Yes J.O.
I still have my early generation New Zealand Peterson swing blade mill.
The difference from yours, Waynes and others was it was made to be two-man packable portable. Take the mill to old left behind ancient trees ground laying sections. “Just carry out the cut lumber. Leave the sawdust and edgings behind.” Thier motto.
Use and age had the original aluminum side guides loading machinery damaged. I never saw, or got those. I got 20 foot angle iron lengths bolted to 6" x 8" wooden skids.
And the original aluminum center section had failed and been millwright converted to steel plate and large angle iron.
I bought a 40 foot two section aluminum ladder. Used each section as the travel rails.
Yes. Like you. Then 16 foot boards only.
This was in early 2007. The markets here collapsed for custom ungraded lumber in the later 2007-09 financial melt-downs.
For 3-4 years a higher value in cut and delivered fire wood. I then bought a higher weight capable old pickup truck. Did some fire wood making selling, delivery again.
Stopped. I knew that I could do without that money. Left the firewood market to young men, with families/children, out-of-works, and having a pickup and a chainsaw.
Ha! The years have flowed past. And I got even older.
Once we move and fully re-settled-in: I will restore it to functioning. Show it off. Locally gift it away to a younger wanting to wadge-slave free him/herself.
Like yours: not in any way modern standards safety made - it will take a very special young man. Responsibility aware and accepting.
A project I am looking forward towards.
As not-a-Christian: always; we have the world that we make. A responsibility that I take very seriously. We each make our own heavens and hells. Here. So we are each responsible to make a good world around us.
Regards
Steve unruh