HomeMy WebLinkAbout28th Huron Pioneer Thresher Reunion, 1989-09-06, Page 3THE CITIZEN, WEDNESDAY. SEPTEMBER 6, 1989. PAGE A-3.
Blade runner
The whirring of the blade and the smell of fresh cut lumber draw big crowds to the His sawing prowess is the result of the many hours he spends at his sawmill in
sawmill demonstrationatthe threshing reunion which is operated by Carl Searson. Watford that is totally steam-powered.
Power of steam operates sawmill
BY USA BOONSTOPPEL
It may not have a shiny paint job or be
sparkling clean, but the 1920 steam engine
that runs the Searson Sawmill in Watford is
the only engine in the area that works for a
living.
“It’s one of the best power wise, not
show wise,’’ said Carl Searson, the owner
and operator of the Watford sawmill and
who also operates the sawmill at the Blyth
Thresher’s reunion.
For about six or seven years, Mr.
Searson has been operating the crowd
pleaser along with the help of Bob Houston
from Owen Sound the last couple of years.
But, he’s been going to the show much
longer than that. “I was at the first show in
1962 and I’ve been going ever since,’’ he
said. His father, George Searson, was one
of the original members of the Thresher’s
Association and ran the sawmill exhibit at
the first Thresher’s reunion.
Back then, the late George Searson
brought a sawmill along with two steam
engines to power it. Now, the Thresher’s
Reunion has its own sawmill that is only
operated at the annual event. The mill is
powered by many steam engines as steam
exhibitors take turns using their show
pieces to power the mill.
Mr. Searson gained the expertise to saw
logs at the show by operating his family’s
own steam-powered sawmill in Watford.
He considers steam just an alternative
power source and since he’s been raised up
with steam, he uses that for the power
instead of electricity or diesel.
“In a sawmill, steam power is very
economical,” said Mr. Searson, “because
you’re always making scraps of wood
which you can use to power the mill. All
you need is a supply of water.” If
electricity were used there would be hydro
bills to pay and if the steam engine were
run with coal, it would have to be bought.
So, for the Searson’s, by running the
sawmill, they are actually producing
material to power it.
Once the sawmill is powered, the sawing
is a very simple process. The set-up has a
carriage to put the logs on. The logs are
held in place through friction and then a
drive mechanism manoeuvres the log and
carriage towards the blade. The device can
be adjusted to cut off logs to the desired
thickness.
“It’s a very simple process but it does
fascinate the public,” said Mr. Searson.
“Most people see logs being cut with a
chainsaw which takes a long time to cut,
but with a big saw, it takes no time at all to
cut through a log.”
The size of the blades used are a sight in
itself. The blade on the Blyth sawmill is 52
inches across which Mr. Searson describes
as an average size. At the sawmill in
Watford, there are two blades on the mill
which is called an overhead saw that are
both 48 inches across. The double blades
are a big advantage at a sawmill said Mr.
Searson because they allow larger logs to
be cut. “What one saw doesn’t cut
through, the other saw will,” he said. In a
single saw unit, if a log is too big, an axe or
a chainsaw is needed to break through the
log.
mill that makes it such a unique situation.
“I guess I was just born and raised up with
steam and for me, there is no other way,”
said Mr. Searson who operates the mill
with his brother and two sons. The mill
used to be open full-time when the late
George Searson was alive but now is
operated part-time.
Even if the mill were to return full-time,
Mr. Searson wouldn’t consider changing to
another power source. “For the economy
of steam, I would never change to anything
else.” He says it would be just too great of
an expense to change over. “With electric
powered mills you have to have a big
incinerator for the bark and scraps or a
chip-mill to make the scraps into sawdust
to sell.” This equipment is very costly and
with a steam-powered engine, is not
needed because the scraps are fed into the
boiler of the steam-engine.
Mr. Searson says that if his 60 horse
power steam engine were to be replaced
with a diesel engine, it would take at least
125 horse power to do the same work.
“Steam is just unbelievable as far as
power, it’s just a fact.” He explained this
by revealing that a gas tractor depends on
the revolutions per minute (RPM) to
maintain power while a steam engine runs
on slower RPM’s and will continue to
provide power as long as there is steam.
The only problems there are with the
steam-engine said Mr. Searson is the
danger of cinders in a wood environment
and the never-ending greasing jobs on the
machine. “You have to grease it and oil it
all the time.”
And the Searson family loves to show off
their steam engine. “If we don’t show
them like this (at steam shows) the young
people will never know what they are
about.” He says that fella’s like his dad
who were steam enthusiasts, got him
started with steam.
So for a screeching good display at the
Thresher’s Reunion follow the noise of the
whirring blade and the smell of freshly
sawed logs to where Carl Searson and his
family are keeping a piece of history alive.
Congratulations
and Best Wishes
to the Huron Pioneer Thresher and Hobby Association on their
28th Reunion
September 8,9,10,1989
WELCOME TO BLYTH
and the
28TH PIONEER THRESHER REUNION
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Oct. 1/89
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