AEC Matador timber crane convers - Idvies Estate
Photograph courtesy of Leslie Phillip, Perth who was on site watching his friend David Wood working on a clear fell on Idvies Estate near Letham, Angus. This WW2 origin machine converted to a crane appears to have Registration Number YSR596L and is hauling an unseen log from over the rise. Note the rope is running through a pulley half way up the crane jib, a position less likely to lift the front of the Matador off the ground. The log loading scissor tongs are fixed to the front bumper until needed for loading lorries.
The machines were owned by a timber contractor who went by the name Paddy Murray and was based in Brechin.
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Groups: Forestry Areas, Forestry in Action, Timber lorries and loaders
5 Comments
I used one of these machines for a while on Panmure estate in the 1970's pulling over large beech trees in a selected felling operation this type of ex army conversion proved to be well able to cope with the job we were undertaking.
Comment left on 14 December 2017 at 13:00 by Leslie Phillip
This machine was just one of Paddy Murray's ex army conversions that David Wood operated in the late 1960s and beyond.
Comment left on 03 April 2020 at 11:50 by leslie phillip
Does anyone know anything about the AEC Matador which was used for forestry with the reg DRE 507E? Been trying to relocate it
Comment left on 01 August 2023 at 22:35 by Alice
This AEC MATADOR was to feature in a new book of forest memories, does anyone know if it has been published yet.
Comment left on 26 February 2024 at 20:44 by Leslie Phillip
Hi I had the privilege of driving a matador crane in the early 70s. Working with my uncle we operated in the forest of Dean and Worcester/Hereford areas. My uncle drove the artic and I drove the matador. We had an arrangement with Walford sawmills for overnight parking. I can honestly say that I really enjoyed my time driving and operating the matador
Comment left on 04 August 2025 at 23:20 by Bryn Gundy
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