[Bernard Marx]

I seem to remember that we had an average of 12,000 pounds to a reel. I learned how to move the reels around by myself with just a crowbar or 2 by 4.

Me too. I used to have to haul huge reels of cable, 600 lb. up to the size you mention, in my little bobtail truck. I became very skilled at moving them with simple leverage. I even learned to get them off the truck without forklifts and lift gates. It's amazing what you can do when you simply have to get things done!

[Shooter 2.5]

Once in awhile, the cable factory would overload one of the reels. We had an especially made fork truck that would haul the reels from the dock to our section. The reels were so heavy that we would guide the truck and take a step and wait for the truck, then take another step and then wait for the truck again. We still had to unload the reel from the truck and then hand manipulate the reel to a parking spot.

My partner was a light weight Golden Gloves contender who was in the Battle of the Bulge.

It was a rough job but the friends made it a lot of fun.