Pennsylvania Saw Corporation

[Drossw]

Greetings:

Came across my dad's old miter saw and have had little luck finding out the approxiamte age of it and if anyone is interested in such a tool.  It's marked as "Pennsylvania Saw Corporation" and "No. 79."  I've not seen a carved handle like on this saw before - I'd appreciate any info on this tool...

Thanks and Peace,
Dave

[Papaw]

Welcome to Tool Talk!

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At some time they became part of Disston-

Henry Disston & Sons Philadelphia, PA 1871 (but actually origianted in the year 1840). Dissotn made hammers, knives, levels, marking gauges, pliers, saw tools, saws and squares. The company used numerous combinations and configurations of the maker name, city, patent dates, brand names, etc. One common additon was "Keystone Tool for Saw) Works"; another was a figure of a scale inside a keystone outline.
 
This company succeded Heny Disston & Son which had succeeded Heny Disston. Therre were several subdivisions using various combinations of the Disston name and the company acquired several other companies and continued to run them under thier earlier names. Henry's sons were: Hamilton, Albert H., Horace. C., William and Jacob Steelman; it is not known which one was the & Son.  Some of the other companies acuired by this company or its predecessors, and their years of acquistion are: Valdridge & Hogan Saw Co. 1901; Bringhurst & Verree 1866; William Cresson 1862; P. Fraley & Co. 1859; John Gunniss 1861; Hill & Davenport 1868; Johnson & Con (a) way 1857; Harvey W. Peace Co. 1890; Pennsylvania Saw Co. 1892; Richardson Bros. 1890; William & Harvey Rowland 1870; James Turner 1867; Waterhouse Saw Co. 1874; Wheeler, Madden, & Clemson 1893; Woodrough & Clemson 1893; and Woodrough & McParlin 1893.
 
Some of the brand names used by the company not necessarily before 1900 were: G. Bishop; Browns; T. Taylor; Challenge; Jackson, IMP; Keystone Saw Mfg. ; Penna. Saw works; Phila. Saw Co.; Black Diamond Saw CO.; Electric; Blue Jacket; Clipper; Standard; OUr Saw; Enterprise; Advance Special; JOH; Jackson Gorman; Champion Tooth; Diamond Tooth; Tenon Tooth; Tuttle Tooth; Lancet Tooth; ZIP; Virginian; Great Southern; Wizard; Oriole; Suwanee; Buzz; Jesse Lane; Keen Edge; Triumph; Treat American; Mechanics Own; Cant Beat Our Saw; ACME; Davis; Eclipse and Marshall.

Info from http://www.roseantiquetools.com/id57.html

[rusty]

Pennsylvania Saw Co 's claim to fame was making saw blades out of Vanadium steel back when most people didn't even know there was an element called Vanadium....

[john k]

I have a Pennsylvania saw, does yours have the etching of the Quaker on it?

[Stan D]

I love bumping 5 year old threads.  I'm focusing on another area of my shop this weekend, saws. I found a Pennsylvania Saw A5, so I Googled it. And much like the Google search that originally brought me to this lovely forum, it brought me again.

I guess the OP got his answer, and never came back, so I'll pick up where he left off.  So, yes, John K, my saw does have the Quaker etching on it.    I've got about a half dozen saws, mostly Disston, and I've been searching out the best way to clean them up without ruining the etchings.

[bill300d]

I have used method and it works well. See=How to Clean a Saw http://www.vintagesaws.com/cgi-bin/frameset.cgi?left=main&right=/library/library.html

[Bill Houghton]

Some other articles on cleaning saws and refreshing the etch:
http://trestore.wkfinetools.com/saw/sawsRestore-index.asp - scroll down to Bob Sturgeon's articles
and Bob Smalser's articles: http://contrib1.wkfinetools.com/bSmalser/bobSmalser-index.asp

I haven't used the techniques offered in these articles, so can't vouch for their accuracy; but Wiktor Kuc is a respected tool restorer, so I'm confident in the quality of what he puts on his website.

[Stan D]

Great articles.  I had found the first one, but wasn't thrilled with the hard work.  I've used electrolysis for other things, and was curious if it would work on a saw without hurting the etch. So imagine my delight reading Bob Sturgeons article on enhancing the etch, AND mentioning electrolysis.  I now have to build a vessel big enough for a 42" blade. My Dad had this two man crosscut that is in dire need, as well as 5 or 6 others, most with an etch.

Thanks for the help. I'm not sure how soon I can make this happen, but I'll try and keep you all updated.  And by that, I mean that I'll probably bump this thread again