Lowther Saw

Looking for information on the following "Lowther Saw" Patented 1944. It has a Briggs ZZ and the saw blade arm swivels so you can cut vertical or horizontal. I can't find anything on the net about this saw only that the Lowther Co. made tractors etc. Thanks

I have recently purchased one of these saws in Round Top, Texas. I don't know anything about it other than that. Joe Fisher-Dime Box, Texas

I saw one of these units at a show about three years ago, just standing next to it gave a chill that ran through the whole body . like a big dog on a chain runnig at you, and hoping the chain holds. when the owner started it ,even though it was in nutral, EVEYONE cleared away even before he engaged the blade. i mean gone.

These saws were sometimes referd to as stump saws.

Chuck in sunny Central Oregon

Is that because you used them to cut stumps or because you only had stumps of legs after using one?!

Amazing what was invented and what our ancestors survived in the past, isn't it.

What was there problem, its got a safety guard around the belt and pulleys

I remember seeing those things in catalogs in 40s or 50s. Just looking at the pics was enough to scare me. I dont think they were on the market very long. Ralph in NC

Would it be best to grease the blade arbor bearings with it running?

I wonder if I could rent one of those somewhere? Cool machine !!! Best not to daydream while operating.

[Jim McCracken]

Growing up in Wisconsin,I recall a neighbor using one of these to cut block ice
from the frozen lake.He packed layers of ice in sawdust and sold the blocks
to the folks that had ice boxes in the summer.

[john kraft krafttractor]

Hi just joined here. i have two of these. i also have literature. contact me at krafttractor@yahoo.com. i will scan and forward some to you. john

[GADavis]

This type of saw was used in our part of the country in the late 40's & early50's to fut pulpwood before the chainsaw became popular. They were usually referred to as ,"cordwood saws" as pulpwood was measured by the cord after itwas loaded by hand on railcars at the siding. The saw would swivel for cutting down and then be turned 90 degrees to cut up the tree. They were man killers. They usually had a 5-10 hp engine and many were Wisconson engines and usually were easier to crank by puling the drive belts than a rope since it had no clutch or neutral. The people that operated them usually would have one or two fingers messed up or missing because when the engine finally cranked it would run the fingers under the belt aroumd the pulley. They had a horrible habit of kicking back when shoved into the cut too fast and knocking the wind out of a new operator before he got the hang of it. They were a death trap. One fellow here got the bright idea to make a lawn mower out of one after it was no longer used for sawing and he used a flat bar with serrated mower knife sections riveted to it in place of the saw blade. When he hit a rock and sheared the rivets and the mower blade went into orbit he gave it up. All in all they were a very dangerous machine, but there were lots in use for a while because it beat the axe and crosscut saws of earlier times.