Photo taken by Henry "Hank" Johnson gathering firewood supply for Rink Creek homestead with production machine. 2" by 8" handled frame could be picked up & moved like wheelbarrow. As seen near ground, 8" wide saw blade has almost cut through 2' diameter log. Click for more.

Henry "Hank" Johnson's workhorse log sawing machine was the only known such machine in Gustavus, Alaska.

The machine had a 1 cylinder gasoline engine with a "make or break" ignition system. The ignition system was the governor and would "pop, pop, pop" to slow engine down. It reportedly produced a very unique sound with it's systematic popping that could be heard over "The Flats". It had a crank shaft with belts (as seen in photograph) that caused the 8" wide blade to go back and forth. The operator would position the machine with the blade resting on the log (this log nearly 2' in diameter!), and the machine would do the rest. Machine cut wood rounds would then be split and supply Hank's only source of heat.

The machine could conveniently be moved from place to place with it's mobile design similar to a wheelbarrow. Two "handles" along with blade rest on log, and blade lowers as it saws back and forth all the way through. This machine would have saved the homesteaders days of back breaking 2 man cross sawing by hand.

Like the other homesteaders, Hank saved every magazine, newspaper, and chinking material he could get his hands on for what little insulation they could provide for his log home. With enormous amounts of split wood set aside, the winters were still extremely cold and Hank's wood stove could do little more than warm the immediate air around it.

Photo taken by Henry "Hank" Johnson gathering firewood supply for Rink Creek homestead with production machine. 2" by 8" handled frame could be picked up & moved like wheelbarrow. As seen near ground, 8" wide saw blade has almost cut through 2' diameter log. Click for more.

Henry "Hank" Johnson's workhorse log sawing machine was the only known such machine in Gustavus, Alaska.

The machine had a 1 cylinder gasoline engine with a "make or break" ignition system. The ignition system was the governor and would "pop, pop, pop" to slow engine down. It reportedly produced a very unique sound with it's systematic popping that could be heard over "The Flats". It had a crank shaft with belts (as seen in photograph) that caused the 8" wide blade to go back and forth. The operator would position the machine with the blade resting on the log (this log nearly 2' in diameter!), and the machine would do the rest. Machine cut wood rounds would then be split and supply Hank's only source of heat.

The machine could conveniently be moved from place to place with it's mobile design similar to a wheelbarrow. Two "handles" along with blade rest on log, and blade lowers as it saws back and forth all the way through. This machine would have saved the homesteaders days of back breaking 2 man cross sawing by hand.

Like the other homesteaders, Hank saved every magazine, newspaper, and chinking material he could get his hands on for what little insulation they could provide for his log home. With enormous amounts of split wood set aside, the winters were still extremely cold and Hank's wood stove could do little more than warm the immediate air around it.