New England sawmillers in Scotland – Sawmill bench setup
The images are courtesy of Rene Knott and Kyle of Sutherland Historical Society. However the writer is uncertain of how the photographs known as the Culeve (Location in Strathcarron) collection were formed and who initially collected them. A similar collection is in the care of the Jenks Library in Acton Massachusetts gifted by Webster Blanchard who was the foreman of New England Mill No 3 team. It is assumed that one of the Americans or more had cameras, took a selection of photographs which were passed to various team members. A local Scottish photographer or press reporter should perhaps not be ruled out as there would have been a ready market for photographs among the New England teams. Any further information on the photographs would be very welcome.
Another great image of ongoing work in setting up a sawmill. This looks to be a different site from the previous image. Note the substantial well sawn base timbers on which are fixed the bench roller wheels. The actual rolling bench with all the adjustable timber dogs is sitting behind on far left. It is assumed that there are channels on the underside of the base timbers of the rolling bench so that it is guided along the roller wheels but nothing is very visible. Note the circular riving knife. It may be the saw blade shaft that is just visible by the knees of the nearest man but no indication of shaft bearings or drive pulley at this point. The wide rollers on the right will take the cut products from the saw onwards for stacking or other processing.
A number of trees on the hill behind have been felled indicating the cutters have started to get some timber on the ground ready for the saw.
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Groups: American sawmillers in Scotland 1917, Forestry Areas, Groups of people, Sawmills, pulp mills, chipboard mills