Square_peg
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- Feb 1, 2012
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This is some very old footage of a logging/hewing operation in Northern Wisconsin during the 1920's - the final years of virgin White Pine in that area. It is narrated by Old Axeman (Bernie Weisgerber). Old Axeman sent this to me for editing and posting to the web.
You'll see some very good hewing technique in this video. This is similar to how Old Axeman hews and similar to how I hew - being as I learned from watching his other videos. A couple of things I noted in the video:
1) It's easy to see that to juggle a log that size you're going to need an axe with at least a 36" haft. You couldn't comfortably hew so far below your feet with a short axe like a racing axe.
2) Note that the bark stripping wasn't complete. It was more a 'levelling' operation than a barking operation. Sometimes high and low spots will interfere with laying down a good straight chalkline. Some initial levelling work is often necessary.
3) Consider how cheap the cost of human labor must have been for them to hew these in the woods just to reduce shipping costs. And I suppose it speeds up the milling process, too, but at a great expenditure of human labor.
4) Check out the huge raw-handled peavey they're using at 1:42. That's a big log to roll.
5) It's interesting to see the Caterpillar used with a sled instead of a logging arch or big wheel like was in use here in the NW at this time. The maritime climate of the NW meant inadequate snow for using a sled.
6) Note how they roll the cants up poles to fill the turn. The rope would be wound around the log. Pulling the rope rolls the log.
7) The railroad is the Soo Line which had acquired the Wisconsin and Northern Railroad in 1921. Soo Line later bought up the bankrupt CMStP&P. Soo was later consolidated into the Canadian Pacific and very few of old Soo Line cars still roll today.
You'll see some very good hewing technique in this video. This is similar to how Old Axeman hews and similar to how I hew - being as I learned from watching his other videos. A couple of things I noted in the video:
1) It's easy to see that to juggle a log that size you're going to need an axe with at least a 36" haft. You couldn't comfortably hew so far below your feet with a short axe like a racing axe.
2) Note that the bark stripping wasn't complete. It was more a 'levelling' operation than a barking operation. Sometimes high and low spots will interfere with laying down a good straight chalkline. Some initial levelling work is often necessary.
3) Consider how cheap the cost of human labor must have been for them to hew these in the woods just to reduce shipping costs. And I suppose it speeds up the milling process, too, but at a great expenditure of human labor.
4) Check out the huge raw-handled peavey they're using at 1:42. That's a big log to roll.
5) It's interesting to see the Caterpillar used with a sled instead of a logging arch or big wheel like was in use here in the NW at this time. The maritime climate of the NW meant inadequate snow for using a sled.
6) Note how they roll the cants up poles to fill the turn. The rope would be wound around the log. Pulling the rope rolls the log.
7) The railroad is the Soo Line which had acquired the Wisconsin and Northern Railroad in 1921. Soo Line later bought up the bankrupt CMStP&P. Soo was later consolidated into the Canadian Pacific and very few of old Soo Line cars still roll today.
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