spike60
Addicted to ArboristSite
Well fellows, I've been wanting to tell this story for a while, so here goes. I've held back, because it's almost unbelieveable, but this is the real deal.
People often ask me why I'm into saws as much as I am, and the answer is this: The plain truth is that my Grandfather invented the chainsaw. Go ahead and laugh, but it's true. Allow me to explain....
Back in World War I, my Grandfather, (the original Spike), was a dispatch rider for the 41st mechanized infantry. At the beginning of the war, these dudes were on horseback, but they quickly switched to motorcycles. I actually have 2 pictures of him and his bike. I'm not really a 2 wheel guy, so I don't know what kind of bike it was, but it's certainly "vintage" machinery.
Keep in mind that this was before radio, and the phone lines were always getting cut and were very unreliable. So, these dispatch riders played a very important communications role during the war.
One night Gramps was traveling down a road and he came upon a German truck that had hit a mine. 3 of the Germans were dead, but there was one survivor who had been thrown from the truck, who was moaning nearby. He stopped and pulled the German from the ditch. He was pretty banged up, but nothing appeared to be serious. My Grandfather, who was fond of the finer products of European distilleries, offered the German a drink of French cognac. They talked for a while, and had a few more samples from the bottle, and they actually struck up some sort of friendship by the side of the road. So, they sat there and polished off that bottle of cognac. As the sky began to show the light of dawn, the reality of the war returned. My grandfather certainly didn't want to go to the German lines, (hey, it was HIS motorcycle), and he was reluctant to consider his new found friend a prisoner of war. But what could they do? After talking it over, they decided that the safest course of action was to head for the French lines, which were of course of no threat to anyone. Not to mention that the French would most likely have another bottle of booze to share.
So, my Grandfather helped the German up on his motorcycle, and they pointed it towards the French lines. But as soon as they got started, the bike got stuck on a fallen tree. Since they were both drunk, my Grandfather said &^%%&^ it, and revved up that old motorcycle. Don't you know that the chain drive on that old motorcycle SAWED right through that tree!! The German said, "By golly Spike, I think you've got something there. That chain sawed right through the log ve vere stuck on." And off they went to the sleeping French lines.
The German soldier was none other than Emil Lerp, who went on to found Dolmar. Emil and Gramps remained friends, and kept in touch after the war. In fact, I met Emil's Grandaughter back in the 70's when at my Grandfathers funeral. She was absolulely gorgeous. We stayed up all night and ..........well, that doesn't have anything to do with saws.
So, as you can see, I am the grandson of the man who actually invented the chain saw. I've never wanted to act like a big shot or anything, cause I just want to fit in with the rest of you folks. But that is the absolute truth.
APRIL FOOOOOOOOOOOL!!!!!!!!!!!!
People often ask me why I'm into saws as much as I am, and the answer is this: The plain truth is that my Grandfather invented the chainsaw. Go ahead and laugh, but it's true. Allow me to explain....
Back in World War I, my Grandfather, (the original Spike), was a dispatch rider for the 41st mechanized infantry. At the beginning of the war, these dudes were on horseback, but they quickly switched to motorcycles. I actually have 2 pictures of him and his bike. I'm not really a 2 wheel guy, so I don't know what kind of bike it was, but it's certainly "vintage" machinery.
Keep in mind that this was before radio, and the phone lines were always getting cut and were very unreliable. So, these dispatch riders played a very important communications role during the war.
One night Gramps was traveling down a road and he came upon a German truck that had hit a mine. 3 of the Germans were dead, but there was one survivor who had been thrown from the truck, who was moaning nearby. He stopped and pulled the German from the ditch. He was pretty banged up, but nothing appeared to be serious. My Grandfather, who was fond of the finer products of European distilleries, offered the German a drink of French cognac. They talked for a while, and had a few more samples from the bottle, and they actually struck up some sort of friendship by the side of the road. So, they sat there and polished off that bottle of cognac. As the sky began to show the light of dawn, the reality of the war returned. My grandfather certainly didn't want to go to the German lines, (hey, it was HIS motorcycle), and he was reluctant to consider his new found friend a prisoner of war. But what could they do? After talking it over, they decided that the safest course of action was to head for the French lines, which were of course of no threat to anyone. Not to mention that the French would most likely have another bottle of booze to share.
So, my Grandfather helped the German up on his motorcycle, and they pointed it towards the French lines. But as soon as they got started, the bike got stuck on a fallen tree. Since they were both drunk, my Grandfather said &^%%&^ it, and revved up that old motorcycle. Don't you know that the chain drive on that old motorcycle SAWED right through that tree!! The German said, "By golly Spike, I think you've got something there. That chain sawed right through the log ve vere stuck on." And off they went to the sleeping French lines.
The German soldier was none other than Emil Lerp, who went on to found Dolmar. Emil and Gramps remained friends, and kept in touch after the war. In fact, I met Emil's Grandaughter back in the 70's when at my Grandfathers funeral. She was absolulely gorgeous. We stayed up all night and ..........well, that doesn't have anything to do with saws.
So, as you can see, I am the grandson of the man who actually invented the chain saw. I've never wanted to act like a big shot or anything, cause I just want to fit in with the rest of you folks. But that is the absolute truth.
APRIL FOOOOOOOOOOOL!!!!!!!!!!!!
