When I get back to a proper keyboard I'll tell you about an enterprising Partner dealer's selling strategy back when 550s were the new model.
Ok. Comments by Huskybill and others about the comparative solidity of these old Partners compared to more lightweight alternatives prompted me to remember this.
It's 1983. I'm working for "Husqvarna Australia". We're changing our name to "Nordtec" to reflect the fact that we now have more than one house brand, having just taken over responsibility for distribution and service of the recently acquired Partner.
The Swedish-made model range is 500 & 5000Plus with .325 chain, 550, 650 & 7000Plus with 3/8 chain.
I'm travelling around the state of Victoria, introducing myself to the all the dealers. I walk into a big mower shop and Partner dealer in a regional city and there's a Husqvarna 50 Rancher sitting in the in-store display. It's not a surprise visit, I'm expected. I've spoken with the proprietor on the phone. So when he comes over to greet me, after a brief conversation I have to ask the obvious question.
"Why have you got a Husqvarna 50 on display there with the Partners?"
"I use it to sell off." He said.
"Where'd you get it from?"
"Well, I actually tried to buy one from you guys but the Husqvarna rep said, "No"."
"That's not surprising."
"So in the end, I sent one of my guys 'round to the Husky dealer to buy it."
(Pause)
"You said you sell off it. How so?"
"Well, when someone comes in and says they're thinking about a Husky 50, I say, "There's one over there, have a look at it, pick it up, pull it over". Then I say, "I can sell you this Partner 550 which puts out more power, more torque, and comes with a stronger chain, for less than what you'll pay for that Husqvarna 50." and if they look at all interested, I say, "Go on. Pull that one over and compare it with the Husky."."
I had to laugh. The 50 Rancher was a great saw, our biggest seller. It had an inertia chainbrake and of course, it was a lightweight, modern design compared to the revised and re-revised R16 -> P55 -> S55 -> 550 that he was selling.
But I had to take my hat off to him for coming up with way to honestly highlight the one aspect in which Partner was superior. Because it was an older design, with a big heavy flywheel and a large diameter starter pulley, when you pulled it over cold, it just reeked heavy-duty quality.