Antique/Vintage Chainsaws

[DonovanSpeed]

Does anyone else collect old saws?

Here's a picture of mine. Lombard, Homelites and Remingtons on the bottom, David Bradleys and a Wright in the middle, McCulloch, Pioneer, and Homelite up top.
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[Zeeman]

Nice. The oldest two I have are a Mc 10-10S, and Homelite. I can't remember the model on the Homelite. Do all yours run?

 

[930dreamer]

Do you have any parts for a Mac BP-1? I have at least 8 old Homelites and a few Stihls.

 

[tlowery04]

saved this picture of a craftsman one, they wanted too much for it though.

 

[DonovanSpeed]

Five run and most of the others turn over and have good compression.

930dreamer: Unfortunately that Super 33 is the only Mac I have.

A little back story...
I always liked old saws but until today I only had the three up top and the two on the bottom left.

Yesterday I called on two Remingtons that were on CL about 100 miles aways. The guy told me he'd make the trip worth my while. I brought home 10 saws for $60.

This DB is in great shape and runs
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This Wright is pretty wild.
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[tlowery04]

Oh, and as for the wright reciprocating saw, I know where you can get a pneumatic version down in texas. From what I can tell they were used by dock workers to cut underwater logs.

 

[tlowery04]

I really like old saws like that man! I just can't ever find any

 

[DonovanSpeed]

saved this picture of a craftsman one, they wanted too much for it though.

That's one of my dream saws. Most of the time they're too pricey for me; but the hunt is the best part. The most expensive one I've bought is that McCulloch for $30.

 

[930dreamer]

Is the gray Homesite on the bottom shelf a 1050?

 

[Shootinok]

Don't collect them - But when I wanted a chainsaw I searched high and low for an old one. I really don't want a plastic version that costs more than my first car.

I recently found a mac 10-10 in perfect shape for $50 - snatched it up as fast as I could.
She runs perfect, starts on one or two pulls and is so loud I can punish the neighbors as I cut up any wood I lay the bar to.

 

[Straightgrain]

Although I have a newer Stihl chainsaw I don't know anything about vintage chainsaws, what's the oldest one you have Donovan? When were gas powered chainsaws first produced?

 

[DonovanSpeed]

I'm not an expert but...
Stihl was one of the first. I think they started mass production in the late 20's in Germany. They also designed the modern chain based on the way some type of beetle chews through wood.
I don't think American saws really took off until after the war. Lombard is a name you don't hear much anymore; but they were one of the first American manufacturers, started in '43. The oldest saw I have is a late 40's Lomdard. The rest are early 50's to 1972.

SOME SAFETY ADVICE:
I'm sure others do; but I would NEVER use one of these saws for actual work even in the yard. I can't imagine using one in the woods. I grew up on a 200+ acre tree farm and fell trees for firewood all through high school (I'm 26). I've seen people get badly hurt with modern saws. I've seen anti-kickback mechanisms potentially save lives. Also I never pick up a saw without chaps and ear and eye protection.

A lot of fun things are potentially dangerous; but I see no point in risking life and limb, just to lug around an absurdly heavy, noisy, and inefficient saw.

Edit: By the way, I have a Model A with no seat belts (yet) and mechanical brakes. I'm not a prude; but you need to consider risk vs reward.

 

[thehorse13]

I have the same David Bradley that you have. It fell into my hands from the original owner who decided that he was too old to put it to further use.

I also have a modern chainsaw.

The DB will eat through literally anything, starts after 1-3 pulls even if sitting for a year, and is built tough enough to throw down a flight of stairs.

The modern saw is made of plastic and has modern safety goodies like the anti-kickback. It too will eat through anything and start after sitting for a year but I'm afraid to put it down abruptly out of fear of breaking the plastic.

Nice collection of saws you have there.

 

[Warped5]

I have a BUNCH of older saws ... love working on them.

There are some saws made in the 70s that would spank the **** of some of today's saws of the same cc size.

930: I have a BP-1, just haven't gotten around to working on it. No spare parts, but if you're looking for some send me a PM.

A word on safety gear: I've had way more 'nicks' from the splitter than from a vintage saw. The guys that run the vintage saws know HOW to run the saw safely and respect the fact that razor-sharp teeth going 60 MPH are just inches from several places on your body where you could bleed out quickly. I have and use my chaps and muffs whenever I cut. The machine doesn't create the danger, the operator does.

 

[Doc]

I just redid the carb for this homelight super wiz 66. This thing is a beast and super loud!!! It has a 77cc engine that runs at 16:1 oil ratio. Starts crazy easy. even easier than any of my new Stihl products. 1 pull with chokewhen cold, next pull it fires right up. When warm, it takes a lazy half pull and she fires right up. What that crazy bar is used for I have no idea. Its called a pulp saw though. The power head weighs 22 lbs. Oh, for safety stuff. It has a toggle switch for on and off....

 

[Warped5]

Doc, that's a bow bar you have there. Developed for pulp cutters in the Southeast so they wouldn't have to bend over so far.

Here's an interesting read on the topic: http://www.arboristsite.com/community/threads/history-of-bow-saws.109002/

 

[Doc]

Wow, what a great read. Thank You....

 

[2oolhound]

Nice collection. There have been some good threads on old saws on this site. I looked but couldn't find the real picture heavy ones. Here's one link:

http://www.garagejournal.com/forum/showthread.php?t=70878

 

[JHuston]

I only have one vintage chainsaw, a Porter Cable 534 ( 4hp, 20" bar).

It's a doozy,though; the bar is mounted on the left-hand side of the saw. It starts and cuts well, although a 40 lb chainsaw is of limited use for anything but felling.
-James Huston

 

[engineer2]

does a 1980's Echo EVL330 count?

 

[DonovanSpeed]

Is the gray Homesite on the bottom shelf a 1050?

It's a C5.

 

[DonovanSpeed]

Wow, what a great read. Thank You....

x2. Thanks for the info.

 

[GJoustra]

NICE! I have a few oldies, Homelite 410 and Solo 667 both were made in 1968. Once the intake boot gets here for the Homelite, she will be milling up some walnut for me.

 

[Jazz1]

Very nice collection
My only older saw is the 045AV. It's a professional saw, made in West Germany and 40 years old. 30 years ago the local college offered a cutter skidder course. You could go from classroom right to the bush camps and make righteous bucks. Now trees are all mechanically harvested

 

[LawnBoy-5247]

I have two homelite super ez automatics, for their size they have a decent amount of power and are perfect for what I do. They are also some of the easiest starting saws around when correctly tuned.

 

[DonovanSpeed]

Jazz that's a hell of a chain.

LawnBoy any pictures? I have one too but it's in pretty rough shape.

 

[devonhubb]

I'll play. I have a weakness for old chainsaws.















Also have an 090G that I need to take some pics of.

 

[2oolhound]

Yes! show us the gear drive, I forgot about those.

Nothing wakes up a forest like an 090 under load. I had the AV handle for mine which made it about twice as big.

 

[chrisasutton10]

look i traded for an old poulan saw k-169 all-metal ( silver ) a beautiful saw oiler still works good compression ( pawls are a little worn so can't test fire yet) but it weighs 45 pounds and i don't like poulan saws i am a Stihl man worked on saws 27+ years this is a beauty traded 3 Coleman lanterns for it 2 worked so i don't want an arm and an eye for it maybe just a little information....thank ya'll..

 

[Downwindtracker 2]

I have only a slight passing interest in old chainsaws. But reading about coast logging here in BC ,I came across an article about chain saws. Looking at the old growth forest one certainly can see the need for them.

When the war ended German patients became available . Losing a war does that. Great idea but in need of some development work. I think it was firm Pioneer that did that. It was Vancouver based firm.. But like the rest of the chainsaw companies, Electrolux bought them up and shut them down. You know Electrolux as Husqvarna, Poulan and others.

 

[Packard V8]

I still use a Homelite XL; noisy, powerful and easy starting.

jack vines

 

[SweetD]

I still use a Homelite XL; noisy, powerful and easy starting.

jack vines

Me too, got it for free last summer! It was a mess, but runs perfectly now.

 

[Copymutt]

Back in the 60s I had 1/2 day off from school every day to help my dad. He was a tree surgeon, nomenclature for the period. I cut my teeth on a shark tooth Strunk. Tried to find one on the internet, no luck.
You had to be there, and had to be in control. Still have all my apendages.

 

[2oolhound]

On this topic, 2 old chainsaws were recently stolen from the Duncan Forestry Museum here on Vancouver Island, Canada. The Duncan Forestry Museum has been a wonderful tribute to the local logging industry. I visited it in the 80's when I was logging on the island. Unfortunately I think it's shrunk in size with the decline in logging activities in recent years but I'm glad to hear it's still going regardless. It's pathetic someone would want to own one of these saws that they stole. If anyone spots them or has info on their whereabouts you can report it to the number in the link.

Taken were a 1958 McCulloch Super 44 and a 1962 McCulloch Mac 15. They are yellow with some rust and signs of wear. If anyone runs into one of these with questionable ownership you can report them to the number in the link here:

https://www.timescolonist.com/news/local/two-vintage-chainsaws-stolen-from-forestry-museum-in-duncan-1.23947365

 

[jblnut]

Searched a bit and found it !! Back to life it comes !!

Oldest saw I have and still use is a Stihl 041 that Pops purchased new. It has seen use every year cutting firewood since new and runs like the day it was new. The thing isn’t the fastest saw out there but it has an amazing exhaust note that brings a smile to my face every time I use it and I’ll loan it to Jesus when he comes back as I’m sure it’ll still be running.

 

[930dreamer]

FREE TO A GOOD HOME: UPDATED

I have a few homelite parts I don't need.

NEW Surplus HOMELITE CLUTCH DRUM, 58546-1A. Also a recoil cover- I think.
Let me check and I'll ad the pics later.

 

[930dreamer]

Other Pics, PM if you want them. New owner found.