Our winter wood arrived a couple weeks ago, and we’re set for the next two years. The fun thing about this wood delivery was I discovered that I was the logger’s aunt’s junior high science teacher over thirty years ago in a completely different state. How’s that for small world?
My husband likes to take it nice and slow, and cuts three logs a day into rounds. After he cuts for the day, I chuck the rounds away from the log pile so that he can roll down new logs and cut again the next day.
After we get a goodly stack of rounds, we pull out the splitter and split, then stack. After that we haul loads to our basement wood room, which holds over a cord. We replenish often during the winter months.
I really enjoy doing the wood, but I’m cautious about chainsaws. Growing up in logging country, one couldn’t help but respect the machines and all they could do as well as the injuries they can cause. I prefer the splitter, but in today’s post I’m addressing the history of the chainsaw.
The original chainsaw was invented in the 1780s by John Aitken and James Jaffrey, Scottish doctors who
used it to aid in childbirth. The machine was used to cut away excess cartilage and bone if the baby got stuck in the birth canal. In 1830 a German Bernard Heine invented a chainsaw which he called the osteotome (bone cutter). this was used to remove diseased bone and joints. Eventually, however, the chainsaw was used to cut materials rather than the human body.
In 1883 patents were granted for a Chain Sawing Machine, for cutting boards; and an Endless Chain Saw for cutting redwood trees.
The first portable chainsaw was patented by James Shand, a Canadian. Then along came Andrea Stihl who patented the first electric portable chainsaw in 1926 and a gas-powered model in 1929. This is a very abbreviated history, but I thought it was fascinating that one of the most useful tools in the timber industry came from the medical field after almost a 150 years.
Now, if you’ll excuse me, I think I’ll go chuck some rounds. 🙂
Jeannie Watt raises cattle in Montana and loves all things western. When she's not writing, Jeannie enjoys sewing, making mosaic mirrors, riding her horses and buying hay. Lots and lots of hay.
Fascinating history.
I was surprised, for sure.
My great grandfather was a timber man in Michigan!
How cool! And what a strenuous profession. Working in the woods is hard work.
Hey Jeannie! Loved the history of the chain saw. Never knew about it starting in the medical field. My grandfather was a logger before marrying my grandmother. He had some broad shoulders.
I bet he did!
Thanks for the great post. You can learn something new everyday. I am thankful I gave birth here and now.
Me, too, Debra. Reading about cutting the bone really made me cringe.
Thank you for the history on the chain saw. Definitely learned something I never knew.
Thank you, Bonnie. I was surprised at the origin.
Interesting post and I’m thinking how strong and patient you are to move all that wood! Cool to make the connection about being the aunt’s teacher.
It was so much fun connecting. I asked his name and it was unusual, so I asked if he had relatives in Nevada where I taught. He did. 🙂
Wow. I’m sure glad I live in the 20th/21st century and had my 6 children without the need for a chainsaw. My daughter and son-in-law have a wood burning stove for heat in the winter, and their driveway has a huge pile of wood that they are working on stacking.
Lol, Elaine. Yes, childbirth without a chainsaw is the best!
oh that is very interesting. had no idea it came from the medical field. wow. thanks for sharing.
You’re very welcome, Lori. I enjoyed this research.
We too have a wood room in our basement. We actually prefer the warmth of wood heat. The dust, well not so much. Ha! In central Minnesota it seems our winters last for 6 months. The exercise of putting up wood is a bonus too.
It really is a bonus. I love the routine, although I can’t say I love replenishing the wood room when the snow is deep and the wind is blowing. 🙂
I don’t think I would have liked seeing a chainsaw coming towards me during childbirth. Lol. I am glad I had my babies in the 1980’s. This was very fascinating history of the chainsaw. Thank you for sharing.
What a picture you paint, Barbara. Id be no to the chainsaw, too.
When my brother-in-law moved to France nearly 50 years ago, his first job off of his mother-in-law’s farm was as a wood-cutter. He did everything from felling the trees to delivering and stacking cords of split wood.
He still enjoys it now, but he only does it for his own household.
There’s something satisfying about the process. How cool to be a woodcutter in France!
That’s really interesting! And, that they were used first to deliver babies!!
I thought it was amazing myself!
OH MY GOSH! I would not have liked being the woman to have a bone cut to let a baby out of the birth canal. Or did they cut a bone on the baby? What cruelty. Today I highly respect a chain saw. I do not want to operate one. It is my husband’s job only. I am very careful around tools. What a history it has.
From what i read, they cut the woman’s bone snd cartilage. *cringe* I too respect the saw. I grew up around them and choose not to use one.
That was very interesting to read. I didn’t know that the chain saw started in the medical field. You learn something new every day . Thanks for sharing.
You are very welcome, Linda!
Oh. My. Gosh. I can NOT imagine a doctor using a chain saw for a difficult birth. Can you even think how much that would hurt?? And how could he possibly see well enough around that contraption?
Fascinating stuff, Jeannie! And I, too, am REALLY glad my babies were born in modern times!!
By the way, I love the view from your sprawling deck!!
I love my view, too, Pam. Thank you. Im with you on wondering how they could see to use the thing. Makes me shudder.
Fun facts that should be remembered.
Indeed!
“Little Red Riding Hood” sprang to my mind! Who came to her rescue? The woodcutter!
And boy am I glad my one successful pregnancy had a lickety split delivery (the E.R. doc delivered her in the rear of our station wagon at the E.R. doorway…).
Oh my, Mary! That was lickety split. Glad you made it to the doctor, if just barely.
About that first chainsaw…”cut away excess cartilage and bone if the baby got stuck in the birth canal.” What happened to the mom? Were they cutting her bone and cartilage to get the baby out or was it the baby’s?
Either way, medical care in the 1700’s was anything but good.
Our son cuts trees, which usually gives us a supply of firewood. Unfortunately, he hasn’t cut much lately. We do have a splitter and that worries me much less when they use it. Thanks for an interesting post. I am glad we do not need that much wood. At least you do not have to go out to cut and haul it.
Amen to that, Patricia. i know people who do. i couldn’t find information on what happened to
the mothers, but I know I’m glad to
live in more modern times medically.
I had no idea chain saws were originally medical tools. I can understand cutting bones when necessary but childbirth? No thank you.
I remember how excited our whole family was when my dad got his first gas powered chainsaw in the 1950’s. Cutting firewood and timber had just got so much easier in our farm wood lot.
I have to echo the sentiments about childbirth in this day and age compared to when the chainsaw was first developed. Hurts to even think about it. Wish I had a woodburner, but without a large financial outlay, not happening. Enjoy the heat for me, Ladies!