Silver Creek, New York 14136.
It all started when my parents moved from hill country to a
small place beside a railroad. One year a train jumped track and
over two hundred ties were taken out. Wood was a must in those days
for working people.
We salvaged a Myrick Air Cool four horse and changed it to
gasoline, put carburetor on intake and geared four cylinder magneto
to timing gear.
This was quite satisfactory as long as saw was sharp. We used
this for some time until I found a two cylinder Max well with water
jackets froze. We patched them and used for a while until it was
stolen. Never once thought of salvaging, sure would be good item
today.
Then we got a Whippet four cylinder. Took some fixing as kids
had crankcase broken near oil pump. I made odd parts. This was a
wonderful power plant for buzz saw. With 36′ saw and lots of
help, we cut some big limbs. Two winters we cut over five hundred
cords each.
In 1937 I bought a John Deere Model B, which I am told was about
seventeen horses on belt. With some help and a big arbor, I made a
drop slasher and then two men could do as much as four.
Then came the war and machinists were in demand. Not wanting to
have someone borrow that dangerous machine, I disassembled and
tried to sell iron parts to junk yard. Their prices were not for
me.
From washed out bridges and discarded farm machines, I started
assembling a saw mill. Between shop and farm, I managed to steal
time enough to assemble one in about five years.
We needed another third on barn which we sawed with John Deere.
The B is not big enough, so we bought Chevy Truck Motor. With odd
parts governor this is very satisfactory.
Since retirement we have used mill a lot and seems to work quite
accurate.
However, it is not as good as factory made. Now there is plenty
around which need rewooding.
Those who marry to escape something usually find something
else.
— George Ade
