Unknown Cabling Hardware

[Rooted.Tree.Solutions]

About a month ago I worked on a Red Oak tree (Quercus rubra) that had been cabled over 40 years ago. The job consisted of reduction pruning to reduce weight in the upper canopy and to install additional cabling if needed. I decided to add 2 new cables 2/3 of the way up from the co-dom stems as the old cables were now only 1/2 way up from the weak union. The dbh of both co-dom stems is 34”. This tree is just massive and hangs over 2 lake houses and over the dock where boats are kept and kids swim. While doing the work I inspected the old cabling hardware. I was surprised by what I found, the hardware was something that I had never seen before. I’ve included some pictures. (Please forgive me, I didn’t get any pictures of the tree or the weak union). I tried to look up the manufacturer stamped on the hardware but the company no longer exists. Interestingly enough, I just happened to come across the exact same hardware not a week later while working a different job. It appears that this hardware is intended for use on telephone pole guy wires.
My question is, does anyone have any experience with this hardware? What’s it rated for? The cables it’s holding are extremely taught. I am concerned about this tree because I know nothing about this hardware and if this tree fails it will be catastrophic and potentially deadly. Thanks for your help.

 

[southsoundtree]

Look like strandvise style hardware.

I've seem it on a guy line on a high-ropes challenge course

 

[Reach]

I believe it is set up for guy wires on telephone poles and I too have seen it on a high ropes course as well. Not sure what it’s rated for, but if it can handle a phone pole guy line, it can definitely handle a tree. Those pole guys have far more tension on them than we would ever use on a tree, likely several thousand pounds. Why do you think they use such large diameter cables?

 

[Rooted.Tree.Solutions]

I believe it is set up for guy wires on telephone poles and I too have seen it on a high ropes course as well. Not sure what it’s rated for, but if it can handle a phone pole guy line, it can definitely handle a tree. Those pole guys have far more tension on them than we would ever use on a tree, likely several thousand pounds. Why do you think they use such large diameter cables?

It’s probably the diameter cable that fit the connecting hardware. Again, this cabling was installed over 40 years ago. Honestly, I don’t even know what cabling options would have been available to them back in the 70’s.

 

[Tom Dunlap]

Those grips are wayyyyyyy strong and dependable. I wouldn't be concerned with their strength if the pass a visual inspection.

I'm pretty sure the ACCT standards require their use. Maybe only for life support but not in the construction of a ropes course. Check their standards though.

 

[oldoakman]

The phone line guys used to call them "pickles". I dont know what the true name is.

 

[ATH]

were they just nailed into the tree? Anything on the backside holding them in? Seems like that is the weak point

 

[Rooted.Tree.Solutions]

were they just nailed into the tree? Anything on the backside holding them in? Seems like that is the weak point

As far as I know it’s just a bolt in the tree.

 

[ATH]

Bolt makes sense...but I don't see the threads (or a head to tighten them). This looks like nails:

 

[Rooted.Tree.Solutions]

Bolt makes sense...but I don't see the threads (or a head to tighten them). This looks like nails:

You have to look at the pic of the telephone pole. The hardware was installed over 40 years ago. The tree has grown over most of the hardware. You can see it better in the last pic above showing how they’re installed on telephone poles.

 

[Tom Dunlap]

The guy who taught me treework was a lineman then a locator for Ma Bell. He got all of his cabling hardware from work. This was two decades before the A300 cabling standard. He taught me how to design a system in a way that is replicated in A300

 

[ATH]

You have to look at the pic of the telephone pole. The hardware was installed over 40 years ago. The tree has grown over most of the hardware. You can see it better in the last pic above showing how they’re installed on telephone poles.

OK...I get it now! That same bolt configuration is in there, just grown into the tree. Wonder if they used lags or through bolts? Probably through???

 

[Rooted.Tree.Solutions]

OK...I get it now! That same bolt configuration is in there, just grown into the tree. Wonder if they used lags or through bolts? Probably through???

I hope it’s through bolts, but there’s no way to know for sure.