709
	Norman Davidson
	1922

Felling team working on larch circa 1922

Photograph courtesy of Jean Cranna, Drumblade, Huntly

Photograph shows Jean’s father, Charlie Smith, and her uncle Sandy Smith working on what appears to be a very large larch tree thought to be somewhere on Loch Ness side. Charlie Smith was born in 1899 and joined his father’s wood felling team after service in WW1. It is estimated that the photograph dates from about 1920-25.

The line up of the fellers are:
Top left - Sandy Smith
Top right – unknown
Bottom left – Dod (Sticky) Morrison (from Huntly)
Bottom right – Charlie Smith

Note the wide leather belts worn by the men holding the saw which must have given some support to the back and stomach as they bent double to work the raker tooth cross cut saw.

Note also the heavy wedge axes (possibly 7 lb) used by the axe men to lay-in the tree and prepare it for the saw. See how even and level they have made the bottom of the lay-in.
The quality of work of experienced craftsmen!



Picture Added on 22 November 2010.

If you found this interesting, have a look at the following groups of pictures.
Forestry in Action
Groups of people
Huntly Open Day
Tools and clothing