so what happeded to muckaluck?

[vsteel]

I thought the company went out of buisness, but I keep seeing saws for sale from them. Did someone buy the rights to them or am I just seeing saws that someone bought from some old warehouse that they are still trying to get rid of?

 

[eyolf]

McC went after the short-term profits, "looks good to the investors" thing a while ago by catering to the consumer market at the expense of the high end.

I think of it as a bad decision, but then I am more interested in chain saws than finance...

Anyway, this move eventually tweaked off lots of the dealers, because they had nothing to compete with the European saws. Many of them moved over to other lines and the high-end stuff wasn't being sold; the consumer market is fickle...dosen't matter if your last saw was a McC...now the big box has another brand on sale for cheap.

Move ahead, and McC dies a slow, agonizing death, eventually being auctioned off. An Asian firm, I think the name was Jenn Feng, now has the rights to the name for the Americas and parts of western Europe. Originally, they were going to use the trademark black and yellow for a line of electrical products and probably not market much gas equipment, but apparantly that decision has been superceded, as I see a lot of cheap trimmers on sale lately too.

My favorite dealer says that McC has been casting bait for some dealers to service the products sold in the mass marketer outlets, even promise parts availability. That marks a change from as little as one year ago, when there was not even much attempt at service...if warranty, take it back to the store, if not, too bad.

I'm not holding my breath looking for a resurgence, however.

 

[vsteel]

Thanks, I was wondering why after disapearing they seemed to be popping back up again.

I know they are not thought of highly, but a pro mac 610 was my first chainsaw I ever used. Its a heavy, smoking, hard starting, slobering beast, but it has memories of my father and I cutting wood with it. (that and it was quicker to use than the cross cut buzz saw).

 

[NeTree]

The really sick part is...

Way back when, they really were'nt that bad a saw. Unlike the crap they made in the last 20 years, anyways. I've still got an old Mac Super250.. starts first or second pull, cuts like crazy. Too bad it ways more than I do (it feels like) and has nada a chain brake.

 

[eyolf]

The 610 wasn't a BAD saw, but was pretty outdated. McCulloch realized they couldn't compete, and gave it a visual overhaul...presto, the Timberdoodle was born. Would have been a pretty good consumer saw in 1970. But not 1985.

Hey, I have no problem with McCulloch, either. I have a couple, including one or two of theose maligned 610's. I think it's really sad that all the N. American saws are gone. I guess I believe that if Homelite and McC had been smarter, the home-grown market would have also been kinder to the second-tier players like Pioneer.

Poulan, I don't know about

 

[vsteel]

I still have that old 610, doeesn't seem to want to run, I can get it to kind of idle but I can't adjust the carb so it will run at full throttle. I am thinking it might have an air leak. My father bought it back in 78 I think and it has never had a rebuild. Probably just needs some TLC.

 

[Tony Snyder]

eyolf,

Have you overlooked Poulan as a North American manufacturer of saws?

I believe they make some products that are worth the money.

Don't get me wrong though, I not a big Poulan fan.

I also think E-lux makes some saws in their Frigidaire Home Products plant in Kentucky or Tennessee.

The McCulloch name for North America is in Asian ownership, and Homelite of Mexican ownership right now, right? Does anyone know for sure?

 

[eyolf]

Poulan...I mentioned them as a sort of side joke, probably not fair. My first chain saw was my Dad's old Homie #17...he got an XL-12. Somewhere in there Poulan was selling the 306A I think, but nobody in my area was seriously dealing them. My first experience with them was with a used one much later.

Nothing much to write home about.

I've spent an hour or two with a more modern 5000, not a bad saw, but not really domestic, was it? My neighbor has a little Poulan-pro, about 40cc. Maybe it's better than the Sears and green Poulan ones, maybe not. He calls me when there's anything bigger than his knee to cut.

 

[John in MA]

Homelite is owned by Techtronics, Ryobi's parent company from Taiwan. Made in Mexico, IIRC.

I had a Poulan 306A, and a currently have a S25DA and a Micro XXV. I like the little saws for limbing. Used to be the standard for climbers.