FLOSSI’S SURGICAL STRIKE

The chainsaw was originally invented for medical purposes in the late 18th century—not for cutting wood! It was designed as a surgical tool for cutting bone, particularly during childbirth.

The First Chainsaw (1780s) – Surgical Use

• Inventors: John Aitken and James Jeffray, Scottish doctors.

• Purpose: It was created to assist in symphysiotomies, a medical procedure used to widen the pelvis during childbirth when a baby was stuck.

• Design: It looked more like a modern-day bone saw—a small, hand-cranked chain with fine teeth.

The First Chainsaw for Wood (1920s)

• Inventor: Andreas Stihl, a German engineer, is credited with developing the first gasoline-powered chainsaw in 1929.

• Purpose: Stihl’s design was intended for logging and forestry work.

• Impact: This innovation revolutionized the timber industry, making tree cutting faster and more efficient.

Evolution of the Modern Chainsaw

• 1926: Andreas Stihl patents the first electric chainsaw.

• 1929: Stihl develops the first gas-powered chainsaw.

• 1930s–1950s: Early chainsaws were huge and required two people to operate.

• 1960s: Lighter, one-man chainsaws were introduced, leading to the modern chainsaw design.