General Information

Serial #

N/A

Part Number

1

Total Parts

1

AKA

N/A

Patents

N/A

General Description

wood; iron (?)

Dimensions

Note: These reflect the general size for storage and are not necessarily representative of the object's true dimensions.

Length

47.0 cm

Width

10.0 cm

Height

3.2 cm

Thickness

N/A

Weight

N/A

Diameter

N/A

Volume

N/A

Lexicon

Group

Industrial Technology

Category

Tools-Hand

Sub-Category

N/A

Manufacturer

AKA

MacMillan

Country

Canada

State/Province

British Columbia

City

Chemainus

Context

Country

Canada

State/Province

British Columbia

Period

Used before 1983.

Canada

From Mill No. 4 at Chemainus, B.C.. Built in 1925 by the Victoria Lumber & Mfg. Co., Mill No. 4 was bought c. 1944 by H.R. MacMillan, and operated as a MacMillan business (becoming, after 1951, MacMillan Bloedel) until 1982, when it was closed and dismantled. In 1984 a new and modern mill was built in Chemainus: as of 2001, it was still in operation. In social and economic terms., Mill No. 4 represents the apex of industrial development in Chemainus, in a sector of paramount importance to both the community and the province. Maximum production was 1 million board feet of lumber, over a 24-hr period, with three continuous shifts employing a total 1000 people. (The current mill employs 150 people and processes about 450,000 board feet a day) Mill No. 4 was also a part of an industrial continuum with roots dating back to the pioneer period of settlement on Vancouver Island. (Ref. 1)

Function

Used to manipulate a log by pushing and/or pulling it. Specifically, this picaroon used to handle cut lumber, one piece at a time.

Technical

Picaroons (also called Hookaroons) are used by loggers, mill workers, carpenters, rail workers and other trade workers. Picaroons simplify moving logs and other large timbers by hand; they have a number of other uses, including removing debris from hazardous locations. Picaroons appear to have been widely used at the Chemainus mill. One page of the 24 page "Employee Information Handbook" advises users how to safely handle a picaroon. The tool appears frequently in photos of workers at MB's Chemainus mill. (ref. 3) This picaroon was made in the Blacksmith's Shop at Chemainus, and was one of the last handmade items produced there. Picaroons were used (with pike poles) throughout the mill to clear lumber jams or just to "pull lumber" as in Green chain. The tool was a hooked extension of the hand, except safer to introduce into crowded areas. (Ref. 4)

Area Notes

Unknown

Details

Markings

None, save CMC catalogue no. "983.45.189" printed by hand in white ink on handle shaft, below head.

Missing

None.

Finish

Wooden handle (possibly hickory) retains some areas of yellow painted finish; forged iron[?] head

Decoration

Some areas of handle retain bright yellow painted finish.