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 Government. Some of the information collected is published here. FAO accepts no responsibility for the claims put forward by manufacturers.
PLATING MACHINE FOR SAPLINGS. This machine (system Krause) turns out soil pots from vegetable mould and plants the saplings into the pots in a single operation at a rate of 1,500 an hour. Two persons are needed to work the machine, which is operated by a 1 h.p. electro-motor; one operator puts the saplings singly into the machine, while the other throws in the earth (not too moist) and removes the soil pots from the conveyor belt. All other operations are automatic. The machine shapes the soil into a ball round the freely hanging roots; at the same time condensation in the center, around the roots, can be regulated. The roots are always inserted into the pots in their natural vertical position. By changing the press molds it is possible to obtain soil pots with diameters varying from 40 to 80 mm. The pots can be easily transported to the growing site without damage to the saplings.
Bruno Krause, Manheim-Blumenau, Germany.
PIPE LADDER. - This scaling ladder is made up of 7 links giving a total length of 18.6 m.; it weighs approximately 36 kg.
Holger Rasmussen, Vesterbrogade 136, Köbenhavn V, Denmark.
P.P.K. CULTIVATOR. - This cultivator, fitted with a brush cutter and borer, is mounted on a rigid chassis and has heavy-tread tyres. Depth of the borer, to a maximum of 0.70 m., is regulated by a wheel and locked into a high, off-ground, position. Cultivator operates on the "Flector Pont system". Specifications: motor - type K.350, 345 cc. petrol engine, 7 h.p. at 3,000 r.p.m. magneto ignited. Screw-type borer, which rotates up to a maximum of 180 r.p.m., has a 30 cm. diameter.
Etablissements P.P.K., 4547 Boulevard St. Denis, Courbevoie (Seine), France.
OLIVER LOGGER. - The main characteristics of this logger, which was designed in collaboration with the Forestry Commission, are: free clearance of rear bumper plate allowing maximum load without damage to tyres or frame; load can swing freely over irregular ground; small turning radius; base of bumper plate rounded to give lead to butt ends when loading; hollow pulleys and side guide rollers allowing easy passage of large sling rings or hooks; roller rope guides fitted to head to allow side drag; jib head well overslung for bulky loads; base plate running whole length of frame affords axle protection, and over easy terrain gives good flotation. Specifications: overall length, 12 ft. 11½ in. (4 m.); overall height, 7 ft. 5½ in. (2.3 m.), overall width, 6 ft. 3 in. (1.9 m.); weight, 1,350 lb. (600 kg.); ground clearance of base plate, 14¾ in. (38 cm.); capacity, 2 tons.
J. C. Oliver, Ltd., Burton St., St. Pancras, London, W. C. 1., England.
PORTABLE SAW MILL. - This 30 ft. (9 m.) double rack saw bench with run-off and slabbing-side has 15 ft. (4.6 m.) and 8 ft. (2.5 m.) slides, power fed on both sides, and a saw pit capable of taking up to 48 in. (122 cm.) saws. The saw mill is shuttered on both sides and when opened forms a complete cover for the operators. Individual drives to the saw spindles are taken from a ball bearing countershaft mounted across the front of the saw mill and with fixed and loose pulleys to each shaft. It has an 8 x 3 in. (20 x 7.6 cm.) channel steel chassis mounted on solid or pneumatic rubber-tired wheels.
William Reid (Forres) Ltd., Forres England.
UNI-POINT RADIAL SAW (Model X36- AF). - It is claimed that this saw always cuts at the same point whether adjusted for a bevel, miter, or compound miter cross-cut angle. Specifications: the saw is generally equipped with a 5 h.p. motor and a 16 in. (40 cm.) saw blade with a cutting depth of 5 to 25 in. (13 to 64 cm.) cross-cut capacity, 31 in. (79 cm.) ripping capacity. The table top is of maple, laminated, 2 in. (5 cm.) thick with 2 x 4 in. (5 x 10 cm.) fence - reinforced steel base frame -lever type locking device on raising and lowering mechanism. Net weight 800 lb. (340 kg.). Motor: saw generally equipped with either a ventilated motor, 3 h.p. single phase, 3,450 r.p.m., or an enclosed motor, 5 h.p. phase, 3,450 r.p.m.
American Woodworking Machinery Co., 100 Liberty Street, Hackettstown, N.J., U.S.A.
"BESCO" AUTOMATIC SAW SHARPENING AND GULLETING MACHINE. - This machine is suitable for handling saw blades of all sizes from 8 to 40 in. (20 to 100 cm.) in diameter, and up to 1½ in. (3.8 cm.) in pitch. An electric motor is built into the machine together with a dust extractor, for the protection of the operator which is powered by a separate motor. The head carrying the grinding wheel is in heavy ball bearings driven at 1,750 r.p.m. All adjustments are made by four spaced hand wheels which control the pitch, depth of cut, time advance and retard. Specifications: 400/440 volt, 3-phase, 50 cycle A.C. motor. Overall dimensions: height, 3 ft. 6 in. (1 m.), width, 2 ft. (0.6 m.), depth, 2 ft. 6 in. (0.8 m.). Net weight, 420 lb. (190 kg.).
"Besco" automatic saw sharpening and gulleting machine
F. J. Edwards Ltd., 359.361 Euston Road, London N.W.1., England.
"GNOM" DOWEL MACHINE. - This machine produces 660-1,000 ft. (200-300 m.) of dowels per hour. Dowels have criss-cross intersecting grooves whereby the glue is well distributed both longitudinally and laterally. Specifications: base plate 20 x 8 in. (50 x 20 cm.); height, 8 in. (20 cm.), Butterheads for size of dowels, ½ to ¾ in. (1.3 to 1.9 cm.) in diameter.
Hans Heid, Gartenstrasse 120, Basle, Switzerland.
