Chainsaw Collecting Catches On In A Big Way

2018 - Volume #42, Issue #5, Page #20

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The old chainsaw collecting dust in your barn or shop could be valuable.
  “Condition and rarity are equally important,” says Marshall Trover, a chainsaw collector since the 1970’s. “But, don’t over-restore it to make it nicer than when it was new. Don’t take something rare and mess it up.”
  He is part of a worldwide network of collectors interested in preserving the history of chainsaws, which has become a popular hobby with the help of social media and the internet.
  Andreas Stihl built the first successful portable electric saw in 1926, and Dolmar came out with a semi-portable gas saw the next year. Stihl had a successful portable gas machine by 1928. The first saws took 2 men to operate and were expensive. Trover, of Renton, Wash., lives in the heart of timber country where antique saws are especially valuable. Titan manufactured saws in Seattle, and Trover collected all the versions of the two-man saws they built including a couple of rare models.
  He also appreciates the 1933 Dow low stump saw in his collection. “It was semi-portable because it is on wheels. It has an Indian Scout motorcycle engine with a Model A Ford rear end used as a transmission. It used the same chain that was used in sawmills,” Trover says. With a $900 price tag, only commercial loggers could afford it.”
  As the need for 2-man saws was shrinking due to the smaller timber being logged, it was McCulloch that made the “quantum leap in technology”, by using die-casting technology (rather than sandcasting) for its first one-man saw, the 3-25, in 1949. The castings were more precise and less metal was needed, which made the saws lighter so they could be designed for, and operated by, just one person. This also made them superior to the other one-man saws of the period.
  For “muscle” chainsaw collectors, the McCulloch Super Pro 125 with a 101B racing engine is the most sought-after collectable, followed closely by several other brands of large displacement saws of the era from the 1960’s forward, including the Stihl 090.
  Saws, including Stihl, Homelite, Poulan and many others that were made in the 1950’s and 60’s are also highly collectible - if they are in good condition and run. Mall and Mercury-Disston 2-man saws from the 1940’s are fairly plentiful and can also be valuable - from $200 to $800, depending on condition and specific model rarity.
  “Under my front porch I have hundreds of parts,” Trover says, noting he purchased them from dealerships like the one his uncle worked at back when saw dealers still saved old inventory.
  When one-man saws hit the market, old two-man saw prices dropped to $20 to $50, which made it easy to build up his collection - currently at about 600 saws of all models.
  His collection is small compared to one of the biggest collectors. Wayne Sutton, who works for Stihl, has 1,000 saws on display at his Amboy, Wash., museum featuring Stihl saws and memorabilia (YouTube and Facebook: Wayne’s Chainsaw Museum).
  To learn more about chainsaws, Trover suggests joining the forum on www.chainsawcollectors.se Also, The Chain Saw Collectors Corner lists makes and models and includes collection photos from dozens of collectors such as Trover.
  Determining value is challenging, he notes, and eBay can be misleading about real values. But social media and forums provide good information from collectors.
  Contact: FARM SHOW Followup, Marshall Trover (ph. 425 271-2896; marshalljtrover@email.msn.com).

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Chainsaw Collecting Catches On In A Big Way WOODLOT EQUIPMENT Chain Saws The old chainsaw collecting dust in your barn or shop could be valuable “Condition and rarity are equally important ” says Marshall Trover a chainsaw collector since the 1970’s “But don’t over-restore it to make it nicer than when it was new Don’t take something rare and mess it up ” He is part of a worldwide network of collectors interested in preserving the history of chainsaws which has become a popular hobby with the help of social media and the internet Andreas Stihl built the first successful portable electric saw in 1926 and Dolmar came out with a semi-portable gas saw the next year Stihl had a successful portable gas machine by 1928 The first saws took 2 men to operate and were expensive Trover of Renton Wash lives in the heart of timber country where antique saws are especially valuable Titan manufactured saws in Seattle and Trover collected all the versions of the two-man saws they built including a couple of rare models He also appreciates the 1933 Dow low stump saw in his collection “It was semi-portable because it is on wheels It has an Indian Scout motorcycle engine with a Model A Ford rear end used as a transmission It used the same chain that was used in sawmills ” Trover says With a $900 price tag only commercial loggers could afford it ” As the need for 2-man saws was shrinking due to the smaller timber being logged it was McCulloch that made the “quantum leap in technology” by using die-casting technology rather than sandcasting for its first one-man saw the 3-25 in 1949 The castings were more precise and less metal was needed which made the saws lighter so they could be designed for and operated by just one person This also made them superior to the other one-man saws of the period For “muscle” chainsaw collectors the McCulloch Super Pro 125 with a 101B racing engine is the most sought-after collectable followed closely by several other brands of large displacement saws of the era from the 1960’s forward including the Stihl 090 Saws including Stihl Homelite Poulan and many others that were made in the 1950’s and 60’s are also highly collectible - if they are in good condition and run Mall and Mercury-Disston 2-man saws from the 1940’s are fairly plentiful and can also be valuable - from $200 to $800 depending on condition and specific model rarity “Under my front porch I have hundreds of parts ” Trover says noting he purchased them from dealerships like the one his uncle worked at back when saw dealers still saved old inventory When one-man saws hit the market old two-man saw prices dropped to $20 to $50 which made it easy to build up his collection - currently at about 600 saws of all models His collection is small compared to one of the biggest collectors Wayne Sutton who works for Stihl has 1 000 saws on display at his Amboy Wash museum featuring Stihl saws and memorabilia YouTube and Facebook: Wayne’s Chainsaw Museum To learn more about chainsaws Trover suggests joining the forum on www chainsawcollectors se Also The Chain Saw Collectors Corner lists makes and models and includes collection photos from dozens of collectors such as Trover Determining value is challenging he notes and eBay can be misleading about real values But social media and forums provide good information from collectors Contact: FARM SHOW Followup Marshall Trover ph 425 271-2896; marshalljtrover@email msn com

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