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Archival description
Vancouver Island (B.C.) Logging--Machinery
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[Vancouver area road construction ; Port Hardy ; Watson Lake]

Unedited footage. B&W. Vancouver area road construction, 1920s [252 feet]: "Consists of many scenes of bulldozers, graders, trucks, shovels and construction workers building a road from scratch, possibly near UBC, according to Mr. Mackenzie's cousin. Later in the film a group of men and equipment are paving a street in Vancouver, smoothing asphalt, steam rolling it, building sidewalks, etc. In this sequence a CN freight train grinds by as the men lay concrete forms along a short stretch of the tracks, a Dunbar streetcar comes up the hill barely missing a man sprinting across the road with two bottles of milk, and two other streetcars pass by while construction work is in progress. A man in a suit poses, takes off his hat, scratches his head, and puts his hat on again." (Colin Browne) COLOUR. Port Hardy, ca. 1940 [255 feet]: Cleared area with stumps and slash pile. Donkey engine and spartree; yarding logs. Topping a tree. Logging (or construction?) camp scenes. Wharf and sawmill. A seaplane lands. Aerial views of Port Hardy. COLOUR. Watson Lake (presumably in the Yukon), early 1940s [253 feet]: Views of settlement. Motor scow and barge on lake. Airstrip under construction; various aircraft. Townsite in winter with log buildings. Twin-prop seaplane. Motor barge with freight. Moored barges. Clearing small trees with a cat tractor. More aircraft.

West coast logging, Vancouver Island 1939

Documentary. "The scenes include a few brief views of Duncan on Vancouver Island in the early days, falling giant Douglas Fir with new chainsaws, bucking them into portable lengths, and the transportation of the logs by truck and railway. Good scenes at the base of the spar tree where the logs are being yarded out of the bush, tongs thrown about them with great skill, and the massive trunks lifted onto the rail cars by a steam donkey. Logs are loaded onto trucks by a gasoline donkey. There are scenes around the mill showing the arrival of the logs, the endless chain up onto the deck, the carriage which carries the logs through the circular saw, the edger, and all mill operations, including sorting in the lumber yard. A steam crane is shown working in the yard lifting and piling huge loads of lumber. A truck drives under the sawdust hopper and is loaded with sawdust which will be delivered to houses for stove fuel. And trucks leave the mill loaded with cut lumber. Also shown is an excellent tree-topping sequence with a high-rigger." (Colin Browne)

[Winter logging at Rock Bay]

Footage. "This reel was photographed by a crewman of the "Columbia", the flagship of the Columbia Coast Mission boats. . . . The location is likely the Hastings Mill Logging Company's operation at Rock Bay, 50 miles north of Campbell River on Vancouver Island. The film opens with an aerial shot of an inlet. There is snow on the hills and the clouds hang low above the sea. Various panning shots (filmed from the water) of a small village or logging camp at the foot of a hill just above the beach. There are log booms in the water and a log-dumping wharf protrudes from the camp. A logging locomotive moves toward the camera. Snow between three sets of railway tracks. Steam locomotive is followed by several flatcars loaded with logs. Men pull off chains fastening logs to cars and the logs clatter into the sea. Water tank in [background]. Shot of Locomotive. Group shot of two women and a child and a man with a tripod. Two men outside door of infirmary, one on crutches. Sequence of two logs being yarded into landing by high-lead method, many other cut logs lying on the ground, snow all about. Two steam donkeys operating, one each side of the railroad tracks in the middle of the forest, one loading logs onto railway flatcars. Pan up spar tree and down again. [Long shot of] high rigger up spar tree working on rigging. Pan down tree to men working at the landing and the steam donkey puffing away. Good [medium shot] steam donkey, man sawing wood in [background] with Swedish fiddle. CU men chopping at a log with double-bladed axes. Turn of Logs coming in and being dumped on a pile. Chokerman walks down from setting choker around a pile of logs and waves to the donkey operator. Pan donkey operator, Chinese man sawing up log with Swedish fiddle, and loggers on their break. [Long shot] steam donkey at base of spar tree. Pan of logs on rail cars, steam donkey billowing in distance, logs being loaded onto cars. Two loggers outside shed pointing." (Colin Browne)

Wood meets the challenge : [out-takes]

Out-takes. A young man who is skeptical about the future of the forest industry is taken to see various plants and operations. Illustrates the processes used and the diversity of wood products. Most of the film depicts MacMillan & Bloedel's Harmac plant and logging operations on Vancouver Island. There are also brief sequences aboard a ferry from Vancouver to the island.

[Logging look]

News item. Footage shows logged-off areas beyond Sooke (?), logging truck being loaded by hydraulic loader; loaded truck on way to the mill; shots of sawmill (B.C. Forest Products, Sooke?); faller bringing down a tree.

Spartree

Documentary. "Until midway through the twentieth century, logging operations made use of the "spartree," a particularly tall and strong tree that could support the lead blocks for high-line logging. The branches and top were removed by the highrigger before guylines and cables were rigged. Specially designed camera equipment for high-altitude shooting, operated by a stunt man, produces some spectacular views of Hap Johnson, highrigger, on his way up a 76-metre Douglas fir tree." (NLC description) Filmed at Caycuse, B.C.

Spartree : [French version]

Documentary. "Until midway through the twentieth century, logging operations made use of the "spartree," a particularly tall and strong tree that could support the lead blocks for high-line logging. The branches and top were removed by the highrigger before guylines and cables were rigged. Specially designed camera equipment for high-altitude shooting, operated by a stunt man, produces some spectacular views of Hap Johnson, highrigger, on his way up a 76-metre Douglas fir tree." (NLC description) Filmed at Caycuse, B.C.

[Logging in B.C.]

Amateur film. Franklin River logging camp near Port Alberni. Felling and bucking trees. Close-up of power saw. Two men cutting down a tree with the power saw. Transporting logs. Loading rail cars (slack line unit). Mess hall. Sky line with lead moving logs. Logs dumped into the sea for sorting. "A modern mill": bull saw, splitters, graders, filing, drying, labelling, shipping. More sawmill footage.

Spartree : [ISA-PNC edition]

Documentary. "Until midway through the twentieth century, logging operations made use of the "spartree," a particularly tall and strong tree that could support the lead blocks for high-line logging. The branches and top were removed by the highrigger before guylines and cables were rigged. Specially designed camera equipment for high-altitude shooting, operated by a stunt man, produces some spectacular views of Hap Johnson, highrigger, on his way up a 76-metre Douglas fir tree." (NLC description) Filmed at Caycuse, B.C.

Owen Hennigar interview

CALL NUMBER: T0546:0001 SUPPLIED TITLE OF TAPE(S): Manager for Canfor, Englewood Division - coastal logging PERIOD COVERED: 1935-1974 RECORDED: Beaver Cove (B.C.), 1974-07-31 SUMMARY: TRACK 1: Mr. Hennigar discusses his first involvement in the forest industry: Gyppo logging near Powell River, 1935-37. Joins B.C. Forest Service, 1937-39. Work as a ranger-assistant: inspections, maintenance. Return to Gyppo logging, 1939. Cat logging, 1939-41. Move to Englewood, 1942. The sawmill at Englewood. History of company ownership in the Nimpkish Valley. Rebuilding the railway from Englewood to camp L. Description of the area logged by Wood and English. Canfor operations in the Nimpkish Valley, 1942. Evaluation of cat logging and environmental impact. TRACK 2: Attitudes toward environmental factors in logging, 1940-60. Description of various supervisory jobs held, 1944-74. Woods foreman, 1947-53. Camp superintendent's duties 1953-64. Resident manager, 1964-74. Description of an average camp in the Nimpkish, 1940s. Loggers' attitudes toward their jobs, 1940s. Changes in safety practices, 1940-74. Introduction of compulsory safety equipment, 1948-74. Concerns for worker safety. Safety rallies, 1950s. CALL NUMBER: T0546:0002 SUPPLIED TITLE OF TAPE(S): Manager for Canfor, Englewood Division - coastal logging PERIOD COVERED: 1935-1974 RECORDED: Beaver Cove (B.C.), 1974-07-31 SUMMARY: TRACK 1: Dealing with industrial accidents and safety. Description of Russell Mills. Description of Bill McMahan. Duties of production superintendents, 1954-64. Membership in the IWA, 1942-47. Changes in the IWA, 1940-47. Expiration of logging contracts. Changes in worker attitudes, hiring, suspensions, firings. Problems of wildcat strikes and negotiating contracts. Problems of railway logging. Ecological concerns in log industry and government policy. TRACK 2: Attitudes of management toward environmental concerns. Sustained yield logging. Multiple land use in the forests. Major changes at Englewood division, 1964-74. Dry-land sorting procedure. Change in types of individuals employed as loggers, 1940-74. Changes in forest industry methods and equipment, 1940-74. (End of interview)

George Lutz and Jack Vetleson interview

The item is an audio recording of an interview with George Lutz and Jack Vetleson in 1974.
T0538:0001 track 1: Lutz and Vetleson came to Nimpkish Valley, 1943-44. Story of Lutz's arrival, 1943. Description of Englewood B.C. ca. 1943. Bunkhouse conditions, 1940s. Description of Immigrant labourers. Hiring practices and anecdotes about hiring practices. Holiday shut downs. Anecdotes about loggers and alcohol. Attitudes toward loggers. "Spending sprees". Loggers' salaries. Falling techniques and early chain saws. "Eight Day Wilson" and other legendary loggers. "Mancatchers" and other anecdotes.
T0538:0001 track 2: Anecdotes about drinking. "Mancatcher" story (cont'd). Vancouver "hangouts" of loggers. Black's (a loggers' agency). Working conditions in tough camps. Loggers' financial problems. Problems with coastal travel and transportation. Ship schedules to Englewood. Anecdotes about loggers' games and competitions. Description of railway logging. Bringing in a locomotive to the Englewood area and re-building the railway line, ca. 1946. More on railway logging (methods and techniques).

T0538:0002 track 1: Learning how to run different types of equipment (grapples, cat-sides). Duties of the Equalizer (foreman). Uses of the steam locomotives and laying track. Moving a skyline, by hand. Lack of concern for minor injuries. Anecdotes about card playing, movies and recreation. Laying track, runaways, accidents while working on the railway. Anecdotes about working on the railway. Replacing the steam locomotives. Anecdotes about the camp sanitation facilities. Rough-housing in the camp.
T0538:0002 track 2: Community life in Woss. Laying in and cutting wood supplies for the winter. Superintendent McEachern, C. Hunter and railway anecdotes. The process of building the railway. The track laying machine built at Englewood. The many uses of powder and blasting. The innovative nature of loggers. Sam Madill equipment manufacturer. Using old logging equipment. Superintendent Russell Mills. Making logger's punch. Safety concerns in the 1940s. Introduction of hardhats, 1952-53.

T0538:0003 track 1: Work safety, 1940s through 1970s. Establishment of first safety committee in the Nimpkish Valley, 1948-50. Problems enforcing safety regulations, 1970s. Safety rallies in 1950s-60s. Working in the winter, 1940s. Camp pets, anecdotes. First aid men, 1940s and 1970s. Single men and married men in camp. Choosing supervisory personnel, 1970s.
T0538:0003 track 2: Supervisors in 1949. Worker advancement in the 1940s. Management of loggers in 1940s and 1970s.

Also included are two photographs.

West coast logging, Vancouver Island 1939

Documentary. "The scenes include a few brief views of Duncan on Vancouver Island in the early days, falling giant Douglas Fir with new chainsaws, bucking them into portable lengths, and the transportation of the logs by truck and railway. Good scenes at the base of the spar tree where the logs are being yarded out of the bush, tongs thrown about them with great skill, and the massive trunks lifted onto the rail cars by a steam donkey. Logs are loaded onto trucks by a gasoline donkey. There are scenes around the mill showing the arrival of the logs, the endless chain up onto the deck, the carriage which carries the logs through the circular saw, the edger, and all mill operations, including sorting in the lumber yard. A steam crane is shown working in the yard lifting and piling huge loads of lumber. A truck drives under the sawdust hopper and is loaded with sawdust which will be delivered to houses for stove fuel. And trucks leave the mill loaded with cut lumber. Also shown is an excellent tree-topping sequence with a high-rigger." (Colin Browne)