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[Don Bowen KI6DIU <don.bowen AT earthlink.net>]

My grandfather put his steam engine on a sawmill when it was not working 
the thresher and hammer mill.  His father ran a horse powered sweep on a 
mill.  My uncle ran a mill with an IHC 15-30.  In the mid 50s he took the 
mill and mounted it on the back of a truck.  It was an International KB 
series.  The frame was extended to 50 feet and the mill and carriage were 
mounted on the back.  He used the truck drive shaft to get power to the 
mill.  He could move to a small stand and cut and stack saving a lot of 
money and handling.  I worked as off bearer on that thing many times.  His 
son tells me that it still exists but so far has not taken me there.

I keep thinking it was a Frick but memory has been proven wrong many 
times.  It is all cast double blade and again I cannot remember the 
sizes.  He cut a lot of bridge lumber, at one time having the country 
contract.  He was one that looked like he barely moved but few could keep 
up with him as every movement accomplished something.

One thing he did was come onto a lot and pull out the good lumber and pulp 
wood.  The pulp wood went to Fort Madison and the good lumber went through 
the mill to be stickered and stacked.  Any thing good enough for barrel 
staves was split and sold.  Then the next year of so would come back and 
build a bard or house.   I worked for him a lot and he taught me a lot 
about logging and carpentry.

One strong memory I have is eating lunch then him sitting down with his 
pipe and file and touching up and inspecting every tooth.  Any tooth with 
even a small problem that could not be touched up with a file was 
replaced.  Since then I have watched many sawmills at shows and few had 
that singing sound his blade did.  One exception was a portable double 
bladed mill in use at the Old Threshers in Mt Pleasant Iowa.  The sawer was 
an 89 y.o. gentleman that reminded  me of my uncle.  He ran circles around 
his crew, all appeared to be his sons and grandsons.  He knew my uncle and 
I spent a really pleasant hour talking to him about my experiences.


Don Bowen              Awl Knotted Up                       KI6DIU
http://www.braingarage.com