John Deere Skidders Reflect Dedication to the Woods

MOLINE, Ill. (July 18, 2007) - The logging industry has come a long way since giant trees were felled with little more than two men and a crosscut saw.

The History Channel program "Modern Marvels" will chronicle the evolution of timber harvesting equipment in an upcoming episode featuring Oregon-based equipment distributor Papé Machinery and Don Frickle Cutting, headquartered in Humptulips, Wash.

"Modern Marvels," a documentary series that has run on the History Channel for more than a decade, explores technological, scientific and mechanical topics from a historical perspective. The episode featuring the John Deere 959J Feller Buncher, titled "Saws," will air tomorrow, Wednesday, July 18, at 10 p.m.

Camera crews filmed Dale Stolken of Don Frickle Cutting as he maneuvered the new John Deere J-Series 959J Feller Buncher to drop a forest of hemlock trees, some up to 90 feet tall.

Stolken also took part in a "misery whip" demonstration with Papé sales representative Calvin Dahl during the filming, which took place on Rayonier-owned land in western Washington State, about an hour northwest of Olympia.

"The crosscut saw is a lot of work," Dahl said. "It’s amazing how far we’ve come in terms of technology. It was incredible to watch the 959J tackle that hill."

The Deere 959J machine stole the show, according to Scott Benham, sales manager for Papé Machinery. The top-of-the-line feller buncher features a four-way leveling system, making it ideal for use on uneven ground and slopes. The machine comes equipped with a FR24 head and the versatility of 310-degree rotation, which was used to full advantage during the shoot.

"Frickle really did his homework before making this purchase," Benham said. "He looked at every machine on the market, compared all competitors and decided that the 959J offered the best in terms of performance."

Don Frickle’s machine is the first 959J Feller Buncher purchased and being used for timber projects in the United States.

Engine	John Deere 6081H
Gross Power	294 hp (219kW) @1,900 rpm
Net Torque	885 lb-ft. (1,200) @ 885 rpm
Main Pump Flow	126 gpm (477 L/min)
Max. Travel Speed	2.2 mph (3.5 km/h)
Drawbar Pull	86,300 lbs. (39,146kN)
Brake Type	Wet multiple disc
Track Length on ground	12' 6'' (3,810 mm)
Ground Pressure	11 St. Pad psi (75.8kPa)
Maximum Cutting Radius	28' 0'' (8,530 mm)
Lift Capacity at Max Reach	18,000 lbs. (8165 kg)
Operating Weight (w/out attachment)	79,400 lbs. (36,016 kg)

John Deere (Deere & Company - NYSE: DE) is the world’s leading provider of advanced products and services for agriculture and forestry and a major provider of advanced products and services for construction, lawn and turf care, landscaping and irrigation. John Deere also provides financial services worldwide and manufactures and markets engines used in heavy equipment. Since it was founded in 1837, the company has extended its heritage of integrity, quality, commitment and innovation around the globe.

Headquartered in Eugene, Ore., The Papé Group Inc. is a holding company for capital equipment dealerships throughout the West. The businesses of The Papé Group sell and service the premier brands of capital equipment used in construction projects, forestry, warehousing/materials handling, trucking and private aviation. The Papé Group businesses are Papé Material Handling Inc., Bobcat West, Ditch Witch Northwest, Flightcraft Inc., Papé Rents, Papé Trucks and Papé Machinery Inc. The operations span seven western states – from Alaska to California. The cornerstone of all Papé Group operations since the first dealership was founded in 1938 has been their commitment to providing high quality products backed by consistent, high quality customer service wherever and whenever needed. For more information about The Papé Group Inc., visit www.pape.com.