Ah Kev the early bale grab was IIRC a Perry loader which I had the honour to have owned such a beast, even made short extensions for it so it lifted higher. It fitted on a fore end loader with a cable at the top and it kept it level as it gained height and had an oil ram to squeeze the arms together, this was used in conjunction with the first type of bale sledge you and DBP mentioned and that was a filthy job especially behind a Massey 701 baler with its chomping horse head packer, had one of those as well and it made bales like little bricks having a tensioner on the side as well as down pressure, it was heavy and weighed about 3 tons, some had independent engines some Fergie but mine had an Armstrong Sidley diesel engine, oh the memories Buzzer.
