Westlake Publishing Forums

Yesterday I was reminded, in a friendly manner, by another forum member that I had actually posted this build here in 2013 when I did it. So I searched it out and sure enough it was there, but there are no pictures or historical background info and most of the text makes little sense without the pictures. Boy old guys CRS!

I was going to delete this thread but then thought maybe some of you may not be offended by a rerun with additional information. So will continue if there are no objections.
Rick, the old guy



           

Totally unoffended and looking forward to the new and improved posts.

Quote from: Krusty on August 22, 2026, 02:33:45 AMTotally unoffended and looking forward to the new and improved posts.

I second that!

No objections—I'm looking forward to more exciting reports!

I am deeply and personally offended, of course, but keep posting anyway! -- Russ

Well thanks for the encouragement guys, but understand that everything that follows is partially your fault.

Russ, do you remember where that corner is that you want to send everyone to?
Yea, your turn.

OK, back to the topic of log skidding.

Now for the next generation of log skidding equipment in the woods, the steel arches.
Like everything else every manufacture had their own ideas when it came to these. Some worked mechanically some used hydraulics but they all got the job done somewhat faster and better than the big wheels.



The Villair arch was one of the first to hit the market. Produced by Redding Iron Works it was a big seller but they soon ran into paten problems that finally drove the company completely out of the logging equipment business. They were way ahead of their time, notice the crude Fairlead that the cables ran through from the winch on the back of the tractor.



Another early design that used hydraulics from a pump on the tractor to lift the logs.


Another example.



And a third example, this one used a lift system similar to the old stiff tongue big wheels.

Stay tuned we are getting closer to the subject of our build.

Cool stuff!
I have never seen these even all my books and magazines.
Or maybe just forgot.
Thanks!
MJinTN

(From the corner): None of my reference material shows them, either. -- Russ

Marty and Russ,

 AI is a great tool isn't, you can do anything and fool anybody.

But in fact these are real machines and they all reside here.


A link to their website.
https://stateparks.oregon.gov/index.cfm?do=main.loadFile&load=_siteFiles%2Fpublications%2F%2FCollier_State_Park_Brochure_%28Web%29113403.pdf

Now we come to the tracked arch, the subject of this build. Introduced in the 1920's the arch with Athey tracked wheels and fair-lead system literally took over the log yarding duties on the West Coast in the Pine, Fir and Redwood forests.


The final evolution of the tracked fairlead logging arch on the 1930's.

Using these tracked arches became, in a few years, a concern to the government Forest Service because of the major "stand damage" they caused while yarding in multiple logs at a time, that dragging from several directions at once would destroy younger and smaller trees, the future forest.

The only further development of these arches was the introduction of the rubber tired fair-lead arch that was gentler on the forest floor. Harvesting then moved to the multitask log handling equipment that we see in use today. Understand that the equipment in use today would be totally useless in an "old growth" forest because of the huge size of the trees.


The final step the rubber tired arch.

Now finally, the subject of our build. Photographed and measured at Collier State Park Logging Museum.

The extra metal welded on above the fairleads is something added in later years for whatever reason and was not part of the original machine.

Here is a short video of the tracked arch in operation and if you watch closely you can see why they were so destructive to the stand.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YWYDFr0Djhk


A further note or two.

Of all the wheeled and tracked log moving systems used through the years the Forest Service and the logging industry agree that the Big Wheels pulled by horse teams was the least intrusive and damaging method of yarding logs in the forest. But they also agree that it was not an economical system when compared to the more modern machines available.

Again I want to stress that this brief history is just that, a very brief and far from comprehensive look at the use of wheels to move logs in the forest.

Finally on to the build.

The first ten seconds of the video answers the question, "How did the arch work?" -- Russ

QuoteIntroduced in the 1920's the arch with Athey tracked wheels and fair-lead system literally took over the log yarding duties on the West Coast in the Pine, Fir and Redwood forests.

There was also an export market for these arches – here's one working in the Pureora Forest in New Zealand in 1961.