Case Nutty 1660
Well-known Member
I count 56 logs and maybe one more if they weigh what 400 lbs each?? not a real in the know whit timber,, but that would be 22,400lbs,, heck of a load for six head??
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- Thread starter Case Nutty 1660
- Start date
ditchwitch
Well-known Member
I have a hard time believing that just 6 head of horses pulled that load.
Rick in Iowa
Member
Looks like five not very big horses
Ivan in Mich
Member
I have a picture that has my grandfather standing on a load of white pine the size of the larger ones in the picture. It is about 3/4 that high and has 8 horses hooked to it. The picture is about 2 foot high and 3 foot wide
Pete in MD
Well-known Member
- Location
- Central Maryland
I see 5 horses. 3 in back and 2 up front.
Case Nutty 1660- I remember during Physics class that on snow/ice once a sled/ski begins to move the weight and friction melt the snow/ice so the skids are actually riding on a thin layer of water. It reduces the pulling need tremendously.
Plus, those look like Draft horses, built for pulling heavy weight.
Plus, those look like Draft horses, built for pulling heavy weight.
Wheatfarmer
Member
I see a five horse hitch.
john in la
Well-known Member
I thought that was 5 horses at first also.
But look real close as that is 4 horses and a man.
But look real close as that is 4 horses and a man.
I have seen old pictures like that before and wonder how a few horses can pull the load. Also how did they get that sleigh loaded out in the woods, that is a nice square stacked load that would take some time today with a loader to do the lifting. Gotta love the ingenuity of the old days!
Doug Cotton
Member
Very cool picture. I love looking at pictures like this. Thanks for posting.
gtractorfan
Well-known Member
I wonder "why"? What's the purpose of going to the trouble of stacking logs that high and heavy? Why not just make several loads? Was this for a photo op?
john in la
Well-known Member
Sorry but I only see 4 horses
Hartwick Pines here in MI is a protected stand of virgin white pines. It is a state park, and has a museum with many of the logging tools used in that era. The objects I like most are the sledge heads with the log owners mark or symbol that would be left embossed in the end of the log when struck. They probably have a couple hundred there. There is also a horse drawn apparatus that has "groove cutters" in the bottom that cut two perfect grooves in the ice once the snow was packed down into ice. Then a horse drawn water box type thing would leak water onto the trail, making a perfect icy groove. They also have a display and pictures of how the logs were loaded, sort of an A-frame device, and the Michigan designed "big wheels" for moving logs on dry terrain with 10-12' diameter wheels. Timber has always been of interest to me, it has been part of my family for probably close to a hundred years. I stole all these photos from Google, but have seen all this stuff myself numerous times.
Ross
Ross
It is a 4 horse hitch, the sled has a tongue. That is how real men worked ( and died). In the winter day light hours are very few, hence big loads. The American Belgium horses are amazing animals. I have an Amish friend who has a 9 foot bare on his old High gear mower, uses two giant Belgiums. I have seen two Suffolks pull over 14,000 lbs. GREAT PHOTO, thanks for posting.
so they made fewer trips. These were typical loads. They loaded & hauled all night & slept during the day. Once the sun hit the track, they couldn't haul anymore cause the ice melted & the sled track cut into the slush. Thus the water wagons watered down the track at night which instantly froze.
caterpillar guy
Well-known Member
4 horses and a man. We used to load logs with an H and 2 chains with a couple of poles for ramps on a truck. This was back in the 60's
My dad said that what you didn't see was the other hitch of horses that were needed to start the load moving but would be unhitched and moved out of the way once it started. Also there were 4 men with large sledges to hit the runners to "break them loose" because they would be frozen in place and a good hit would break the ice that held them. The ice roads would likely be alongside a creek so the route would all be downhill. If there was a stretch that was too steep so the load would try to run over the horses there were brakes that dug into the ice, each with a man operating it.
Each sled runner had a shoe. The good ones were cast iron because that didn't take as much to start and keep the load moving. Steel runner shoes were cheaper but would stick to the ice more.
Each sled runner had a shoe. The good ones were cast iron because that didn't take as much to start and keep the load moving. Steel runner shoes were cheaper but would stick to the ice more.
Here is a great video of logging from 1927. Shows harvest from beginning to end. Hauling with horses and Lombard steam crawler. I also have a great book with lots of great stories called "Tall Trees, Tough Men" by Robert E. Pike that some may enjoy.
Saga of the White Pine Board, 1927
Saga of the White Pine Board, 1927
My Great Grandfather immigrated from Germany. Worked off ticket for his passage one year cutting trees in Mi. logging camp. Worked a second year to pay for his wife and young son. He saw America as the opportunity of a life time. Within a few short years of stepping off the boat, he owned two farms in Clinton Co. Iowa.
Case Nutty 1660
Well-known Member
Thank You all for commenting,,, I can now understand the pic better
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K Effective
Well-known Member
My Grandfather worked two winters in the woods near Houghton, think it was 1918 and 1919. You had to learn from the old-timers to survive and thrive at it. Many of his stories echoed the thoughts in this thread. Also told of the train to town every other Sunday, for a bath, etc.
His brother ran a hunting lodge/hotel around Marquette that burned down sometime in 1920, when Grandpa helped them move back to Kenosha, he got a cushy job at the Case tractor factory instead of heading back to the woods. During the trip home from Marquette in his Essex car, the infant niece riding with him and his brothers family succumbed to carbon monoxide poisoning in the enclosed car and died. The local doctor they sought out told them the best thing for all involved was to continue to Kenosha and report it there, so they did. I miss him and his stories.
His brother ran a hunting lodge/hotel around Marquette that burned down sometime in 1920, when Grandpa helped them move back to Kenosha, he got a cushy job at the Case tractor factory instead of heading back to the woods. During the trip home from Marquette in his Essex car, the infant niece riding with him and his brothers family succumbed to carbon monoxide poisoning in the enclosed car and died. The local doctor they sought out told them the best thing for all involved was to continue to Kenosha and report it there, so they did. I miss him and his stories.
Russ from MN
Well-known Member
- Location
- Bemidji MN
My Father started hauling wood with my Grandfather in 27 or 28, Grandpa died in 29. He said a good team would lean into a load and if it didn't move they would back up and take a step sideways, then give a tug to break it loose.
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