Book Review: Musson’s Improved Lumber and Log Pocket Book By Nick Zdon, Leader, Minnesota Outpost  First published in 1905 for the man working in the sawmill or lumber camp, Musson’s Improved Lumber and Log Pocket Book is a handy reference for a multitude of topics pertaining to the cutting and sale of lumber. On one hand, it’s a great historical guide to how work and business was conducted in the turn of the century lumber mill. There are tables for calculating the board feet of square timber available from round logs, for estimating the price per foot of standard logs, and for calculating the speed of various sized circular saws (a 74 inch monster rotates at 485 RPM).  On the other hand the book includes many tips that a woodsman today would find handy, such as the proper way to split rails, how to measure the height of a tree with nothing more than a stick and a little arithmetic, and tips on properly seasoning firewood for heating; “If about one-third of the weight of green wood is water, then there are 1,443 pounds of water in a cord, this has to be made into steam before the wood can be burned.”  Additionally a good amount of interesting anecdotal information pertaining to lumber and wood is presented. The various chopping styles of the woodsmen of North America is particularly interesting; “A Westerner catches hold at the end of his handle, the hands about three inches apart, and delivers his blows rather directly from over the left shoulder.”  While much of this information should be taken with a grain of salt, and should not be considered to be the definitive article on the topic, it is nonetheless a great insight into the way people worked in, and thought about the American lumber trade. I’ve found myself pulling it down from the shelf a few times. Once after finding a large number of lumber camp photos online. Referencing Musson’s I found that the most common time to fell timber was from the first of December through the middle of March, which is accounts for the large number of photos depicting winter operations. At its heart Musson’s is still what it always was; a pocket reference book, just with a different audience. The casual reader will most likely find it interesting to page through, but it’s those readers with a vested interest in lumber and timber history who will find it especially valuable.  Purchase Musson’s
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Book Review: Musson’s Improved Lumber and Log Pocket Book
By Nick Zdon, Leader, Minnesota Outpost 

First published in 1905 for the man working in the sawmill or lumber camp, Musson’s Improved Lumber and Log Pocket Book is a handy reference for a multitude of topics pertaining to the cutting and sale of lumber. On one hand, it’s a great historical guide to how work and business was conducted in the turn of the century lumber mill. There are tables for calculating the board feet of square timber available from round logs, for estimating the price per foot of standard logs, and for calculating the speed of various sized circular saws (a 74 inch monster rotates at 485 RPM). 

On the other hand the book includes many tips that a woodsman today would find handy, such as the proper way to split rails, how to measure the height of a tree with nothing more than a stick and a little arithmetic, and tips on properly seasoning firewood for heating; “If about one-third of the weight of green wood is water, then there are 1,443 pounds of water in a cord, this has to be made into steam before the wood can be burned.” 

Additionally a good amount of interesting anecdotal information pertaining to lumber and wood is presented. The various chopping styles of the woodsmen of North America is particularly interesting; “A Westerner catches hold at the end of his handle, the hands about three inches apart, and delivers his blows rather directly from over the left shoulder.” 

While much of this information should be taken with a grain of salt, and should not be considered to be the definitive article on the topic, it is nonetheless a great insight into the way people worked in, and thought about the American lumber trade. I’ve found myself pulling it down from the shelf a few times. Once after finding a large number of lumber camp photos online. Referencing Musson’s I found that the most common time to fell timber was from the first of December through the middle of March, which is accounts for the large number of photos depicting winter operations.

At its heart Musson’s is still what it always was; a pocket reference book, just with a different audience. The casual reader will most likely find it interesting to page through, but it’s those readers with a vested interest in lumber and timber history who will find it especially valuable. 

Purchase Musson’s

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