We’ve seen some great ads written by masters of marketing and mayhem, but this may be the best ad I’ve read in years, if not of all time. Please read this gentleman’s listing; you will not be disappointed. This 1950s Lancaster Direct-Drive Chainsaw can be found here on Facebook Marketplace in Holtwood, Pennsylvania, and the seller is asking $400. Here is the original listing, and thanks to Gary for the tip!
Also, the photos were actually well thought out, not just treated as some annoying requirement. “Oh yeah, I need photos, I’ll just take some quick verticals here in the shade with each end cut off, it’s good enough.” No, sir/ma’am, this guy nails the photos. This whole listing is easily a top-ten ad. It’s one of the best I’ve seen since I started looking at vintage vehicle listings with my old neighbor, Al Gore, back in the 1970s, when he was in the process of inventing the internet. Just kidding about knowing Al Gore, but not about this being a top-ten listing. Oh yeah, the vintage gas can goes with the sale.
I’m sorry to go on and on about this listing, but when you’ve seen thousands of bad listings, and someone comes through with a great one that they put some actual thought and real time into, you notice it. If I had a company listing things for sale, I’d make this guy an offer he couldn’t refuse to do all of the listings. Lancaster Pump and Manufacturing Company is, I believe, a company related to C-B Tool Company out of Lancaster, Pennsylvania. Here’s a fun ad showing the line of chainsaws available at some point in the 1950s.
The tag reads Direct-Drive, and I can’t quite tell the model number. Is that ISO or 150? The second digit sure looks like an S to me, but 150 comes up in some searches, so I’m going with that. The 325 at the end may be the .325″ pitch, which is a bit smaller than a 3/8-inch chain. The ivory-colored button on the back is a “double-acting force-fed oil pump”, and I’m not positive on the bar length, but a lot of these were 16-inch bars. There’s a little air cleaner on the bottom, the cylindrical piece, and the throttle locks for easy starting.
This 3.5-horsepower single-cylinder looks like it would be an easy restoration. The seller says, “Built back when men smoked while refueling equipment, and OSHA was just a rumor.” I don’t believe it’s currently in running condition, but as a display piece, this is hard to beat. Please check out the listing to read about this gem and let us know your thoughts. Are any of you into vintage chainsaws?
I needed a good laugh today being as how its Monday. That was a good ad. Thanks Scotty. I don’t remember ever seeing a direct drive chainsaw before and can only imagine what this beast must have been like to use. Clutch We don’t neeeeed no Stinkin’ clutch!!!! Just another unnecessary part to wear out. 🤣 It’s a cool find, and I’d go the same route as this seller, don’t get it running. The worlds a slightly safer place that way. Thanks Scotty. You made my day.
Ha!! Great ad, and great write-up SG. It’s such a wonderful piece, I think you need to buy it and mount it in a prominent place in your house. Your wife won’t mind.
It looks wonderfully deadly. Love it!!
Color me skeptical but that sure looks like a centrifugal clutch on the business end of the crankshaft. A buddy’s dad had a West Bend at about that time and it had a clutch. Weighed a ton but did the job.
Will, you may be right. I zoomed in and that sure as heck does look like a clutch. I would be wiling to bet dollars for donuts that if it is indeed a clutch, the springs went and/or or the clutch shoes melted into the drum and now it most certainly is “Direct drive”.
Dave
The funniest and most entertaining ad I’ve seen this decade. Not sure about its originality, SG, because some of the verbiage was lifted directly from your rap sheet: 1) Pure Vintage Brutality, 2) Smokes while refueling equipment, and 3) Looks absolutely mean from every angle. Great article, SG. A most excellent way to start off the week.
Because Will and me made the same observation:
“direct drive is when the chain is turned directly from the crank. The gear drive has a gear to lower the chain speed. The crank turns the gear, which in turn runs the chain.”
– The Internet
Less torque from Direct drive but higher RPM.
Less torque from direct drive but higher RPM than gear driven.
Both types still use a clutch.
Cool old saw!
Both drive types still use a clutch to engage the chain sprocket.
Cool old saw!
No thanks.
I like my arm where it is.
Ran when parked.