Forestry Memories

Forwarder at Forest of Ae

Forwarder at Forest of Ae

Date Added: 04 May 2020 Contributor: Norman Davidson Year of Photo: 1960 Picture No: 4672

Photograph is courtesy of Jim Christie, Crook of Devon, a former senior mechanical engineer in the Forestry Commission.

This image is dated as 1950-60! But more likely around or after 1960. The Hiab knuckle crane did not come out of the Swedish factory until about this time and is reported to have developed from the Hiab Elephant. However the claim on the photograph title is that this is the FC's first forwarder!

The Robur tractor is more difficult to place. According to a commentator on this website this is a Massey Ferguson 165 tractor modified in Sweden and fitted with hydraulic loader. More information welcome.

Any information on the location in Ae Forest and on any of the people featured would be very welcome.

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

7 Comments

This could be the machine that was used for student training and beloved by Ian Lorimer, Mechanical Workshop Technician, at Newton Rigg College Forestry Department when I was there between 1975 and 1978. The Robur used to blow hydraulic hoses regularly, soaking the operator with hydraulic oil, or they were buried in at the back of the extensive heavy steel plate guarding. An absolute pain to repair! Comment left on 04 May 2020 at 23:37 by Bill Rayner
Ian Lorimer remembers it well. He says he always ended up being the one to retrieve it from the ditch where it ended up and repairing it. He was well impressed with it though. Comment left on 06 May 2020 at 11:44 by Andy MacNicol
Aye Andy, thank you for posting Ian's 'polite' reply. Please give him my regards and I trust that he and his are in good health and enjoying the delights of Argyll at this time of year? Bill Comment left on 06 May 2020 at 15:57 by Bill Rayner
He is. He's still working at 70 on a digger, where he can sit all day. As he is miles from any other human, even the Covid19 hasn't stopped him. Comment left on 06 May 2020 at 16:04 by Andy MacNicol
Aye Andy,
I am very pleased to read that he is in good fettle. Contracting with him in 1978, with the Smith's Timbermaster in Ae is indelibly branded into my grey cells and probably his as well!! Once this lurgy settles down, I'll need to seek him out and get the craic, 42 years is a wee while! Being in the back of beyond, wrestling with a bit of kit, nowt has changed then. My regards, Bill. Comment left on 06 May 2020 at 20:45 by Bill Rayner
He should be on here soon. I might have to take him through the process with baby steps but he'll get here. Comment left on 06 May 2020 at 22:13 by Andy MacNicol
I have no doubt that he will! I wonder if he still has the photographs or negatives? Bill Comment left on 07 May 2020 at 09:44 by Bill Rayner
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