The Ford Model-T Sawmill and More!

"M.T. Blake" (autohabit) 08/25/2018 at 16:40 • Filed to: rusty gold, one mans junk, ford, f350, model t, off road trailer, water tank, decay, rotting, launch it

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We are helping with the arduous task of cleaning out a lifetimes worth of belongings, tools, and... a 1923 Ford Model-T sawmill?! This thing is an amazing piece of yard art but I can’t believe people actually used it. It looks terrifying.

I mean look at the blade on it. It must be close to 2-feet in diameter. The saw is run off the rear differential. I wonder if someone would sit in the ‘driver’s seat’ while another person pushed a log through this monstrosity?

This is one of the few things I’ve found that makes me thankful for occupational health and safety organizations. This thing is a death trap. Our grandfathers had it a lot harder than we do. I can’t imagine the gore if someone tripped onto the blade...

On a side note, some more junk treasures! This is a 1960 Ford F350 2wd dually with a 360ci V-8. It hasn’t run since at least 2001. This was a complete mechanic’s mobile workshop.

On top there is a large welder, air tank, and a Ford Pinto four-cylinder gas engine. Pretty amazing that everything you’d ever need was in one vehicle. The boom stands at approximately 14' tall.

I hope that someone, someday could restore this truck. It would look amazing at a car show to represent the era where bolt-on parts were rare and fabricators were the norm.

I believe it is a four speed but don’t quote me. It sure looks comfortable. The big ol’ squishy seat, massive steering wheel, and plenty of visibility! The CB was probably more of a requirement back in the day before mobile phones, and working on log trucks in the wilderness.

There are also a couple of these! Off-road fire suppression trailers. Both are in ‘Meh’ condition. One has a pump and the other doesn’t. I’m sure in the current environment of the perpetual California wildfire, we can find someone that wants them.

They’re both pretty cool to look at - hell everything is pretty cool. Sadly none of it has been maintained. All left to rot. Just like the 12-valve Cummins I plucked out of the same backyard to salvage. The Cummins was the only thing that I felt comfortable or that had any modern utility for me to play with...

LongbowMkII > M.T. Blake 08/25/2018 at 16:49

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its ama zing how much old machinery has been left to rot in america’s fields.

M.T. Blake > LongbowMkII 08/25/2018 at 16:50

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Truly! I wish this stuff had been sold when it was in better condition. 

Maxima Speed > M.T. Blake 08/25/2018 at 16:57

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My dad has a buzz saw like this (minus model-t)  that we bought from the neighbor and fixed up. The neighbor had used it as a child during WW2. They saw in complete for us actually very safe. Complete with safety guard and rocking table. It is a very cool piece of equipment capable of scary good cutting. 

LongbowMkII > M.T. Blake 08/25/2018 at 16:58

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its just not economical, who wants to pay to ship tons of metal to a recycling center for a few bucks ? I’ d like to see a federal program cover it, like cash for clunkers, but direct assistance and environmental cleanup arent exactly priorities for many.   

M.T. Blake > LongbowMkII 08/25/2018 at 17:06

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We need something like that. Plenty of semi-full oil barrels and old machines to get rid of. Scrap (tin) is just so low!!!

HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles > M.T. Blake 08/25/2018 at 18:22

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The good old days when the only safety you needed was common sense. And you could kill your self easily anytime you wanted.

My father in law grew up a farmer and, and became a logger. He’s almost killed himself about 100x because safty really was the last thing on people’s minds. Feeding your 10 kids was busy work. 

G_Body_Man: Sponsored by the number 3 > M.T. Blake 08/25/2018 at 18:37

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That’s diabolically sketchy

M.T. Blake > HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles 08/25/2018 at 22:13

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Yeah that was the generation. The owner of the sawmill was a logger and I believe this was passed down to him. 

myfuncarisamotorcycle > HFV has no HFV. But somehow has 2 motorcycles 08/25/2018 at 23:32

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I grew up around a few guys, now turning into old-timers who still logged with horses in the ‘90s. When your “heavy equipment” literally has a mind of its own, the things that can go wrong are infinite and your risk tolerance is pretty high.

I could definitely see them being ok with a setup like that, especially as much as they told me  sawmills ripped them off on lumber prices.