City Cranes
The term "City Crane" refers to a small 2-axle mobile crane that is designed to be utilized specially in tight places where regular cranes are unable to venture. These city cranes are popular choices for use through gated areas or in buildings.
During the 1990s, city cranes were initially developed in response to the growing urban density in Japan. There are continually new construction projects cramming their ways into the cities in Japan, making it necessary for a crane to have the ability to maneuver through the nooks and crannies of Japanese roads.
Basically, city cranes are small rough terrain cranes which are built to be road legal. These cranes are characterized by having a 2-axle design with independent steering on each axle, a short chassis, a slanted retractable boom and a single cab. The slanted retractable boom design takes up less space than a comparable horizontal boom would. Combined with the independent steering and the short chassis, the city crane is capable of turning in compact spots which would be otherwise unobtainable by other crane models.
Conventional Truck Crane
A traditional truck crane is a mobile crane which has a lattice boom. The lattice boom is substantially lighter in weight compared to a hydraulic truck crane boom. The multiple sections on a lattice boom could be added so that the crane can reach over and up an obstacle. Conventional truck cranes do not lower and raise their cargo utilizing any hydraulic power and need separate power to be able to move down and up.
Manitowoc built the first ever Speedcrane. It proved to be a successful device though lots of adjustments had to be added later on. Manitowoc hired Roy Moore as a crane designer to help streamline the design. He understood the industry was moving towards IC engines from original steam powered methods and designed his crane to change with the times. The Speedcrane was redesigned for a gasoline engine.