Our Arbor ancestors

the.schultz.effect · Mar 14, 2022

I've noticed when I've tried to find pics or info about old gear or forefather arborists there seems to be very little, or at least it's hard to find. Just the other day we lost a legend, Ed Hobbs, and while his innovations effected our entire industry many don't know the name, or much about the man. In short, in this new age of info it feels like somehow we're loosing touch with our roots. I figured I might start this thread to share old gear, pictures, stories, legends, etc etc. For example, here's some old letting devices. One of Ed Hobb's older ratcheting bollards. Also here's a pair of the first porta wraps by Scott Prophett, I think.

the.schultz.effect · Mar 14, 2022

Here's some old arborist blocks by Mr. Hobbs. A 3/4" or maybe 5/8" belonging to @Merle Nelson and the big ol 1" block

the.schultz.effect · Mar 14, 2022

Here's a recent discovery. Don Blair's iteration of the famed Hobbs block after he took over the patent, I think

the.schultz.effect · Mar 14, 2022

An old magazine & and some posters

Jonny · Mar 14, 2022

the.schultz.effect said:
An old magazine & and some posters

You notice the cast on Jerry’s foot?
Spur climbing on a broken foot while still in the cast. Just epic.

Vicente · Mar 14, 2022

One of the guys who works with me is 72 just stopped falling timber for call fire last summer, he's got an old hobbs that's been rebuilt and some of those big hobbs blocks.

Quintanana · Mar 14, 2022

Thanks for sharing, Lawrence.

oldoakman · Mar 14, 2022

I have and still use my original design Port-A-Wrap. I like it better than the current model. Way easier to set up and sweat a line with.

Tom Dunlap · Mar 14, 2022

Norm Hall was involved in creating the Porta Wrap too

GregManning · Mar 14, 2022

Tom Dunlap said:
Norm Hall was involved in creating the Porta Wrap too

Norm Hall & Scott Prophett invented the original Porta Wrap.

Naturalway · Mar 14, 2022

There is a videotape, maybe digitized now, that is called The Legends of Arboriculture. It's a pretty good video. Norm Hall trained me to climb and his dad Larry, who is in the video, was a mentor of mine at The Care of Trees, which was also run by another legend, John Hendricksen, who still goes to the WMC-TCIA meetings.

Does anyone remember Joey Cornell? He went on to train special forces guys in the military with his climbing skills. Joey once rode down a tree during a hurricane clean-up, ended up on the floor of a garage after falling thru (broke his pelvis and all kinds of bones), and was a machine even after he was "repaired". Another guy I was lucky enough to work with was Brian Kotwicka, whose drawings have helped train the multitude of climbers worldwide.

Thanks for bringing up the older guys, we need to remember them and acknowledge their contributions. Tom D is in this category. He's done alot for the tree climbing community. Thanks TOM!

GregManning · Mar 14, 2022

Rich Hattier was my original climbing coach; and said I should get involved in TCC's.
Norm Hall was instrumental in educating me on many, many, TCC set-ups, judging, etc.
I've now volunteered for 80+ TCC's.

dspacio · Mar 14, 2022

Logger and Sawmill operator, adjacent industry to our modern Arbs, yet with honor I present a few pics of my great-grandad's outfit:

He built the sawmills himself, from what I heard. This photo is likely the last he built, I think he had 3 running when he passed.

Other photos of a gin pole, (or variation) a technology that always fascinates me from my earliest days working in the woods.
Leveraging forces here with literal Horse Power.

Photos from Montana, logging/milling operation of Joe Giroux, Flathead Lake region 1920s through 40s.

A testament to their work, here in this short story:

Walking through the "Ross Creek Cedars, Scenic Area" in the 1990s, my Grandpa mentioned that they used to log in that exact area, right where we were walking. I felt like we passed through a grove he recognized, the way he was looking around. Huge Cedars, (some that 6+ kids can go inside together) beautiful forest, not a thought that a logging crew was there 50 years before. It's a Forest Service trail now with dozens of people walking around every day to see 1000 year old trees.

Contrast this to the stream of laden log trucks hauling out of the hills of Libby in my youth.. yea it was different times when logging was a family business employing 100 guys.

Cheers to all the tree men and small business folk who carry out this work with great respect of the lands and forests we work within.

the.schultz.effect · Mar 15, 2022

Vicente said:
One of the guys who works with me is 72 just stopped falling timber for call fire last summer, he's got an old hobbs that's been rebuilt and some of those big hobbs blocks.

take some pics, share it on the thread. be cool to see them and hear his stories.

the.schultz.effect · Mar 15, 2022

Tom Dunlap said:
Norm Hall was involved in creating the Porta Wrap too

tbh i don't know the full story, which is part of the purpose of this thread. tell us more.

the.schultz.effect · Mar 15, 2022

GregManning said:
Norm Hall & Scott Prophett invented the original Porta Wrap.

tell the tale. they certainly don't in books or catalogues, at least the ones that i've seen. also, i've seen todays porta wrap referred to as porta wrap III or porta wrap IV. what was the porta wrap II?

the.schultz.effect · Mar 15, 2022

Naturalway said:
There is a videotape, maybe digitized now, that is called The Legends of Arboriculture. It's a pretty good video. Norm Hall trained me to climb and his dad Larry, who is in the video, was a mentor of mine at The Care of Trees, which was also run by another legend, John Hendricksen, who still goes to the WMC-TCIA meetings.

Does anyone remember Joey Cornell? He went on to train special forces guys in the military with his climbing skills. Joey once rode down a tree during a hurricane clean-up, ended up on the floor of a garage after falling thru (broke his pelvis and all kinds of bones), and was a machine even after he was "repaired". Another guy I was lucky enough to work with was Brian Kotwicka, whose drawings have helped train the multitude of climbers worldwide.

Thanks for bringing up the older guys, we need to remember them and acknowledge their contributions. Tom D is in this category. He's done alot for the tree climbing community. Thanks TOM!

thanks for sharing this. great stuff!
and yeah great point! thanks @Tom Dunlap , SRT wouldn't be what it is today if it weren't for you.

the.schultz.effect · Mar 15, 2022

GregManning said:
Rich Hattier was my original climbing coach; and said I should get involved in TCC's.
Norm Hall was instrumental in educating me on many, many, TCC set-ups, judging, etc.
I've now volunteered for 80+ TCC's.

all of us who enjoying climbing comps owe you a debt of gratitude @GregManning thanks for all of your time and effort!

the.schultz.effect · Mar 15, 2022

dspacio said:
Logger and Sawmill operator, adjacent industry to our modern Arbs, yet with honor I present a few pics of my great-grandad's outfit:

He built the sawmills himself, from what I heard. This photo is likely the last he built, I think he had 3 running when he passed.
View attachment 80769

Other photos of a gin pole, (or variation) a technology that always fascinates me from my earliest days working in the woods.
Leveraging forces here with literal Horse Power.

Photos from Montana, logging/milling operation of Joe Giroux, Flathead Lake region 1920s through 40s.
View attachment 80770 View attachment 80771

A testament to their work, here in this short story:

Walking through the "Ross Creek Cedars, Scenic Area" in the 1990s, my Grandpa mentioned that they used to log in that exact area, right where we were walking. I felt like we passed through a grove he recognized, the way he was looking around. Huge Cedars, (some that 6+ kids can go inside together) beautiful forest, not a thought that a logging crew was there 50 years before. It's a Forest Service trail now with dozens of people walking around every day to see 1000 year old trees.

Contrast this to the stream of laden log trucks hauling out of the hills of Libby in my youth.. yea it was different times when logging was a family business employing 100 guys.

Cheers to all the tree men and small business folk who carry out this work with great respect of the lands and forests we work within.

this is gold! thanks for the little window into your family history.