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Found out the first mobile crane was basically a truck with a steam engine bolted on
I was looking up old crane stuff online and saw a picture from 1895. It was this weird truck with a steam boiler and a little boom, called a 'self-propelled steam crane'. The thing only lifted about 3 tons and moved at walking speed. It's wild to think that's where our 500-ton monsters with joystick controls came from. Makes you appreciate the tech, even when it acts up. Anyone else ever stumble on a piece of history that made you pause?
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dianaanderson6d ago
My grandpa's old tractor had that same kind of simple, bolted-together look.
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lindal136d ago
Actually that 1895 crane was probably a huge pain to operate. Steam boilers needed constant stoking and water, plus they could explode. A modern crane with a joystick in an air conditioned cab is way better. Progress is good because it makes the work safer and easier for the operator. Sometimes old tech is just worse.
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