Interest in the development of forest utilization and woodworking industries is reflected in the continual demand for information on new equipment. FAO's Forestry Division collects such information and passes it, on request, to Member Governments. Some of the information collected is published here. FAO accepts no responsibility for the claims put forward by manufacturers.
SOIL-POTTA PRESS. - Produces soil-pots of the equivalent cubic content of a 3 in. (7.5 cm.) earthenware plant pot, the size generally used for propagating most types of young plants. The usual compost or soil mixture is used. Compost should be thoroughly moist, but not too wet. It is the right consistency if, when squeezed gently, it retains its shape without exuding moisture. All compost should be put through a ¼ in. (0.6 cm.) mesh riddle before adding moisture. Soil-pots retain their shape when placed in seed trays or on the staging of a greenhouse until the plant is ready for removal to its permanent growing position. In cases where soil-pots are required for seedlings, it is recommended that they be made about 14 days before they are required, and then placed in a greenhouse so that they warm up to the right temperature.
Clico Ltd., Meadow Works, Meadow Street, Sheffield 3, England.
SFI CULTIVATOR. The Forest Research Institute of Sweden has designed the screening implement illustrated. The implement, which has double rippers, has a resistance of about 700 kg. and passes without difficulty over stumps, stones or rough ground. It rips parallel furrows for sowing seeds with a distance between furrows of about 1.7 m. The cultivator works as fast as the tractor advances, the normal: time required to cover a hectare of ground being approximately 1.5 hr. according to the ground conditions and the tractor used. The cultivator may be drawn by a crawler tractor of about 2 tons and 30 h.p., or a wheeled tractor of about 3 tons and 40 h.p. Specifications: framework of the cultivator is of 4 in. (10 cm.) U-shaped standard iron and the same is used for the rippers. Ripper wheel is of ¼ in. (0.6 cm.) iron plates; the tooth wheels, the center of the front wheel and the coupling are of cast iron and the small excentric tooth wheel of cast steel.
G. Callin and I. Troeng, SFI, Experimentalfältet, Stockholm
LOGGING EQUIPMENT. - Comprehensive set of timber extraction equipment for the "Challenger 3" crawler diesel tractor. Winch: direct geared, single speed, reversible logging winch. Line pull with bare drum is 38,500 lb. (17,464 kg.) at 76 ft. (23 m.) per minute or, with full drum 38,000 lb. (17,237 kg.) at 100 ft. (30 m.) per minute. Special features include slave winch with independent control gear, which may be fitted as an extra and which forms a complete unit when bolted to the main winch. Canopy: canopy of tubular steel bolted to substantial mountings on the tractor body shields the driver from falling timber and provides shelter from extreme tropical weather. Bumper: for pushing, as in heavy undergrowth, or for moving stalled vehicles, etc. Guards: bottom rollers are protected by soil guards bolted to the underneath of the track frame on each side of the bottom rollers. Top rollers and support brackets Are similarly protected from logs and brushwood by guards constructed of steel rail. Hook: bolted to the front hull is a rigid type towing hook, useful when working in restricted spaces. Specifications: dimensions of tractor fitted with logging equipment vary from standard specifications as follows: length (including winch and bumper bar) 15 ft. 6 in. (4.7 m.); height (including tree canopy) soft ground level 9 ft. 5½ in. (2.9 m.); weight, 25,834 lb. (11,718 kg.); ground clearance 12 in. (30 cm.); ground pressure, 6,871 lb. per sq. in. (483 kg. per cm²).
John Fowler and Co. (Leeds) Ltd. Leeds 10, England.
BOUGHTON WINCH. - Winch can be used either for hauling or towing, or in conjunction with timber arch sunder all conditions; it can be supplied with or without rope of 5/8 in. (1.9 cm.) diameter and 225 ft. (69 m.) long. Specifications: line pull up to 16,430 lb. (7,450 kg.); brake, operated by lever close to driver's hand holds total load when towing up to 9,000 lb. (4,080 kg.); control lever frees rope drum for instant payout of rope. All main components of steel construction. Heavy duty ball bearings, oil bath lubrification. Gross shipment weight 1,300 lb. (590 kg.).
T. T. Boughton and Sons Ltd., Amersham. Common, Bucks., England.
"GYRO-84" BRUSH CUTTER. - Specifications: rotating hammer-mill type blades, ½ in. thick x 4 in. wide (1 3 x 8 cm.); bevel drive gears; Timken gear box bearings and wheel bearings; drop center rim wheels, 6.00 x 16 in. (40 cm.) or 15 in. (38 cm.); net weight, approximately 1,400 lb. (635 kg.); clearance above ground, up to 14 in. (36 cm.); drawbar of adjustable height, 24 to 45 h.p. tractors recommended; 7/16 in. (1 cm.) diameter safety sheer pin clutch.
Servis Equipment Company, 1000 Singleton Boulevard, Dallas. Texas, U.S.A.
LUMBER ROLLER. - This car cool lumber roller is fitted with guide rollers to keep lumber in line, and with rubber ends to prevent slipping on steel door jambs or wood jambs. Guide rollers are vertical to the main roller so that the board need not necessarily be placed straight on the roller. Unit is constructed of two steel tubes, one telescoping inside the other.
Wisconsin Lumber Roller, 117 Frederick Ave., Oshkosh, Wis., U.S.A.
HIGH-SPEED BAND-SAW Bi 600. Saw is encased in heavy, one-piece cast-iron body; vulcanized rubber bands; built-in air-cooled motor Specifications: wheel diameter, 24 in. (600 mm.); working height, 12 in. (300 mm.); working width, 24 in. (600 mm.); r.p.m. of wheel, 920; motor, 2.5 h.p.; approx. net weight, 960 lb. (400 kg.).
Zuckermann Woodworkinq Machinery, Anastasius-Grün Gasse 22-24, Vienna 18, Austria.
CARRY-LIFT. - Designed to facilitate log and lumber handling in sawmills. Load rests on the frame, which in turn is mounted on heavy-duty truck-type springs and 4-wheel drive axles. The Carry-Lift travels forward or in reverse up to 30 m.p.h. (48 km. p. h.). Specifications: It lifts from below ground level to a height of 14 ft. (4.3 m.); hydraulic steering has optional 2-wheel or 4 wheel steer 2-wheel steer type has a turning radius of 22 ft. 6 in. (6.9 m.), 4-wheel steer has radius of 14 ft. 3 in. (4.3 m.). Weight, approx. 8 tons; lifting capacity, 10,000 lb. (4,540 kg.) arms retracted, and 6,000 lb. (2.720 kg.) arms extended. Power is provided by an industrial, 6-cylinder, heavy-duty gasoline engine.
Pettibone Mulliken Corporation, 4700 West Division St., Chicago 51, Ill., U.S.A.
