Roadless Logmaster Skidder

Date Added: 30 October 2014 Contributor: Norman Davidson Year of Photo: 1983 Picture No: 2662

This photograph is courtesy of David McQuillan, Dumfries.

This is a Roadless Logmaster Skidder working in South Scotland in the early eighties, possibly during a Work Study evaluation.

It is not that clear from the picture but this four wheeled machine is articulated in the middle, the rear portion housing the winches and the large fairleads from which the cables are lead to the loads of timber it is hauling. The driver is in the front portion protected from ropes and debris by the cab.

Any information on this machine and its origins (assumed American) would be very welcome.

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Groups: Forestry in Action, Timber harvesters, processors, forwarders and cable cranes

6 Comments

I think you will find that this machine is the prototype Roadless Jewelltrac Logmaster Skidder. I can find no record of this model ever having gone into volume production; and this machine, magnificently restored, is currently for sale. No North American import, but an attempt by a British company to produce a competitor to the International Hough Paylogger. Comment left on 06 November 2014 at 20:11 by Ian Cameron, mobile mechanic dunkeld 1962/1970.

This machine never went in to volume production but the Forestry Commission did buy a batch of twelve machines all of which went to S(S) Conservancy but were little used and eventually sold off at Newmains auction in the early eighties. Comment left on 09 November 2014 at 21:29 by David McQuillan

The Jewelltrac version was actually the last machine to be built following Roadless Traction going into recievership in 1983 and L.F. Jewell of Bridgewater, Somerset taking over the remaining stock of parts and the right to build. Only one Jewelltrack badged machine was ever built, all others being built earlier by Roadless.

The whole story of their development is given in FC Leaflet No. 59, 'Hydrostatic Skidder' by W. O. Wittering, FC Publications 1974.
Comment left on 21 May 2015 at 23:02 by David Shearer

I used to work for Roadless Traction in Sawbridgeworth and built these machines. Roadless Traction Ltd took over Walter Lawrence Engineering Ltd in 1980, I had just finished my 2nd year as a Toolmakers Apprentice. In 1981 we went into production of the Logmaster. I was trained in Hydraulics, as well as other aspects of manufacturing and we build this machine from scratch. The Logmaster was just one of many machines we produced, for the Forestry Commission and other clients. Comment left on 29 December 2021 at 22:14 by Eric Hudgell

Eric - Great to get your comment and some detail of the machine production. Details of other machines produced and manufacturing periods would be very valuable for historians and those interested in forestry machines. Any photographs would be a real bonus.

Kind regards - Norman Comment left on 30 December 2021 at 08:02 by Norman Davidson (Website Curator)

I worked for Roadless Traction as spares assessor for 10 years. The logger was so easy to drive "even a woman could do it" was once overheard in manufacturing. Comment left on 08 November 2022 at 13:56 by Sue Hall

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