[Cob] lifting beams...

[Amanda Peck]

Yes.  That's very likely it.

Whether there's an A-frame tall and stout enough to substitute for a loader 
may be a different question.

Illustration down at the bottom of the page:

http://www.motherearthnews.com/top_articles/1973_May_June/The_Busy_Shore__Block_and_Tackle

If you're totally clueless about multiple pulleys, here's a very simple one 
you can play with:

http://www.jimloy.com/cindy/block.htm

...............
Aaron replied to Virginia and me:
Ive helped lift some pretty heavy beams with just an A frame and block and 
tackle.  one thousand pounds seams very large, but the load is divided by 
the number of times the rope passes through your block and tackle set up, 
the more pullies the easier the pull.