Author Topic: Poulan history article  (Read 7518 times)

0 Members and 43 Guests are viewing this topic.

Offline Cut4fun

  • Administrator
  • Nitro Hotsaw
  • *******
  • Posts: 4666
  • Karma: 216
  • OHIO REDNECK

  • Total Badges: 44
    Badges: (View All)
    Tenth year Anniversary Nineth year Anniversary Eighth year Anniversary Level 7 Seventh year Anniversary Apple User
Poulan history article
« on: April 14, 2013, 12:41:17 pm »
No clue who put this together.   

Figured some of you guys may like this. Great old pics and info history 16 pages worth. http://dl.owneriq.net/c/c9a0b982-4173-44b8-9483-43ff46d59882.pdf

Same link above is embedded to use instead of link above when not working. Posted below.

Poulan info... Also posted on Poulan thread

I wish I had a lot to offer you guys but I really don't have a lot of technical or substantive things to offer. I mostly have just good memories of the folks that they were. I know that my grandfather was a very modest genious. As I said, I know that I regret not being very receptive as a yound man to his attempts to share his technical knowledge with me.

Both of my grandparents gave a lot to others and especially to the church, which they believed in strongly. They never wanted others to know. Their faith got them through a lot though.

I always did listen and asked questions about the history of the company and the saws. I found it interesting and historically significant. I found it interesting how Claude worked with the German prisoners cutting wood. He spoke very positive about his experience with them. He also said that they took and active role and interest in developing and improving the bow guide, which was initially shaped out of a truck fender. I got the feeling that they got along well. After that I know that Claude and Gertrude worked hard building the first bow guides in their garage (I think it was in Tyler, Texas) while Claude worked elsewhere during the day.

From there the company found it's roots in Shreveport with Claude and his brothers and some primary engineers. They began to develop and sell their own models from the ground up. In the early 60's Claude sold the business to Charles Beaird and the factory remained in Shreveport for quite sometime until Electrolux bought it years later.

After selling the company Claude began to develop and manufacture one of the first self-propelled lawn mowers. I believe that the company was called "Pro". They had a beautiful home on Cross Lake in Shreveport where they raised horses and cattle. The last time I visited the property the old boathouse was still there. My Grandad loved to fish and we also spent many weekends on their camp on Toledo Bend on the Texas, Louisiana border. That love for fishing has carried on through me to my son.

In the mid-1970's My grandpartents followed us to San Diego, CA. (A world away from Shreveport), and that's where they stayed. My grandmother died in the mid-1980's and Grandad died in 1995. He donated his body to medical research.

I wish I had more to offer that you guys were interested in but I really don't know much about chainsaws. I do have one kind of funny story though. When I was around 14 or 15 my Grandad taught me to use a chainsaw and turned me loose in their yard. I was told to cut down certain trees in the yard but I was having fun and went a little overboard. When they came out to see my work they were a bit miffed that I had cut down some of their favorite trees. (I guess I can relate through that to the enjoyment you all get handling the saws more than I realized). Anyhow, they were cool about it, it's the kind of people that they were and will always be to me.

I do know that my Uncle Harry's son Key Poulan, has some good knowledge of the early history of the company and an excellent Poulan collection. You may want to contact him for further information. Here's a copy from a forum he contributed to and his email address (below)

Best,

Ty

Thank you Michael for letting me know about this forum. I collect old Poulan saws 1946-1960 from when my grandfather (Harry) and his brother (Claude) owned the company. The company was actually divided into 2 parts: Poulan Saw Company (Harry Poulan - President, Claude Poulan - VP) and the Poulan Manufacturing Company (Claude Poulan - President, Harry Poulan VP). It was my great-uncle Claude that invented the bow saw which was created by using the fender off an old truck so the back side of the chain wouldn't bind. Since I was born in 1962, I never was around to see anything affiliated with the family owned company. My father worked in the shop in Shreveport when he was a teenager and actually hand stamped the serial numbers on all of the name plates.

Here is a list of what is in my current collection. I have many other things (newer items) that are not listed but I usually stick with the old stuff unless it's unique or interesting.

24 - (2 Man Saw) Chain Saw Poulan Saw Company
42 (Model 0142) Chain Saw Poulan Saw Company
44 - (2 Man Saw) Chain Saw Poulan Saw Company
44 - (2 Man Saw) Chain Saw Poulan Saw Company
A900 Boat Motor Poulan Saw Company <--- ULTRA RARE... ONE PROTOTYPE KNOWN.
F 200W Chain Saw Poulan Saw Company
F100 Chain Saw Poulan Saw Company
F100 Chain Saw Poulan Saw Company
F200W Chain Saw Poulan Saw Company
FD100 Chain Saw Poulan Saw Company
FD100 Chain Saw Poulan Saw Company
FD100 Chain Saw Poulan Saw Company
H100 Chain Saw Poulan Saw Company
H200 Chain Saw Poulan Saw Company
K100 Chain Saw Poulan Saw Company
K100 Chain Saw Poulan Saw Company
K100 Chain Saw Poulan Saw Company
K100 (Bow) Chain Saw Poulan Saw Company
K100 (Bow) Chain Saw Poulan Saw Company
K100 (Fully Restored) Chain Saw Poulan Saw Company
K100 (Parts) Chain Saw Poulan Saw Company
K100 (Parts) Chain Saw Poulan Saw Company
KD100 Chain Saw Poulan Saw Company
31 Chain Saw Beaird-Poulan Incorporated
41 Chain Saw Beaird-Poulan Incorporated
43 Chain Saw Beaird-Poulan Incorporated
61 Chain Saw Beaird-Poulan Incorporated
61 Chain Saw Beaird-Poulan Incorporated

If you have anything that you think would look good in my collection, please let me know!

Key Poulan
keypoulan@earthlink.net
Fresno, CA

Share on Facebook Share on Twitter


Offline Remington

  • 5 cube
  • ***
  • Posts: 110
  • Karma: 2

  • Total Badges: 13
    Badges: (View All)
    Second year Anniversary One year Anniversary Level 3 100 Posts Karma 50 Posts
Re: Poulan history article
« Reply #1 on: April 14, 2013, 12:57:25 pm »
Very interesting. Where is the time machine when you need one.

Offline Al Smith

  • Moderator
  • Nitro Hotsaw
  • *******
  • Posts: 2779
  • Karma: 181

  • Total Badges: 34
    Badges: (View All)
    Tenth year Anniversary Nineth year Anniversary Eighth year Anniversary Level 6 Seventh year Anniversary Sixth year Anniversary
Re: Poulan history article
« Reply #2 on: April 14, 2013, 08:09:02 pm »
There was guy who used to post I believe on AS at one time who was the grandson of the founder of Poulan .He was also a wealth of info .

Offline Cut4fun

  • Administrator
  • Nitro Hotsaw
  • *******
  • Posts: 4666
  • Karma: 216
  • OHIO REDNECK

  • Total Badges: 44
    Badges: (View All)
    Tenth year Anniversary Nineth year Anniversary Eighth year Anniversary Level 7 Seventh year Anniversary Apple User
Re: Poulan history article
« Reply #3 on: April 14, 2013, 09:10:12 pm »
I've done some trading with a poulan collector from TX.  I think I remember him saying he was involved with poulan down there.
 He is also a wealth of knowledge like none I have ever seen on poulan saws. Might be the same guy.

Offline 3000 FPS

  • Moderator
  • Nitro Hotsaw
  • *******
  • Posts: 4706
  • Karma: 320
  • Location: Carpenter, Wyoming

  • Total Badges: 43
    Badges: (View All)
    Tenth year Anniversary Nineth year Anniversary Level 7 Eighth year Anniversary Seventh year Anniversary Sixth year Anniversary
Re: Poulan history article
« Reply #4 on: April 14, 2013, 09:48:31 pm »
I am glad you posted that here.    I have seen it before, but now I will always know where to find it.
PP 505, 475, 445.

Offline HawaiiAl

  • 3 cube
  • *
  • Posts: 10
  • Karma: 1
  • Location: Kailua Kona,HI

  • Total Badges: 9
    Badges: (View All)
    One year Anniversary 10 Posts Karma Level 2 Topic Starter First Post
Re: Poulan history article
« Reply #5 on: April 16, 2013, 12:27:58 am »
that is a great article thanks for posting it. I know few sthil and husky people that should read it.

Offline Cut4fun .

  • Administrator
  • Nitro Hotsaw
  • *******
  • Posts: 23708
  • Karma: 664
  • OHIO REDNECK Saw Repair Getter Done
    • Redneck Chainsaw Repair

  • Total Badges: 53
    Badges: (View All)
    Tenth year Anniversary Nineth year Anniversary Level 8 Apple User Eighth year Anniversary 20000 Posts
Re: Poulan history article
« Reply #6 on: August 28, 2013, 08:01:24 pm »
Found some more stuff on poulan

Key Poulan
People often misunderstood the roles of the men involved.. some people in my family as well! Essentially, Claude and Harry had HUGE roles in the company. My grandfather (Harry) is on the left. He was the first president of the Poulan Saw company and the first Vice President of the Poulan Manufacturing Company. My uncle Claude (2nd from the right) invented the bow saw and was the first President of the Poulan Manufacturing Company and the first Vice President of the Poulan Saw Company. Poulan Saw Company = Sales, Poulan Manufacturing company = Design/Manufacturing. I'm pretty sure I know the roels of Ernest Garrett and my uncle Fletcher but I need to check with my father to make sure.


From my father: Uncle Fletcher would be called the shop superintendent today. He was also the inventory control specialist. He would look at a parts bin and when the items were getting low, he would cause a production run. Mr. Garrett was the chief designer. Originally, he would make the manufacturing drawings and parts lists. As a group they would decide where to buy stock parts to be incorporated into the design. Later Mr Howard Hill took over some of the every day duties.


Offline 3000 FPS

  • Moderator
  • Nitro Hotsaw
  • *******
  • Posts: 4706
  • Karma: 320
  • Location: Carpenter, Wyoming

  • Total Badges: 43
    Badges: (View All)
    Tenth year Anniversary Nineth year Anniversary Level 7 Eighth year Anniversary Seventh year Anniversary Sixth year Anniversary
Re: Poulan history article
« Reply #7 on: August 28, 2013, 11:08:31 pm »
More interesting info and I like the pic.   
PP 505, 475, 445.

Offline Cut4fun .

  • Administrator
  • Nitro Hotsaw
  • *******
  • Posts: 23708
  • Karma: 664
  • OHIO REDNECK Saw Repair Getter Done
    • Redneck Chainsaw Repair

  • Total Badges: 53
    Badges: (View All)
    Tenth year Anniversary Nineth year Anniversary Level 8 Apple User Eighth year Anniversary 20000 Posts
Re: Poulan history article
« Reply #8 on: March 25, 2014, 03:11:17 pm »
More interesting stuff.  From Wikipedia

Poulan is a brand name of the Swedish manufacturer Husqvarna AB, once a component of the Swedish conglomerate Electrolux. In 2006 Electrolux spun off Husqvarna AB into its own company, with Poulan nested beneath.

Poulan was originally an independent American company based in Shreveport, Louisiana, founded as Poulan Saw Co. in 1912 by chainsaw pioneer Claude Poulan. Purchased in late fifties or early sixties by the Beaird Company, also of Shreveport, it was known as Beaird-Poulan. The company was acquired by Emerson Electric in 1972, and was purchased by Electrolux several years later. A poulan chainsaw model 245a was featured in the 1974 movie The Texas Chain Saw Massacre.

The Poulan brand name is used primarily for outdoor power equipment, such as chainsaws, lawn mowers, and leaf blowers, aimed at the mid-level consumer marker. Since Poulan is owned by Husqvarna, the two brands often share technologies. In recent years Poulan has offered a more upscale "Poulan Pro" brand employing a black and gold color scheme instead of Poulan's traditional green. As a result, Poulan products have been pushed even further downmarket.

Along with Poulan and Husqvarna brand products, Husqvarna also provides lawn mowers, lawn tractors, and other yard equipment to Sears that are sold under Sears' Craftsman house brand name. Most mid-level Craftsman products are slightly altered Poulan products.

Offline Cut4fun .

  • Administrator
  • Nitro Hotsaw
  • *******
  • Posts: 23708
  • Karma: 664
  • OHIO REDNECK Saw Repair Getter Done
    • Redneck Chainsaw Repair

  • Total Badges: 53
    Badges: (View All)
    Tenth year Anniversary Nineth year Anniversary Level 8 Apple User Eighth year Anniversary 20000 Posts
Re: Poulan history article
« Reply #9 on: October 02, 2014, 06:59:42 pm »
sawmandave any other history to share?

 

Related Topics

  Subject / Started by Replies Last post
4 Replies
1297 Views
Last post November 23, 2012, 12:28:15 am
by Andyshine77
23 Replies
3455 Views
Last post November 02, 2015, 04:36:50 pm
by Cut4fun .
7 Replies
959 Views
Last post September 10, 2023, 10:51:03 am
by Cut4fun .
8 Replies
35134 Views
Last post April 29, 2016, 08:01:58 pm
by chy_farm
1 Replies
565 Views
Last post October 04, 2014, 11:26:26 am
by 1manband
3 Replies
2288 Views
Last post February 27, 2015, 05:36:20 pm
by Cut4fun
22 Replies
1465 Views
Last post November 24, 2017, 11:25:16 am
by Philbert
0 Replies
272 Views
Last post January 05, 2019, 06:59:31 pm
by trappermike
2 Replies
410 Views
Last post June 12, 2020, 10:13:07 am
by Cut4fun .
1 Replies
167 Views
Last post August 13, 2023, 08:17:35 am
by Cut4fun