S. Madill, Blacksmith, Founded in 1911 in Nanaimo BC

jackd said:

I've been trying to find a good picture of the old Madill logos for quite awhile - I'm hoping to make a copy for my garage wall.

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furpo said:

If there is only one 172 that burned then Ross Davis had it for parts. Not sure how it ended up with Actives but it was a good looking bit of gear when they finished with it.

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furpo said:

Here is what is left of 41170. First owner was Pope and Talbot and the last was JB Logging. Not that I like 009s much it is a bit sad to see things move on.

Also on that note 43103 is currently sitting at Havards awaitting a similar fate.

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Contract Logger said:

EGS- I truly do not know where the numbers came from. Here is what I do know, some vague descriptions. I will eventually scan all the sales brochures so you can see specs.:

Madill Yarders introduced in the 1960's:

1. Madill 009. 2 drum highlead machine, with strawline. Usually 90' tower height.
2. Madill 046. 3 drum slackline yarder, with straw and taglines, Usually 90' tower height.
3. Madill 052. 3 drums as 046, but running skyline. Huge, heavy. Usually 90' tower also.
4. Madill Yarding Crane, later shrunk and called 044. Swinging grapple yarder. Huge.

Madill Yarders introduced in the 1970's:

1. Madill 076. 45' Tower, mounted on Terex crawler, similar to 071, only 2 built.
2. Madill 071. 50' Tower, slackline yarder mounted on Terex, tank, or rubber Madill SP.
3. Madill 044. Large swing grapple yarder. Smaller, lighter version of the 'Yarding Crane'.
4. Madill 084. Bigger version yet of the 044. Only 3 were built. Just too big and heavy.

Madill Yarders of the 1980's:

1. Madill 121. Swing yarder, lightweight and mobile, only 3 ever built.
2. Madill 122. New and improved 121, very popular and still in use today. 110,000 lbs.
3. Madill 123. Larger, basically bigger version of the 122. Weighs about 150,000 lbs.
4. Madill 144. Bigger still version of the 123. Basically huge, swing grapple yarder.
5. Madill 171. Bigger version of the 071, with 70 tower, bigger drums, etc, in big tank.

In 1989 Pat Madill was killed in a plane crash and Madill was purchased by Cypress Ltd, of Delta BC. The madills of the 90's were a mixed product, closer to the Cypress machine.
Also, some Cypress machines (6280, 7280) were painted orange and called madills.

Madill yarders of the 1990's:

1. Madill 120, Swing Yarder. Grapple or dropline machine, all hydraulic, 105,000 lbs.
2. Madill 124, Swing Yarder. Same as above, much much larger, all hydraulic.
3. Madill 172. 70' slackline machine, hydraulically controlled mobile standing tower.

In the late 90's the Cypress/Madill joint venture purchased Thunderbird from Ross Murray, and some of those machines were painted orange and re-assigned numbers.

Its all convoluted now, but that is basically the Madill lineup. Log loaders, boom boats, and other things were built and very poular, like the 075 line loader discussed earlier.

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Murk100 said:

They are a monster alright! operated a few of those before, the prototype actually (drove her off the barge new) #144001 they were built to compete with the 7280. The plan was to convert 044 to 144 with a few modifcation like drop a new winch into the machinery deck,boom, gantry etc. and there you have it.
I also operated the 2nd or 3rd 143 it was a feeble attempt of making the 144 with a hyd. carrier the thing would run away traveling down hill, which ever way the road leaned thats where you went. Track power was horrible I believe they did change the travel motors which helped.
As far as stability they weren't to bad you definitely had to be careful they weren't like the 144. Madill did shorten the booms on the latter models from 70 ft to 60 ft and if you wrecked your 70 you got a 60 to replace it.
I did get some scanning done today just got to figure out how to get them out there ?

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lever twister said:

I ran a 143 for about 15 years. It was built in 1987 with a 70 foot boom on tracks and I remember Madill changing the travel motors. Never had a problem going downhill or it tracking with the road slope, however track power and speed as you stated were to be desired. Love to see some pics.

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Murk100 said:

Page 9 off this thread has a few pictures I posted of the 143 I operated in 1986 serial# 88001 2nd 143 built...I believe it's still out there working

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lever twister said:

Don't forget the awesome 143 Contract Logger!

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