Early Logging Equipment FOUND IN THE WOODS Thread pics wanted

[7oaks]

I thought it would be interesting to start a thread where members can share pictures of antique logging equipment that they have found in the woods. I’ll start it off with this bottle.

The wife and I were surveying one of the boundaries on our Montana property when she found this bottle on the ground next to a big old stump (not the stump in the picture but a similar one).

It appears to contain some dirty old used motor oil and as this was deep in the woods and away from any road or habitation I assume it is meant to be used while there was logging ongoing at that site.

I didn’t open the bottle to investigate its contents further because the cap is all rusted to the bottle and would ruin the bottle’s integrity. Also the cap doesn’t seem to be original to this bottle.

It might be able to date the bottle as embossed on the shoulder is the phrase “Federal Law forbids sale or resale”. I would guess that it is a prohibition era bottle.

I showed it to a retired forester friend and he said when they used to use whip saws they had bottles like that but used kerosene in them to apply to the saws to keep the sap from slowing down the saw.

Our property was subject to the 1910 big burn and all the large larch trees that didn’t burn up were logged in the following years. The stump the bottle is on is from one of those trees. Even the small 5” DBH trees on the property are now 100-125 years old (as measured by coring). This is because the stands are, in places, “thicker than hair on a dog’s back”.

So what do you think? Was it used to oil a whip saw or later to oil a chainsaw?

I hope we can get members to share photos of other interesting early logging finds.

 

[Scandy14]

No pics sowing up for me. Just red X's.

 

[watsonr]

Sound like a reasonable story....but you know the rules, no picture....didn't happen.

The time frame of the story sounds correct for the period also. Most of the lumber from those old fires were logged off around 1910-1914. The big fire in Idaho, Montana area was 1912 and took several years to log off. They were large old growth tree's and 5 feet sounds small for those days. The king was White Pine!

 

[Mad Professor]

Deer hunting stories

1) Early bulldozer, complete, too far in the woods to salvage for scrap and must have quit unexpected. Had a ca. 20 " grown oak between the blade and the radiator housing, that was 35 years ago, but I could find it again. I'm old school hunter/stalker, bring food , compass, and map........Massachusetts, largest area still without a road through it . P.S. Guess where? Hint: very early foundations higher on the mountain, all stone, 150 year old trees growing in them. Close to first quality glass made in America/USA.

2) Locomotive and coal tender. Following old grade bed came to prior trestle, at bottom of ravine, a locomotive (steam) and coal/wood tender. Others have seen this one too southern Vt. area. P.S. Guess where? I've several friends who have seen this, not more hints.

Edit: No Pics? 1974 and 1982.

You have cell phone with a camera back then, I still don't.

Nor do I want one.

Doubt me? Buy a Vt or Ma tag and we'll go hunting, without gps or cell phones......bring a compass and amap

 

[Guido Salvage]

Carl,

I seem to recall that one of the steam engines that is owned by the group that puts on the Berryville tractor show was used in a logging camp that later became part of the Shenandoah National Park. My memory tells me that they were able to get the Park Service to donate it to the group on the condition they could extract it. I have not been to the show in about a half dozen years, but believe there was some sort of storyboard attached to the engine that related the circumstances.

About 40 years ago I was walking a wooded section of our property and kicked something in a shallow gully. I dug around in the leaves and found a small axe head that I still have somewhere.

Sorry, no pictures of either item with me now.

Gary

 

[7oaks]

No pics sowing up for me. Just red X's.

Sound like a reasonable story....but you know the rules, no picture....didn't happen.

DAMN :msp_mad: - is this happening to me again? The pics show up just fine on my computer. I uploaded the way I did last. This is discoueraging - it used to be so effortless!!!! Are the pics showing up for anyone or just red Xs for all?

Here is what the HTML looks like to me - sure seems it would be showing pics!!!

I thought it would be interesting to start a thread where members can share pictures of antique logging equipment that they have found in the woods. I’ll start it off with this bottle.

The wife and I were surveying one of the boundaries on our Montana property when she found this bottle on the ground next to a big old stump (not the stump in the picture but a similar one).

It appears to contain some dirty old used motor oil and as this was deep in the woods and away from any road or habitation I assume it is meant to be used while there was logging ongoing at that site.

I didn’t open the bottle to investigate its contents further because the cap is all rusted to the bottle and would ruin the bottle’s integrity. Also the cap doesn’t seem to be original to this bottle.

It might be able to date the bottle as embossed on the shoulder is the phrase “Federal Law forbids sale or resale”. I would guess that it is a prohibition era bottle.

I showed it to a retired forester friend and he said when they used to use whip saws they had bottles like that but used kerosene in them to apply to the saws to keep the sap from slowing down the saw.

Our property was subject to the 1910 big burn and all the large larch trees that didn’t burn up were logged in the following years. The stump the bottle is on is from one of those trees. Even the small 5” DBH trees on the property are now 100-125 years old (as measured by coring). This is because the stands are, in places, “thicker than hair on a dog’s back”.

So what do you think? Was it used to oil a whip saw or later to oil a chainsaw?

I hope we can get members to share photos of other interesting early logging finds.

 

[Guido Salvage]

Are the pics showing up for anyone or just red Xs for all?

Not even a red X for me, much less a picture though there is significant spacing between your paragraphs. You must be using a West Virginia internet connection.

 

[little possum]

X's for me too Carl

 

[pielet97]

x's for me...

 

[Chris J.]

Great thread idea, but your photos are Xs on my computer.

 

[paccity]

these are in the woods. the first one is a moolack steam yarder. the second one is a willamette yarder that was converted from steam to a gas flathead ford power. they will be going to our museum for preservation.View attachment 200866View attachment 200864View attachment 200865

 

[NORMZILLA44]

7 oak's good thread! I have seen many old time logging relic's. One benefit of running my dog's for pig's. Found big trees, and what you have mentioned old logging stuff. I don't have pic's but take my camera everywhere now.

 

[anymanusa]

host, then post. Pics get reps.

uttahere2:

 

[7oaks]

Another try at uploading pics

I thought it would be interesting to start a thread where members can share pictures of antique logging equipment that they have found in the woods. I’ll start it off with this bottle.

The wife and I were surveying one of the boundaries on our Montana property when she found this bottle on the ground next to a big old stump (not the stump in the picture but a similar one).

It appears to contain some dirty old used motor oil and as this was deep in the woods and away from any road or habitation I assume it is meant to be used while there was logging ongoing at that site.

I didn’t open the bottle to investigate its contents further because the cap is all rusted to the bottle and would ruin the bottle’s integrity. Also the cap doesn’t seem to be original to this bottle.

It might be able to date the bottle as embossed on the shoulder is the phrase “Federal Law forbids sale or reuse”. I would guess that it is a post prohibition era bottle (after 1934).

I showed it to a retired forester friend and he said when they used to use whip saws they had bottles like that but used kerosene in them to apply to the saws to keep the sap from slowing down the saw.

Our property was subject to the 1910 big burn and all the large larch trees that didn’t burn up were logged in the following years. The stump the bottle is on is from one of those trees. Even the small 5” DBH trees on the property are now 100-125 years old (as measured by coring). This is because the stands are, in places, “thicker than hair on a dog’s back”.

So what do you think? Was it used to oil a whip saw or later to oil a chainsaw?

I hope we can get members to share photos of other interesting early logging finds.

View attachment 200885View attachment 200886View attachment 200887View attachment 200888

 

[buzz sawyer]

Pics are coming through for me now Carl. Nice size and clear. Good thread.

 

[7oaks]

Deer hunting stories

1) Early bulldozer, complete, too far in the woods to salvage for scrap and must have quit unexpected. Had a ca. 20 " grown oak between the blade and the radiator housing, that was 35 years ago, but I could find it again. I'm old school hunter/stalker, bring food , compass, and map........Massachusetts, largest area still without a road through it . P.S. Guess where? Hint: very early foundations higher on the mountain, all stone, 150 year old trees growing in them. Close to first quality glass made in America/USA.

2) Locomotive and coal tender. Following old grade bed came to prior trestle, at bottom of ravine, a locomotive (steam) and coal/wood tender. Others have seen this one too southern Vt. area. P.S. Guess where? I've several friends who have seen this, not more hints.

Edit: No Pics?

MP go back and get some pics - sounds very interesting and photogenic!

Carl,

I seem to recall that one of the steam engines that is owned by the group that puts on the Berryville tractor show was used in a logging camp that later became part of the Shenandoah National Park. My memory tells me that they were able to get the Park Service to donate it to the group on the condition they could extract it. I have not been to the show in about a half dozen years, but believe there was some sort of storyboard attached to the engine that related the circumstances.

About 40 years ago I was walking a wooded section of our property and kicked something in a shallow gully. I dug around in the leaves and found a small axe head that I still have somewhere.

Sorry, no pictures of either item with me now.

Gary

Gary...Find the pics. LOL

these are in the woods. the first one is a moolack steam yarder. the second one is a willamette yarder that was converted from steam to a gas flathead ford power. they will be going to our museum for preservation.View attachment 200866View attachment 200864View attachment 200865

Nice - those things look like you could just fill with water and put a fire under and they would be ready to go. Weren't they also called steam donkeys back in their days?

 

[7oaks]

Pics are coming through for me now Carl. Nice size and clear. Good thread.

Whatca doing up so early?

 

[Guido Salvage]

Carl,

Down around Cass and on the way up to Bald Knob there are lots of items that were left in the woods from where the area was logged back around the turn of the century. No pictures of that either.

On New Year's Day in 1976 I embarked on a several day hiking/camping trip from Madison County and headed towards Hoover Camp. Part of the way I followed overgrown logging roads, the last of which dead ended into a rather significant hill. There were still chestnut boards stacked in piles even though the area had been part of the Shenandoah National Park for 40 years.

Gary

 

[Guido Salvage]

Even at my advanced age my memory is still somewhat intact. I found these pictures and captions on the Berryville show website.

1880 Tanner & Delaney Portable Steam Engine, discovered and rescued by SVS&GEA members in the Shenandoah National Park in 198?.

The Tanner & Delaney Portable Steam engine was built in 1880. It was located on the border of the Shenandoah National Park and is on indefinite renewable loan from the United States Interior Department. The engine was recovered through the cooperation of the National Park Service office at Luray, Virginia. The cost of restoring this magnificent engine was $2,628.45.

 

[s219]

Carl,

Down around Cass and on the way up to Bald Knob there are lots of items that were left in the woods from where the area was logged back around the turn of the century. No pictures of that either.

Gary

The area around Cass and Snowshoe WV has a ton of logging history, and I imagine there are a lot of relics out in the woods. Heck, what remains of the town of Cass is pretty much a relic! I would love to go exploring around there someday.