Post by Muleskinner on Dec 27, 2011 13:36:32 GMT -8
Before the chain saw came along the falling was done mostly by hand saw or Axe. But with the advent of the chainsaw logging greatly changed. The very first ones were monsters to handle and usually required two men to operate them. The first chains were link type resembling a normal towing chain but smaller with the cutting teeth welded on. They were prone to throwing from the wider that normal bar, until the new modern track and guide bars came along to accommodate the flatter and narrower chains of today.
I did some researching came up with the following. The first chainsaw was invented by a Logger in Humboldt county about the thirties or forties. But due to the size it never was widely used because of the weight and the fact it took two to three loggers to handle it on the job. The following picture is the very first commercially produced Chainsaw in the Pacific Northwest and was built in Eureka California. According to the Fort Humboldt Records this is the only picture in existence of that chainsaw demonstrating its timber falling abilities for the very first time. A crude by the standards we have today in the industry but none the less a logging invention which greatly advanced the industry here and around the world.
This saw is running one of the very first flat guide bars and chain. Oiling of the chain was done by hand from a can and because the smaller engines had not been refined as they are today, it took a lot of fuel to operate.
As you can see it was bulky and heavy as the faller is on his knees while cutting. Not a safe way to fall. A later addition to these heavy saws was the secondary handle attached to the end of the bar for another Logger to assist with the holding of the heavy bar and keeping it in the bite channel of the log. Again not a safe place to be in case the chain broke or jumped the channel.
Sure a departure from the modern Stile, Oregon, and other brand names of today.
William
I did some researching came up with the following. The first chainsaw was invented by a Logger in Humboldt county about the thirties or forties. But due to the size it never was widely used because of the weight and the fact it took two to three loggers to handle it on the job. The following picture is the very first commercially produced Chainsaw in the Pacific Northwest and was built in Eureka California. According to the Fort Humboldt Records this is the only picture in existence of that chainsaw demonstrating its timber falling abilities for the very first time. A crude by the standards we have today in the industry but none the less a logging invention which greatly advanced the industry here and around the world.
This saw is running one of the very first flat guide bars and chain. Oiling of the chain was done by hand from a can and because the smaller engines had not been refined as they are today, it took a lot of fuel to operate.
As you can see it was bulky and heavy as the faller is on his knees while cutting. Not a safe way to fall. A later addition to these heavy saws was the secondary handle attached to the end of the bar for another Logger to assist with the holding of the heavy bar and keeping it in the bite channel of the log. Again not a safe place to be in case the chain broke or jumped the channel.
Sure a departure from the modern Stile, Oregon, and other brand names of today.
William
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