Steam driven winches like this model, were used to drag logs from the forest to the mill. Mounted on logs or skids (as they were called), it cold pull itself to the most convenient locations required. It contained a steam boiler, stoked with wood, a steam engine to drive a horizontal winch or cable drum. The cable was dragged into the forest to a felled tree ready for milling. A signal was given to the winch man, who made three or four wraps around the drum and by pulling the cable tight on the drum, he more or less pulled in the log by hand.
This model was donated to Northern Mariposa History Center by: Robert C. Nash Family in honor of “Miner” Dave Noce, ‘A true friend’, 1989.