The german connection...

[manual]

I was invited recently by the OKIG, german chainsaw collectors community, to attend one of their collector meetings. Having never done so before, I decided to give it a try, loaded 3 of my saws in the trunk, and headed for a 3 hour drive to attend the two days event in Salzkotten, a tiny village in the middle of Germany.

We were lucky with the weather, and had a great time. Met a bunch of cool people from Holland, Germany (and one little belgian, hehe) with all one common passion : chainsaws ...

Just wanted to share some pics with you of the meeting, and some nice equipment I have seen for the first time in real. Just one warning : Germany is home country of Dolmar and Stihl, and it shows.... sorry to the husky and jonsered fans

the line up !

a very nice bunch of two men saws... gotta love that sound !

the organiser was a real diehard Stihl man : here's a glimpse of part (yes part) of his private collection, drool, drool...

some rare stihls ...

Boy did your thread get Derailed,
Are you planning on attending more of their collectors meetings.
they seem to take great pride in there saws.

 

[belgian]

Boy did your thread get Derailed,
Are you planning on attending more of their collectors meetings.
they seem to take great pride in there saws.

Hmmm, these folks only need a post of da shepherd and the whole heard gets on the loose....:hmm3grin2orange: :hmm3grin2orange:

This was the the third meeting in Germany, and the 4 th is already planned with another member. Date has still to be fixed. Magnus (Mange)from Sweden is organising a collector meeting too in september in Sweden. I am tempted to go, but distance is like from Atlanta to the big Apple, so we'll see.

Most collectors I met were very knowledge-able people and have a very nice collection. With only 40 saws and several brands, I must be a newbie :blush:
The event was very well organised, with food, drinks, women cooking pancakes and of course german BEER. What does a sawyer need more ? ...opcorn:

 

[belgian]

That reminds me Belgian. After ole Daddy Stihl handed the reins of the company to his son his main interest went back to fooling with tractors. His son finally told him one day in 1963 every tractor sold was a losing venture and that they had to go. Ole Daddy Stihl replied if you take away my toy I may as well retire. Seems the old man was like us, he had to have his toys too. He didn't retire though, he remain at the helm though he continued to let his boy call the shots...

This reminds me of a story the Stihl guy told me at the meeting, and shows that not every move of Stihl was a success story....

When young Stihl took over the business in the early 60ies, one of the first chainsaws introduced under his reign, being the 041, was a commercial mishap. The design was obviously not mature at launch, and Stihl had to redesign the whole saw numerous times. Being in customer service at the time, the guy told that for every saw sold, 3 came in for repair under warranty, and caused him many sleepless nights. Must have been a rude awakening for young mr Stihl :stupid:

That note aside, the man was very proud of his company for which he worked more than 40 years. I remember he said :

quote

"Stihl stands for traditional business values with focus on the long term (not having to show numbers each every quarter to their shareholders, although they do), which brought them to market leader for decades in a row. Stihl got the best of all competitors by taking good care of their employees, produce excellent products and by sticking loyally to their dealer network throughout history"

unquote.

I know this must sound like Elvis' music to Thall's ears. What can I say....:rockn:

 

[THALL10326]

This reminds me of a story the Stihl guy told me at the meeting, and shows that not every move of Stihl was a success story....

When young Stihl took over the business in the early 60ies, one of the first chainsaws introduced under his reign, being the 041, was a commercial mishap. The design was obviously not mature at launch, and Stihl had to redesign the whole saw numerous times. Being in customer service at the time, the guy told that for every saw sold, 3 came in for repair under warranty, and caused him many sleepless nights. Must have been a rude awakening for young mr Stihl :stupid:

That note aside, the man was very proud of his company for which he worked more than 40 years. I remember he said :

quote

"Stihl stands for traditional business values with focus on the long term (not having to show numbers each every quarter to their shareholders, although they do), which brought them to market leader for decades in a row. Stihl got the best of all competitors by taking good care of their employees, produce excellent products and by sticking loyally to their dealer network throughout history"

unquote.

I know this must sound like Elvis' music to Thall's ears. What can I say....:rockn:

Awwwwwwwwww such a sweet sound indeed. Most notably is the fact Stihl took care of the problem without any hassel of its someone else's fault. They admit it and fix it, what more can ya ask for.

There's more to the story your referring to and when I get home I'll quote the book on that story in more detail. You'll be quite surprised of what ole Daddy Stihl said about that saw your talking about, he didn't pull any punches I can tell ya that.

 

[belgian]

While at the collectors meeting, I ran into this nice dolmar saw. I figured this should be a handy, fast limbing saw, ideally suited for Thall's weekend warrior activities
He won't get cut for sure, and his insurance problem gets solved, only might get a bad back...LOLOL/

 

[RiverRat2]

Manual have you lost your mind!!!!!

I do remember that Thall is also called THE SHEPHEARD,
Makes me wonder what else his flock calls him under

submission.

Naw, never mind. Not my cup of tea.

You wanting to go a few rounds with the champ???????

I'm sure he's got the hook-up on that!!!!!!! looks like Manual has lost his marbles!!!!!!

Both of em!!!!!!!

 

[THALL10326]

Belgian

Here's a clip on that saw your freind was talking about. According to the new book out about Stihl that saw was the 042, a anniversary model marking the companies first 50 years. It came out in 1976 after Andreas Stihl had died and the son was head of the company. This saw had a unique chain breaking system that when operated it released the clutch to stop the chain. In doing so though the engine would rev up for a few seconds when the clutch disengaged. The flywheel on this model could not stand the sudden rise in rpms from load to freeload speeds. It would at times burst. The flywheels were later beefed up and the problem was solved. Not to be deterred Hans Stihl came up with a new brake system in a very short time to resolve the whole issue completely.

The saw in which old man Stihl threw a tissy over was the first Contra's. Seems the very first ones had some crank issues and some crankcase issues as well. He personally came to the states to face his critics over these problems. At a dealer/distributor meeting he rose to the mike and said these exact words speaking of his own people at his factory in Germany

" I am surrounded by nobodies. I'll throw them all out and hire people from the street. At least they will do what I tell them. If things continue like this, it is probably best for me to sell the whole business to McCulloch"

Seems thats how old man Stihl made his workers performed. He use the threat of always selling the whole nine yards.

It goes on to say "the Contra problems were quickly solved" LOL, now who does that old man sound like Belgian,LOL.

The Contra however did something to Stihl personally according to this book. He took it personal and made some big changes so it would never happen again. It says the teething problems of the Contra made the Stihl team very sensitive. I'm sure the old mans threat did too,haha. It goes onto say when a successor models caused major problems in trial, which could not be remedied even with the combined efforts of design and production, it was scrapped. I reckon they knew a few more screw ups and the old man might carry out his threat.

Since your into collecting and history Belgian you should get this new book. Stihl the man was quite a charactor. Stihl the company he built is one amazing story. His only goal was to be No.1 and the best it seems. Many will argu over who makes the best saw but no one will agru who is No.1..

 

[THALL10326]

LOL...I expect no less! ('Cept for Mow...he gots to call me Mr. Newbie...)



Unbelievable...that really does have to be some kind of record. I grew up on the east coast of Florida, and I used to see rust on the TIRES of those things!!



What IS it with you Texas boys hidin' behind The Champ??

I just gave you that gold lite fool, now go wax my 1972 Vega,LOLOLOL

 

[THALL10326]

Oh yea, Move over I'm driving . This time hang onto the saw gas.

You can drive but remember dayumm it, I'm a old man. No go over 45 in this car. Sides I promised the guy who owns if you scratch it you will buy it.
Good grief I said not over 45, not 245 ya dayuumm nut, let me outttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttttt...

 

[Tzed250]

Here's a clip on that saw your freind was talking about. According to the new book out about Stihl that saw was the 042, a anniversary model marking the companies first 50 years. It came out in 1976 after Andreas Stihl had died and the son was head of the company. This saw had a unique chain breaking system that when operated it released the clutch to stop the chain. In doing so though the engine would rev up for a few seconds when the clutch disengaged. The flywheel on this model could not stand the sudden rise in rpms from load to freeload speeds. It would at times burst. The flywheels were later beefed up and the problem was solved. Not to be deterred Hans Stihl came up with a new brake system in a very short time to resolve the whole issue completely.

The saw in which old man Stihl threw a tissy over was the first Contra's. Seems the very first ones had some crank issues and some crankcase issues as well. He personally came to the states to face his critics over these problems. At a dealer/distributor meeting he rose to the mike and said these exact words speaking of his own people at his factory in Germany

" I am surrounded by nobodies. I'll throw them all out and hire people from the street. At least they will do what I tell them. If things continue like this, it is probably best for me to sell the whole business to McCulloch"

Seems thats how old man Stihl made his workers performed. He use the threat of always selling the whole nine yards.

It goes on to say "the Contra problems were quickly solved" LOL, now who does that old man sound like Belgian,LOL.

The Contra however did something to Stihl personally according to this book. He took it personal and made some big changes so it would never happen again. It says the teething problems of the Contra made the Stihl team very sensitive. I'm sure the old mans threat did too,haha. It goes onto say when a successor models caused major problems in trial, which could not be remedied even with the combined efforts of design and production, it was scrapped. I reckon they knew a few more screw ups and the old man might carry out his threat.

Since your into collecting and history Belgian you should get this new book. Stihl the man was quite a charactor. Stihl the company he built is one amazing story. His only goal was to be No.1 and the best it seems. Many will argu over who makes the best saw but no one will agru who is No.1..

How do I get a copy of this book?

 

[THALL10326]

How do I get a copy of this book?

It just came out. I got mine from a good friend at the factory. I don't know if its in book stores or not, I'll check into it for ya..

 

[Tzed250]

Thanks and rep your way...

 

[belgian]

According to the new book out about Stihl that saw was the 042, a anniversary model marking the companies first 50 years.

Awwww, thanks for correcting me, Thall. The 042 it is !. Please let me have the name of that book you mentioned. I am very interested.
thanks

 

[manual]

It just came out. I got mine from a good friend at the factory. I don't know if its in book stores or not, I'll check into it for ya..

Good chance you can find that book under, Fiction.

 

[Lakeside53]

Good chance you can find that book under, Fiction.

Be careful Manual.. to Thall that's like saying to some the Bible is fiction... Wars have started with less, and... there was the period of buring at the stake.. :jester: :jester:

 

[Woodie]

Good chance you can find that book under, Fiction.

And if it's not there, it's probably over in Bargains already...

 

[THALL10326]

Good chance you can find that book under, Fiction.

Hahaha, your just mad because over in the solid orange camp there's nothing worth putting a book out about,LOL

Who was Mr Husky-varney anyway, was he kin to Barney Reble , seems he copied alot of cartoon logos from somewhere, opcorn: opcorn:LOL

 

[Woodie]

Hahaha, your just mad because over in the solid orange camp there's nothing worth putting a book out about,LOL

Who was Mr Husky-varney anyway, was he kin to Barney Reble , seems he copied alot of cartoon logos from somewhere, opcorn: opcorn:LOL

If you're looking for a book on Husqvarna, you could always check History - 1600s to Present...

 

[THALL10326]

If you're looking for a book on Husqvarna, you could always check History - 1600s to Present...

I'm not gonna search the world over for something about cartoon logo's, hell I'll just watch the Flintstones,

:hmm3grin2orange: :hmm3grin2orange: :hmm3grin2orange:

 

[belgian]

Hahaha, your just mad because over in the solid orange camp there's nothing worth putting a book out about,LOL

Who was Mr Husky-varney anyway, was he kin to Barney Reble , seems he copied alot of cartoon logos from somewhere, opcorn: opcorn:LOL

Haha, Thall baby, there was no Mr Husky I know of, but a city called HUSKVARNA, the place where the factory is.

check out the Husky museum at http://www.husqvarna-museum.nu/

lots of good old stuff !!