Cable Crane on Massey Ferguson Tractor

Date Added: 01 October 2016 Contributor: Norman Davidson Year of Photo: 2016 Picture No: 3417

Image is courtesy of Alasdair Cameron taken 1st Oct 2016 at the Strathnairn Vintage Rally at Daviot just south of Inverness.

This looks like an early version of a cable crane system. Was this a precursor to the James Jones Trailer Alp? The tractor Registration No is BST413M and follows in sequence that of the Highland Bear next door.

Note the Scottish School of Forestry sign. Could this be the Forestry School’s logging equipment from the very early days?

Any details of the machines history and structure would be very welcome.

Additional information from Alasdair and also three images added as PDF.

The main photo of the winch in the UP position has only one stay secured.

It is believed to be new to the FC and first registered in Inverness but not a FC registration Number if BST413M is correct

Winch plate....shown as 11 73 could be Nov 1973 which is close to Reg No year.

The base unit is MF 20 is a MF 135 with extra brakes, a horn and a speedometer.

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Groups: Timber harvesters, processors, forwarders and cable cranes

4 Comments

It looks like an Igland 4000 or 8000 winch. The FC changed the tower and the pulleys were in collars, rather than hanging. From the other image it looks like hydraulic legs for raising the wheels rather than having to use a hand jack, which saved a lot of work. Comment left on 02 October 2016 at 09:58 by Robert hannah

Robert,
I am intrigued by the hydraulic ram on the tower and how it lowered the tower for transporting. I do not see any quick release pins on the top stabiliser arms. Any thoughts? Comment left on 02 October 2016 at 12:57 by Norman Davidson

Hi Norman, can't work out how the tower lowers, would have to see the winch up close. Looks more complicated than the FC tower. Comment left on 02 October 2016 at 22:15 by Robert hannah

These machines were purchased by Inverness College in 1974/75 for use at the Forest Industry Centre, now known as the Scottish School of Forestry, along with a Ford 4000/4 with double drum winch c/w log blade, a McConnel sawbench and a Cundey de-barker. All still in working order at the school.
With refernece to the cable crane, the tower is raised and lowered by the hydraulics, this modification was carried out by the FC as they wanted to use it for a training course. There were also two hydraulic rams/legs fitted at the rear to raise the back end instead of using a bottle jack . Comment left on 10 October 2016 at 22:15 by Neil Stewart

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