We taped this video probably 10 years ago, for what ever reason my B-i-L has now posted it on You Tube, thanks Charley. This is filmed at the Phillips Brothers Steam Sawmill in Oak Run CA and Gary, current forest manager, is explaining to me how the Brothers back in the day built the log wagon wheels that are obviously still around. A great little informational film but I think the cat and the dogs stole the show
Hope you enjoy.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=42epB0IPZtA&feature=youtu.be
Very cool! Thanks for sharing. At first, I thought the wheel was from a mill stone. Did you notice the guy putting the wood in the bracket above the wheel? Looks like the bracket was made to hold a plank to assist with loading or unloading the logs. The cats and dog had to get in the pictures. Love it.
Yea Ric, that guy was/is me.
Yes the brackets were for the timbers to rest in when they cross hauled or parbuckled the logs onto the trailer.
Looking at those old photos of that trailer and the Best I can see how they got the 3 logs on there but looking at that
picture of the 10 log load I can’t even imagine the amount of effort that took.
Cool old log cart
Rick Marty said:
Yea Ric, that guy was/is me.
I thought “that guy” looked familiar…(https://www.largescalecentral.com/externals/tinymce/plugins/emoticons/img/smiley-wink.gif)(https://www.largescalecentral.com/externals/tinymce/plugins/emoticons/img/smiley-cool.gif)
Oh my, Rick. This steam tractor and log cart are calling to me. Maybe I should build this instead of a donkey for skidding logs to add to my Surry Parker loader, wdyt?
Thanks for posting that video! I like how they pounded in stakes to expand the wheel into the metal rim. Very interesting…
Jim,
If you liked that you will love this.
Some video of Susan Puffer, the families name for the 1906 Best tractor, in action at the family reunion in 2011
Reminds me of the “Old Threshermans Reunion” up in Kinzer.
The guy with the Case had the right idea. His wife musta lost 10 lbs. trying to steer that thing…
Oh my freakin’ gawd! Those are amazing, fantastic, dangerous, steampunk, rattly, spectacular machines. I love it! Thanks Rick!
Now… which one to build?
Rick: do you have any other info about these things? Plans, etc.? I’ll look myself but if you already have some, I’d love to see them.
Thanks!
Seems to be a lot of info on the interwebs for these things. Found this pic pretty quickly:
I’ll stop now. Thanks again, Rick. Now… how do I build those wheels?
Hey, you think they are crazy fun to watch just try riding on or driving one of them.
Yes, how to build those wheels has always been my question and the thing that has held me back in starting to build one.
I was always going to photo and measure The Best but just never got around to it. I guess I still could but now it is an extended trip to go down there and back.
I think I have some plans on the log wagons but not much on the traction engines.
They used to have Susans twin sister over at Ardenwood Historic Farm in Freemont. I don’t know if it is stll there or not but worth a look. That is also where they have the Carter Brothers
Historical museum, really interesting place.
You can buy live steam traction engines but not sure if anything is available in 1:24 ish scale.
I’ll look for those plans
Jim Rowson said:
Oh my freakin’ gawd! Those are amazing, fantastic, dangerous, steampunk, rattly, spectacular machines. I love it! Thanks Rick!
Jim,
These pics are over 10yrs old so times change as the debbie downers have stated in many threads over the years that kids are not involved.
Some are and they will come back to it someday. I didn’t get the chance to pull the cord like my boy did that day but the old Pennsy whistle echoed off the mountains that day on the gorgeously restored Case!
You wanna build a Russell as they are all the rage these days!
I was thinking an early Lombard might be nice with the front platform for steering, but then I saw this…
Now that’s a machine begging for the rest of your life to build!
There’s a lot of chain drives on that beast!
Jim,
You could always use a set or two of Big Wheels to bring the logs in, they can be pulled with horses, oxen, or tractors in later years.
Ken Brunt said:
The guy with the Case had the right idea. His wife musta lost 10 lbs. trying to steer that thing…
Yea, no power steering on them things.
Wrong David, those machines all had power steering units built by Armstrong Industries(https://www.largescalecentral.com/externals/tinymce/plugins/emoticons/img/smiley-foot-in-mouth.gif)(https://www.largescalecentral.com/externals/tinymce/plugins/emoticons/img/smiley-laughing.gif)
