Object number
61/131
Creator
Description
This is a chain saw, also called a flexible saw. It consists of 25 links with steel teeth, and a brass ring at either end, for attaching the saw to a rope. Chain saws were used for cutting inaccessible branches. This saw was used by the estate forester at Witton Castle Mill, Witton-le-Wear, near Bishop Auckland. It bears what appears to be a War Department mark and may therefore have been used as a 'trench saw' during the First World War prior to its role on the Estate.
Physical description
1 chain saw: metal
Archival history
MERL 'Handwritten catalogue' form – 'Saw, Flexible // Used by estate forester at Witton Mill, ? Witton le Wear, Nr. Bishop Auckland. // [pencil sketch]', MERL miscellaneous note - When examined closely this object appears to feature a War Department mark suggesting that it was originally intended to serve as a 'trench saw' [Ollie Douglas, 12 February 2016], Object research project, Madeleine Ding, December 2022 - 'How can this object be described? This chain saw or flexible saw has 25 links with steel teeth, and a brass ring at either end. The metal teeth are sharp and pointed in different angles. // What was this object used for? Chain saws were used for cutting inaccessible branches, that couldn’t be cut with a straight saw. Wooden handles or a rope was tied through the loop at each end of the saw. The saw was pulled backwards and forwards, so the teeth cut through the wood. // How old is it? If you look closely, you can see a broad arrow /|\ on one of the handles. This means it was made for the War Department and therefore probably used as a ‘trench saw’ during the First or Second World War. // Where was it used? We know it was used by a forester at Witton Castle Mill, Witton-le-Wear, near Bishop Auckland, County Durham. // Which other objects in the collection relate to the chain saw? This chain saw [MERL 83/73/1-6] has the wooden handles that were fitted to the loops at either end of the saw. // Modern chain saws are powered by an electric or petrol motor. This black and white photograph [MERL P 2FW PH2/493/8] from the 1980s is an image from the chainsaw manufacturer Stihl's booklet on correct preparation and economic use of wood as fuel.'
Production place
Sheffield
Object name
Material
Associated subject
External document
- L:\MERL\Objects\JISC 2012\60 series negatives\60_6045.tif - High resolution image