Historical information

This automotive circular saw was designed to allow trees to be sawn into planks at the site they were felled, rather than requiring them to be carted to a lumber mill first. It was invented by Robert John (Bob) Pyle in 1936 and patented in 1937 (serial number 101975). This picture depicts Clarrie Howell (left) and Bob Pyle (right), standing with the sawbench between them.

What was special about Bob’s new invention was that it not only allowed a circular saw to be portable and set up at a logging site, but that it allowed the circular saw to be run using the car motor, and that the saw could be detached, allowing the car to be used for carting or other purposes.

Significance

This photograph is significant because it shows an early instance of an emerging technology, portable sawmills, and is evidence to the innovations that the people of Beechworth have achieved throughout history, as well

Physical description

Black and White rectangular photograph printed on matte photographic paper. Incription on cream paper stapled to bottom left of photograph

Inscriptions & markings

Obverse:
On left Clarrie Howell /
Right Bob Pyle /
with sawbench built by Bob Pyle /
Patent 1936 /

Rosalie Pyle has the original /
[redacted]