
What was the original purpose of the chainsaw?
This chainsaw was also used for other medical procedures such as:
- removing diseased bone
- cutting out infected flesh
- amputating limbs
What was a chainsaw originally used for?
When it was first invented, the chainsaw was originally used to perform a (thankfully outdated) procedure known as symphysiotomy. This was a terribly painful operation in which doctors cut the cartilage and bone connecting the pelvis in order to allow for babies too big to fit through the birth canal, or born breech (feet-first), to make their way into this world when they otherwise couldn't.
Is Jonsered still in business?
The production of chainsaws was moved from it’s original location to Husqvarna in 1978. The R&D unit in Jonsered is still maintained by the company. The tarpaulin unit was sold after being acquired by a different company. The brand “Jonsereds” is still being used by Hallbyggarna.
When was the first chainsaw made?
The origins of the modern chainsaw are debated. The first chainsaw was designed by German orthopaedist Bernhard Heine in 1830. He called it the osteotome, from the Greek osteo (bone) and tome or tomi (cut); literally, the bonecutter. This chainsaw, as well as many that followed, were used for medical purposes.

Who invented the original chainsaw?
In the late 18th century, 2 Scottish doctors, John Aitken and James Jeffray, developed a prototype of the chainsaw—familiar today in the timber industry—for symphysiotomy and the excision of diseased bone. The design of the chainsaw was based on a watch chain with teeth that moved through the use of a hand-crank.
Who invented the chainsaw for wood?
THE SINGLE MOST IMPORTANT INVENTION affecting logging was the chainsaw of 1935. Although it was not invented in Oregon, it was perfected there in 1947 by lumberjack Joseph Cox. While chopping firewood one chilly autumn day in 1946, Cox paused for a moment to examine the curious activity in a tree stump.
Why was the chainsaw ever invented?
Two doctors invented the chainsaw in 1780 to make the removal of pelvic bone easier and less time-consuming during childbirth. It was powered by a hand crank and looked like a modern-day kitchen knife with little teeth on a chain that wound in an oval.
How did people cut firewood before chainsaws?
Early Americans would have chopped the trees down by hand with an axe and then split the wood with a wedge. We still use a wedge, or maul, on our farm to split some of our wood. Splitting wood by hand is a great way to burn some energy and release some stress, but it is hard work.
What is the oldest chainsaw brand?
What is the oldest chainsaw brand? The oldest chainsaw brand is Stihl. They have produced the gas-powered “The Tree-Felling Machine.” It was created by Andreas Stihl, a German engineer and founder of the Stihl company.
When was the 1st chainsaw invented?
The first chainsaw was designed by German orthopaedist Bernhard Heine in 1830. He called it the osteotome, from the Greek osteo (bone) and tome or tomi (cut); literally, the bonecutter. This chainsaw, as well as many that followed, were used for medical purposes.
When did Loggers start using chainsaws?
Beginning in the 1870's, crosscut saws were adapted to felling trees—a major innovation. Crosscut saws had long been used to cut logs into lengths once they were on the ground, but now the saws were used in the horizontal position to cut the trees down.
How were big trees harvested before chainsaws were invented?
The axe has the oldest tradition of all wood cutting tools used by humans. Its use reaches so far back in human history that it's form in stone, copper, bronze and iron reflects the different forms of culture. It remained one of the most important and widely used tools for felling trees right into the 19th Century.
When was the 1st chainsaw invented?
The first chainsaw was designed by German orthopaedist Bernhard Heine in 1830. He called it the osteotome, from the Greek osteo (bone) and tome or tomi (cut); literally, the bonecutter. This chainsaw, as well as many that followed, were used for medical purposes.
When were wooden saws invented?
Around 5000 B.C. Germanic tribes invented the first saw. They nicked small teeth into half moon shaped flints.
Did Stihl invent the chainsaw?
Company history In 1930, Stihl created the first ever chainsaw that could be operated by only one person. The company continued to grow and in 1931 it became the first European company to export chainsaws to the United States and the Soviet Union.
When did Loggers start using chainsaws?
Beginning in the 1870's, crosscut saws were adapted to felling trees—a major innovation. Crosscut saws had long been used to cut logs into lengths once they were on the ground, but now the saws were used in the horizontal position to cut the trees down.
What was the first chainsaw company in North America?
World War II interrupted the supply of German chain saws to North America, so new manufacturers sprang up, including Industrial Engineering Ltd (IEL) in 1939, the forerunner of Pioneer Saws Ltd and part of Outboard Marine Corporation, the oldest manufacturer of chainsaws in North America.
How does a chainsaw carburetor work?
To allow use in any orientation, modern gas chainsaws use a diaphragm carburetor, which draws fuel from the tank using the alternating pressure differential within the crankcase. Early engines used carburetors with gravity fed float chambers, which caused the engine to stall when tilted ( two-man saw from Dolmar, Germany from 1930 to 1937 ). The carburetor may need to be adjusted to maintain an appropriate idle speed and air-fuel ratio, such as when moving to a higher/lower altitude or as the air filter clogs. Carburetors are adjusted either by the operator or, in some saws, automatically by an electronic control unit .
What are the risks of chainsaws?
The risks associated with chainsaw use mean that protective clothing such as chainsaw boots, chaps, and hearing protectors are normally worn while operating them, and many jurisdictions require that operators be certified or licensed to work with chainsaws. Injury can also result if the chain breaks during operation due to poor maintenance or attempting to cut inappropriate materials.
What happens when heavy timber falls?
Another dangerous situation occurs when heavy timber begins to fall or shift before a cut is complete. The chainsaw operator may be trapped or crushed. Similarly, timber falling in an unplanned direction may harm the operator or other workers, or an operator working at a height may fall or be injured by falling timber.
What is a chainsaw engine?
Chainsaw engines are traditionally either a two-stroke gasoline (petrol) internal combustion engine (usually with a cylinder volume of 30 to 120 cm 3) or an electric motor driven by a battery or electric power cord. In a petrol chainsaw, fuel is generally supplied to the engine by a carburetor at the intake.
What was the replacement for the skidder?
In some areas, the skidder (chainsaw) crews have been replaced by the feller buncher and harvester .
What is a chain saw?
A chainsaw (or chain saw) is a portable gasoline-, electric-, or battery-powered saw that cuts with a set of teeth attached to a rotating chain driven along a guide bar. It is used in activities such as tree felling, limbing, bucking, pruning, cutting firebreaks in wildland fire suppression, and harvesting of firewood.

from An Axe to Saw
- The ax is the oldest tool used by humans to cut wood. Made from different material such as stone, bronze, copper and iron, it has remained one of the widely used tools for cutting down trees right into the 19th century. Then around 5000 B.C. made an invention that would forever change the way we fell trees- they invented the first saw! The saw was directly made by nicking small te…
First Circular and Band Saw
- Around 1800, the first circular and band saws were designed in England. At this time, the saw has not yet replaced the ax altogether. The ax was used for felling and debranching the tree while the saw was used to cut to length. The saw continued playing the minor role and even remained unknown in many places. At around 1752, Empress Maria Theresa decreed that trees shouldn’t …
Development of The First Motorized Saw
- It was until in the 1920s that someone invented a better chainsaw. Three names carry credit for the modern chainsaw- Wolf (USA), Westflet (Sweden), and Stihl (Germany). The latter is the oldest and the largest producer of chainsaws in the world- founded in 1926. The idea that led to the invention of what we call chainsaw today was to make the heavy...
Final Verdict
- Ever wondered what the first chainsaw as like? Well, now you’ve got an answer after reading the above post. From what we’ve discussed, it’s evident that the development of the chainsaw has come a long way. It’s through all these stages that we enjoy the great diversity of the modern chainsaws which are highly mobile, electric/gas powered, which run on small engines.