Report No 35 - The Tirfor Winch

Date Added: 20 September 2013 Contributor: Norman Davidson Year of Photo: 1955 Picture No: 1963

Two files containing about 65 Head Quarters Mechanical Development Committee Reports from 1950 to 1958 were saved from destruction by Jim Christie former Forestry Commission HQ, Plant Engineer. Jim, from Crook of Devon, has kindly made the reports available for scanning and entry onto this website. Please open the PDF to see this full report.

Report No 35 details the some of the history of this hand winch which in later years became the standard hand winch used in the FC from the 1960s onwards. In particular it was used to tension the skyline in the early tractor mounted cable cranes in the 1960s - 80s and beyond that for hauling down hung up trees in felling operations and a hundred and other uses. It was a light, easily used bit of kit and it looks very similar today.

Any other stories of any unusual uses for the Tirfor?

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Groups: Forestry Mechanical Engineering Reports , Tools, equipment and clothing

3 Comments

Is this a "monkey winch"?. Comment left on 04 May 2016 at 16:15 by Leslie Phillip

The monkey winch was a drum of rope with a lever and a ratchet and was mounted on two wheels. It was heavy and awkward to move. The tirfor was a great improvement and could be carried easily. Comment left on 04 May 2016 at 22:38 by Robert hannah

Is there any photos on this web sight of a gadget called a skid pan used mainly on second thinnings, I think they were black smith made looking much like a large shovel with a light weight chain and hook which looped around the hung up tree near the bottom after being pushed off the stump onto the pan then pulled straight down, often it was easier to run up the hung up tree until your weight brought the tree down. Comment left on 05 May 2016 at 10:41 by Leslie Phillip

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