Early models found in China dating back to the Western Han dynasty (202 BC - 9 AD) were used for winnowing fans and grinding grain.

Reciprocating engines use crankshafts to convert piston motion into rotation.

The Banū Mūsā brothers described them in their Book of Ingenious Devices . 4. Modern Components

Early automobiles required a starting crank (a "starting handle") to initiate the engine, a technique still used in some specialized or historic vehicles.

Crucial parts that support the crankshaft and allow it to rotate freely. 5. Commonly Used Phrasal Verb: "Crank Up"

Manually operated car windows use a crank to roll the glass up or down. 3. History of the Crank

Hand winches, fishing reels, mechanical pencil sharpeners, and carpenter's braces.