
Do you need lifting gear for your construction project? A winch company gives you a chance to hire the equipment instead of just buying it. This is a much cheaper option and ensures that any company can use a crane or a hoist if they need it.
There are quite a few winch companies around, but you should check quotes and find out what they have available before you hire. A few things to check include:
Location: This will determine how far they need to move it and this can also affect price in some cases.
Operators: In some cases, the winch company will provide the operator for the product, which results in slightly higher costs. However, it means you don’t have to have your own operator. If you need to move products, this is a great way to do so without worrying about hiring an employee just to run the crane.
Types of cranes: There are many ways to use a crane, so you should be sure you are getting the right one. Talk to the winch company if you’re not sure and they can give you advice on the correct options.
Price: Get quotes from multiple places so you know what to expect for pricing. You may also hire multiple machines from the same place, so find out if they offer discounts and what is included in the fee.
Hoisting equipment has come a long way over the course of humanity. We may be technologically advanced, but the core idea has never changed.
Need a crane or winch? Find the perfect one for your needs here at Atlas Winch Hire & Hoist Services. Take a look at our products online or contact us on 01899 221577 (Scotland) or 01371 859555 (Essex) for more information about how we can help you.
