Online Catalogue last updated 17th of September 2023
Written by Maurice H Sanders. Maurice Sanders is a unique authority on Timber and Transport in the last century, with his books ranging from "Stories of Round Timber Haulage" to his latest "Giant of Timber and Transport", has expanded his attention to earth moving as well as timber hauling.
His interest in earth moving had already been indicated in his fascinating booklet entitled "Muck Shifting for King George", describing his Second World War experiences.
Earth moving was enormously developed during that war, the resources of the allies being devoted to producing great earth moving machines.
The skill in the author's detailing of these momentous mechanical feats has been to marry them with the stories of the men and women who harnessed them to help win the are for civilised humanity, to defeat the forces of darkest anti-civilisation, frequently involving acts of heroism and self-sacrifice.
As the stories move from war to peace, the monsters of war are transformed into more peaceful uses, stretching the ingenuity and tenacity of timber people and their colleagues in earth moving.
In the telling of these human stories, Maurice Sanders has assembled from the collection of these individuals an astounding array of photographs of mechanical equipment, their use and adaptation to the needs of an age of peace where huge feats of civil engineering have been a very necessary part of progress and immense change since 1945.
The cover picture is taken from a painting by the distinguished artist the late Terence Cuneo. There were of these paintings especially commissioned by Jack Olding in 1952. Olding's were the world wide agents for the Vickers Vigor 180 crawler.
Galvanised and fascinated by the subject of earthmoving, and its close relationship with the world of timber, and inspired by offers of collections of original and remarkable photographs mostly unpublished Maurice Saunders produced this book. Full of stories and images of the people at the forefront of this industry.
Large View
Black & White Photographs Throughout, Softback book, 175mm x 245mm
Code No. 008845, 90 pages, ISBN 9781904686255, $25.00