Rowco Manufacturing New Hampshire- BrushKing!

[petesoldsaw]

Okay I'm sorry for starting another thread on the same topic ,but maybe the title will tweek some more curiousity.I have aquired a BrushKing brushcutter/clearing saw.It was made in Keene New Hampshire by a company named Rowco around the 1970's.It is a chainsaw attachment,mine is hooked to a Pioneer 1200 saw.iwould like to know more about the company and the BrushKing and any other models they made .Also wre would I look for a owners manual and service/repair manual.Any and all help would be greatly apreciated.
Many Thanks
Lawrence

[Rene Elliott]

Any connection with the Wilton company? I have literature on that somewhere......

[Dcarpent]

I have a manual for a Model 660 which was their unit powered by a Power Products engine. If you think it might be of help I can make a copy and send it.

[petesoldsaw]

Hello Rene Elliott
Rene,what type of machinary did Wilton make?Did they make brushcutters?I am only familiar with the present day Wilton who among other things make vices.
Thanks Lawrence

[petesoldsaw]

Hello Dcarpent
My model is a 321,but you never know it may help.How would you send it if copied by email or post?
Thanks Lawrence

[Dcarpent]

If you let me know your email address and in the next day or two i will scan it and mail it out.

[Rene Elliott]

Williams & Hussey Machine Co. Milford, NH, 2-1/2 hp 2 cycle, 3500-4000 rpm, 1-1/2 qt. fuel capacity, mixture 3/4 pt. light motor oil per gallon white gas. Blades 8, 10 or 12 inch at ten degree angle to the ground, "lightweight - less than 30 lbs." The yellow sheet is for a model 4C price $330, seems to be the same except for graphics as the black & white sheet I have with price of $295 crossed out and "new low price $274.50". Both have the photo of it in the trunk of a car with 1953 New Hampshire plates. The black & white sheet shows a metal cover over thw cylinder head where the attached shows the exposed cylinder fins.

[petesoldsaw]

Hello Rene
Thanks for posting that add.Very neat indeed.The Wilton is quite a bit different than the BrushKing I have,mas the BrushKing is detachable from the chainsaw powerhead and could be replaced with another chainsaw powerhead.I have emailed the Keene New Hampshire historical society in hopes of a load of information but they wre only able to tell me when the company was active and who the key management was.I suppose that is better than nothing at all.They said they did not even have an add from a magazine or newspaper or a manufacturers magazine nothing on file.Darn
Lawrence

[Rene Elliott]

The only trade journal I can think of that might carry an advertisement is "The Northeastern Logger & Timber Processor/Northern Logger" monthly magazine which used to list new machinery, if you have a idea of time frame, but then my collection is by no means complete, yet it's an excuse to look through it. I've never seen a Wilton, or Brush King, my old Homelite brush saw (a back killer) is as close to this as anything I'm familiar with. I will try and drag Don Johnson (loggah) into this, thinking it would be in his territory.

[petesoldsaw]

Hello Rene
Thanks Again
I have really no exact time line for the BrushKing only that the company was in operation from 1957 to 1981.There is no manufacture date on the machine only model number and serial number,that really is no help for you to look something up in your magazine collection.Darn Again.If you can contact the person you mentioned maybe that might bring about some information.Again, Thanks Rene
Lawrence

[Rene Elliott]

Don Johnson "loggah" said he only collects chainsaws, not familiar with these brush saws, so I guess you have a rarity, don't know if maybe you could try looking up patent numbers if any are indicated? (You can use Google to look them up, ask if you need more info., generally it searches by number, date, patent holder or assignor, or city of residence). Would be a nice tie-in if Wilton was taken over by Rowco, but then things rarely are that simple. I have never seen any of this type, and honestly have not been looking, I ended up with teh Wilton literature because it was in a bunch of literature discarded from an old highway supply dealer (Gould & Bridges) that went out of business next door to me in 1982, that I did odd jobs for, mowing lawn, cleaning out the sheds, etc. after school. I think they just had it in their files, don't believe they sold any. I use ebay sometimes (save a search) and see what I run across, for basic information on things I've never heard of before. You never know what someone somewhere will turn up and list online.

[petesoldsaw]

Hello Rene
You wre talking about a patent search which is how I got a snippet of information on the BrushKing.There is a patent listed on the site about achainsaw attachment and the inventors name ,I have it put aside some place ,I'll find it.I think his ancestory was Armenian.
Lawrence

[ben2014]

I realize this is year old thread, but wondering if anyone knows of any manuals for the Roco mfg, Brushking model 901 brush saw. Roco was in Keene NH. Judge Rowe of Athol MA (Judge in Franklin County MA) owned the company and at somepoint gave it to one of his sons to operate. The model I have is a later version...used mostly for heavy brush but has a grass attachment for hay, reeds, etc. My father use to work for them in the late 60's so we had a number of them over the years, and I think the one I have was the "new, lighter" version from around 1969 - 1970. They are pretty simple to work on but I've forgotten the details and had been looking on line for information when I stumbled across this thread. I live in Chicago, but might still have a manual back in Athol...so next trip out I'll be going through some boxes and drawers.

[petesoldsaw]

Hello Ben
Amazing another Rowco Product!Try and find information for Rowco is almost impossible.I have spent hours upon hours in search of information you name it i have looked at it in relation to this company.Did you notice how long they were in operation ,that's quite awhile ,yet little info.I have contacted museums,chamber of commerce and the like ,even tried looking for relatives of the Rowe's.Ben Dcarpent was very kind to photocopy a manual for his model of BrushKing it's not the same model but it gave me a good idea of the workings of my BrushKing 321.i do have a little information on Rowco if you are interested but really it's not anything you proabably don't already know if your father worked there.Is your father still living?When you go back to Athol I would appreciate anything on the 321.There must be a ton of parts somewhere as well.
Lawrence

[petesoldsaw]

Ben
In addition the Rowe family owning Rowco they had another company on the same street in Keene but I think they closed it down way before the closure of Rowco.I wonder how many people on smokstak are from New Hampshire taht would be willing to do some investigation work on old dealesr and parts availabilty/Would like to hear from some of them!
Thanks
Lawrence

[ben2014]

Lawrence,
I use to drive the judge to/from his business in Boston when in High School...many years ago... Athol is about 40 min south of Keene, so occasionally I would up to the factory. My father died only a few months ago, but I have to believe he has some files on the company. He didn't work there full time, but did shows to demonstrate new products, and we tested the new (development) saws at our wood lots. They are pretty indestructable. Judge Rowe also owned the Harrington Richardson Arms company and a number of radio stations. Not sure what other company he owned up in Keene. Just found this obituary (below) stating that his wife died in June 2009. Note that his two sons still live in MA. Will let you know what I find when going back to Athol...in a couple of months. If you wanted to contact one of the son's, I would guess Brian might know the most. For some reason I remembered his name...
ORANGE Von Dy (Satrowsky) Rowe, 97, of Orange formerly of Athol and Atlantis, FL, died Wednesday (June 10, 2009) in Athol after a brief illness.

She was the wife of the late Judge C. Edward Rowe who died in 1987.

She leaves her children: Atty. Ted Rowe of Weston, Judge Brian Rowe of Mashpee, Atty. Doug Rowe of Marlboro and Atty. Jan Dugan of Sarasota, FL. Also survived by 11 grandchildren and 9 great grandchildren.