Look Up

There’s no doubt that the farmers market is one of the best places for people watching. Each week I get a prime spot to see what’s trending in fashion, the pampered dog parade, the latest in baby equipment and the increments in time that have taken me from a couple’s first date, through their engagement, marriage, and birth of their first child. I’ve seen people carrying cats in backpacks with plastic bubble, Japanese streetwear meetups, and once a dom/sub couple—totally not cool for a family market.

But last week it wasn’t the people that caught my interest. It was something that’s become part of the landscape of everyday life in Bethesda. Over the years at the market’s current location I’ve gotten to witness this process several times over as it always occurs on Sundays. If I had to pick a job that had absolutely nothing to do with farming and food, this would be at the top of my list.

I knew what I’d be watching when I passed the CLOSED street and saw the big flatbed tractor trailer with the pieces laid out on the road. As I slid into my space and surveyed the streetscape, there it was right across from the market, and I had a premium spot from which to watch.

Have you guessed yet? I’m sure the picture gave it away. The crane!

I’ve always had a fascination with heavy equipment and as a farmer, big iron is a part of daily life. Tractors, skid loaders, boxers, fence pounders, backhoes, loaders, you name it, I  have always loved operating heavy equipment. And yes, I’ve even had a few chances to operate a large crane.

The tower, also called a mast, was already in place attached to a sturdy concrete base with steel pilings. It had been set there by a very large truck to which another crane is attached, also visible as it would be used to attach the horizontal components of the fixed crane. You might ask why not use a portable crane truck for all the construction. Crane trucks can not life as heavy as fixed cranes nor do they have the maneuverability.

As customers, especially those with kids came and went I had fun pointing out each piece as it was hoisted aloft. First, the turntable is set on top of the mast. This is where the operator’s cabin sits and is the heaviest component of the crane. Next, the tower peak goes on top. It supports the rear and fore pendants which are thick steel cables that will be attached to the jib, the horizontal projecting arm of the crane and to the counter jib, the shorter section that holds the counterbalance weights, the main winch, and motors. Being the shorter piece, the counter jib was lifted into place first. The jib is what workers had laid out on the street earlier, but as the hours of market went by each section was hoisted and fastened into place by a crew that could barely be seen from the ground.  One of the jib sections also contained the trolley and hook block. The trolley rolls back and forth on rails of the jib enabling loads to be moved along the length of the crane. The hook block is controlled by the main winch at the rear of the counter jib raising or lowering the load on the hook.

One by one four separate counterbalance weights were lifted into place and attached to the counter jib.  Counterweights need to have the proper mass and be at the right distance from the pivot point in order to function safely. There are lots of physics involved to keep the crane from tipping over.  If a counter weight is too light, the crane will tip forward when attempting a lift. If it is too heavy, the crane can topple backwards.

By the end of market the big construction crane had been assembled like a kids erector set, the street now open, the empty flatbed and portable crane truck idling and ready to roll, our workday completed. I thought about the similarities of the tools and equipment on the farm with that of construction crew, theirs being a lot bigger than mine. I’ve watched cranes go up during market hours over the years, but I’ve never noticed one being taken down. They must do that on Saturdays.