Mercury Disston Chainsaw (Pretty Unique)

Your Webmaster has become quite fascinated with a particular chainsaw, one of which we have in our collection of large chainsaws in the outdoor exhibit named for Ron Bradley. First of all, let me show you this chainsaw at work:

Harry Bosse and Russel Leach using a Mercury Disston Chainsawto fell a tree for Linebaugh Logging. Circa 1955 Harry Bosse was a legendary logger and Russel Leach became the Calaveras County Sheriff

Click to enlarge

Mercury Disston Chainsaw

Henry Disston was the best name in saws, and Mercury, made by Kiekaefer of Fond du Lac, WI was a great name in outboard motors. Put the two companies together and the product should be a really great chainsaw.

Loggers had a wide range of feelings about this saw. Many felt that it was the best chainsaw ever made. It certainly cut well and fast, and was very trouble free compared to other saws of that time. Its two cylinders smoothed out the motor at all rpms. A Montana store receipt and note from the buyer detail the sale of a saw in 1955 that listed for $700, had been marked down to $399, and sold for $300 with a 30 inch bar and chain.

Kiekhaefer  and Disston had a falling out and Disston tried to build their own motor for this saw, but it never was a success.

Here’s an interesting spec sheet on the saw. Probably only of interest to the mechanically inclined. Great saw, but maybe not as great as the person who put together the spec sheet states at the end. Ah, maybe it was. Model: DA-211

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MANUFACTURED BY:		DISSTON HENRY & SONS INC.
		PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA, U.S.A.
YEAR INTRODUCED:		1951
YEAR DISCONTINUED:		1953
ENGINE DISPLACEMENT:		10.99 cu. in. (180cc)
NUMBER OF CYLINDERS:		2 (horizontal)
CYLINDER BORE:		2.00 in. (50.8mm)
PISTON STROKE:		1.750 in. (44.4mm)
CYLINDER TYPE:		Aluminum with cast iron liner
INTAKE METHOD:		Reed valves
MANUFACTURER ADVERTISED H.P.:		9
WEIGHT :		55 lbs. (24.9 kg.) powerhead only
OPERATOR CONFIGURATION:		One or Two Man operation
HANDLEBAR SYSTEM:		Rigid
CHAIN BRAKE:		none
CLUTCH:		Centrifugal
DRIVE TYPE:		Bevel gear transmission
CONSTRUCTION:		Die cast magnesium
MAGNETO TYPE:		Bendix Scintilla
CARBURETOR:		Tillotson AJ float type
AIR FILTER SYSTEM:		Skinner ribbon element
STARTER TYPE:		Mercury automatic rewind
OIL PUMP:		Automatic positive pressure piston pump
IGNITION TIMING:		26 degrees before TDC, (.111 in.)
BREAKER POINT SETTING:		.015 in. (0.38mm)
FLYWHEEL/COIL AIR GAP:		position is fixed
SPARK PLUG TYPE:		Champion J-6-J
SPARK PLUG GAP:		.025 in. (0.63mm)
CRANKSHAFT MAIN BEARINGS:		Ball
FUEL TANK CAPACITY:		96 oz. (2839cc)
FUEL OIL RATIO:		8 oz. to 1 gallon U.S.
RECOMMENDED FUEL OCTANE:		72
MIX OIL SPECIFICATION:		SAE 30 of Pennsylvania crude base stock
CHAIN PITCH:		9/16 in. .5625 in. (14.2mm)
CHAIN TYPE:		Disston Scratcher, Chisel or Chipper
SHORTEST GUIDE BAR SUPPLIED:		24 in. (60.9cm)
LONGEST GUIDE BAR SUPPLIED:		84 in. (213cm)
COLOUR SCHEME:		Unpainted aluminum body with orange enamel spark plug cover, air filter cover and bar clamp.
COMMENTS:		Undoubtedly the finest Chain Saw engine ever manufactured. These saws would work day after day with little or no trouble. Quiet, powerful and virtually no vibration due to the twin cylinder design.

 

We were sent this ad by a chainsaw enthusiast

Here’s more of the ad: