Sawmill machinery manufacturer M. A. Ward Corp. was reportedly established in 1930 by Michael Anthony Ward, but we can find no mention of them before 1964, the year after Mr. Ward's death. In the following year the business was acquired by Klamath Machine & Locomotive Works, creating the merged Klamath-Ward, Inc.. That firm was acquired by Morbark Industries in 1969, which continued to operate Klamath-Ward under that name.

Information Sources

• 1964 Logger and Lumberman (Volume 12 page 10).

  The M. A. Ward Corporation of Eugene , Oregon, has introduced three new pieces of sawmill equipment this year. All of them are designed to drastically increase the rate of production as well as provide a greater recovery of the raw material.

  Small Log and Core Mill. One highly successful new product is the Ward Small Log and Core Mill which was originally engineered to cup up to 10 logs per minute. Mill operators have reported that they are cutting as many as 15 logs per minute on a consistent basis.

• 1964Canada Lumberman (Volume 85 page 31).

  Small-log mill

  New high-speed mill for handling small logs and peeler cores has been introduced by M. A. Ward Corporation. The automated mill cuts up to 10,000 bf per hour from 5-16 in. diameter logs. It is equipped with four to six carbide-tipped saws arranged to cut cants 2 in. and 4 in. simultaneously at one pass. Gripping device prevents logs twisting, improving cut. M. A. Ward Corporation, Route 1, Box 666, Eugene, Oregon, U.S.A.

• 1965 issue of The Northern Logger (Volume 14 page 6).

  The Klamath Machine & Locomotive Works, located in Ukiah, California, has merged with the M. A. Ward Corporation of Eugene, Oregon. President of the new firm—Klamath-Ward, Inc.—is Charles Bowen of Pacific Associates, Inc., a property investment firm in San Francisco. According to Bowen, "The merger was a natural. Now one company, Klamath-Ward, Inc., which will be located at the former M. A. Ward site on Airport Road in Eugene, will be able to deliver a complete line of saw mill equipment for use from the log pond to the dry kiln."

  Bowen also stated that he was highly pleased with the top management team the merger enabled him to assemble. Harold Eittreim, general manager of Klamath Machine since 1956, has been appointed vice-president and general manager of Klamath-Ward, Inc. Vice-president and general sales manager of the new firm will be Jack Propst, formerly president of the M. A. Ward Corporation.