Economic conditions in the 1950s brought on by the post-war need for new homes gave mill owners and operators the advantage of processing wood material previously considered economically unsuitable. So-called "cull" logs - a portion of which contained solid and merchantable wood - could be salvaged and processed in the mills.

At the left in this scene is a 6-wheel drive Lorain Motocrane with a gooseneck heel boom powered by a 150 hp. Cadillac gasoline engine (the same type used in World War II army tanks). All 7 of the logging trucks in the fleet owned by Eddie Roberts, of the Roberts Logging Co. in Oakridge, Oregon, were Cummins diesel-powered Autocars. Two D7 Cats skidded logs to the landing.

Much of today's highly automated and sophisticated logging equipment can trace their beginnings back to the innovators just prior to and following the World War II years.