The Forestry Forum

Hi,

Digging thru the junk pile today and came on these. Could be some kind of old cable grapple?  The are made by Esco and say salisbury 3 on them.

(https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/16762/photo.JPG)

Dave

End tongs. Used for loading logs. It was a very dangerous set up. If one of the end tongs pulled out, the log would go flying in that direction. I witnessed this happen several times on a logging operation that used them  in Northern California in the early 60's. They were used on logs that were too large a diameter for regular grapples. A common set up was to have a cable from a winch run through a pulley hung from an A frame ( or other means of elevation such as an "H" brace hung from the spar pole) with a "Y" yoke of cable, long enough for the length of logs being loaded, attached to the end tongs. The shackles on the outside curve of the tongs had ropes attached that a helper on each end used to keep the log lined up. When the log was in place on the load (often on a rail car - old railroad logging), the helpers would pull on the ropes to release the end tongs. Here's a diagram of another style of end tong:
www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=&esrc=s&source=web&cd=6&sqi=2&ved=0CHEQFjAF&url=http%3A%2F%2Fwww.google.com%2Fpatents%2FUS994750.pdf&ei=SA-6T7WGJ8aJiALly_X2Bg&usg=AFQjCNHgO4XuueFEMbrW5fVHnuSMsZbIMw&sig2=vMeWES7B--X9qEoriOj18A

I regularly use end tongs for handling logs.


 (https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/20011/2410/DSCN0290.JPG)


 (https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/20011/2410/DSCN0289.JPG)


 (https://forestryforum.com/gallery/albums/userpics/20011/2410/DSCN0283.JPG)
I made them from broken skidding tongs.

Thanks Bob,

I might try to use them on my bucket like Magic man to load logs on my mill...Or I might make thek into candle wall sconces....

Dave

Just using them for loading with a bucket is probably as safe as any other loading system. What made the system dangerous on the operations that I saw was the height that the very large logs were lifted with a single cable attached mid way between the tongs, instead of a stable point like a bucket.

My logs are little bit smaller than the the sticks you were working with as well.  Cool to know what they are.  I found them in a field in oregon.   


Dave