Log hammer brands -- Are these still used?

[srjones]

I picked this up at a yard sale last summer, and as you can tell, it's in pretty sad shape. As far as I can guess, the 'L F' stands for Longview Fibre which is a big timber company around here.  Are these still used anymore?  Does anybody know what the 14 1 or I might mean?

Thanks,
-Steve

[Frank_Pender]

Yes, they are still used.  I have one for my operation that is registered with the state and you pay a fee every couple of years for the right to use it on logs.  The number probably indicate the timber site from which logs left.  I will buy it from you, if you wish to sell. 8) 8) 8)

I am just up river and West of Salem.  I will even  come and pick it up, at not charge for freight.

[Jeff]

Franks spent all his money on syrup. I collect that sort of thing too.  I'll bet you'll want to keep it though, but if not. Well, will you take payments? ;)

[Tillaway]

They sure do... Oregon state law requires that there are at least 4 readable brands on every truck load of logs.  All brands are registered with the state and chances are that that brand may still be used.  I have a big book of them at the office.  I think it has every registered brand in the state.

I would guess that you are correct in guessing that one of Fibres brands.  The 14 i, 1 or l usually places the mill and logging side.  I suppose there is a 12 or 13 as well.  The brand tells the scalers what logging side produced the load in case a load ticket is missing or its mixed with other loads in the yard.  It's all about accountability and track who gets paid for what.

Every log that comes off my sales have to be branded and painted.  The log scalers are suppose to verify that the ticket on the log load matches the brands on the logs.  The tickets are assigned to timber sales and the corresponding brand for the sale.  We can have more than one brand on a sale, it can be used to track logs from different loggers both working on the same sale.

If I have time I will try to look it up.  Also note how the other side of the hammer is well used and there are dents on the face.  Loggers use them to beat on the cable cutters and pound splices on the cable shows... only until I catch them. ;)

[srjones]

I will buy it from you, if you wish to sell.

Whoa, I wasn't expecting that...It guess is might end up on eBay or the For Sale section of FF. 

Anyway, thanks for the replies.  I really had no idea.

[Tillaway]

I might hold off on selling it right away... the brand owner usually likes to keep the hammers under thier control.  I think we melt our down when they get too bad to use of course we are a bit more strict about controlling our hammers.  We charge $100 if the the person that signs out for loses it.

[srjones]

I might hold off on selling it right away... the brand owner usually likes to keep the hammers under thier control.

Ya know, in the back of my mind I was thinking that very same thing. 

I suppose I should contact Longview Fibre and see what they have to say.  It would probably be helpful to first know if it's an active brand or not.

Thanks again.

-Steve

[srjones]

...and a quick search shows me that it's still registered ... DanGit. 

not only is there 12 and 13, but there's all the way through 178.  This is most likely 141.

http://egov.oregon.gov/ODF/LOG_BRANDS/docs/l.pdf

Tillaway,

Is this also called a boom stick?

If so, I may be in for more...fun.

http://landru.leg.state.or.us/ors/532.html

[Button]

 They show up on ebay pretty regularly, cool things to collect, too bad the barn is full. enjoy

[Tillaway]

You looked it up the easy way, its actually LF 141 registered to Longview Fibre Timber Division.  I started to count the number of brands Fibre has registered and quit a 300.

Not a boom stick, thats what they call the logs that collect and confine logs into rafts.  They are held together with boom chains, which make a mighty fine boat anchor for fishing at Oregon City.   "Swisher" wire was used before bands to hold log bundles together in the rafts.

[junkyard]

What in the world is swisher wire
   Junkyard

[boboak]

   We use them down here too. Every Forest Service sale has its own brand and they're very strict about it. You have to daub a bit of paint on the end of each log and brand into it.  If the logs aren't branded before they leave the woods somebody catches a lot of flack.  usually several somebodys!

[maple flats]

If you keep going they have numbers all the way up to 799 just on those 16 pgs, might be that is all since that is the L directory, unless they also have some under F or who knows what.

[Tillaway]

Swisher wire was used to hold log bundles together.  Such as a truck load of logs was banded together with wire prior to dropping the bundle in the water.  Parts of some river here have it laying on the bottom.  I was around before the metal banding became popular.  Hasn't been used in a long time.

[Frank_Pender]

My mill building is not full, I have plenty of room left, for another branding iron.  Has anyone found my log brand registered in Oregon? ;D

[JJackson]

We have used a few when removing logs that we cut to clear around the high voltage lines on the Coconino NF.  Our log truck carries the brand and is suppose to strike every log.