The Ohlsson & Rice Chug-A-Saw is one of the most unusual chainsaws — a bantam-sized, 1960s-era pruning saw powered by the same tiny two-stroke engines that made O&R famous in the model-engineering world. Sold in the early–mid 1960s through U.S. mail-order advertising, the Chug-A-Saw is now a niche collector’s item that stands out for both its quirky engineering and its rarity.
Ohlsson & Rice built their reputation in the hobby-engine world long before they powered tools. Their compact 20-22cc engines ended up in generators, drills, hedge trimmers, and a handful of small chainsaws. The Chug-A-Saw used a variant of these little engines—essentially a scaled-up model airplane motor—adapted for continuous tool use.
This is another chainsaw from Tim Hunt’s collection.
The Chug-A-Saw appears in Popular Mechanics, June 1963, described as weighing only 10 lbs, with dimensions of 8 × 10 × 24 inches, and powered by a ¾-hp O&R engine. Despite its size, the ad boldly claims the saw can fell trees up to 18 inches in diameter. Whether or not that claim was optimistic marketing, the saw was definitely designed for pruning and light limbing rather than serious timber cutting.
BANTAM-SIZED CHUG A SAW weighs only 10 lbs. measures 8 x 10 x 24-in.
Its 9-in. cutting bar fells trees up to 18 in. in diameter and its ¾-hp. engine is said to burn only a pint of fuel per hour.
Costs $109.50. Chug A Saw, Box 3521, El Monte, Calif.
Unlike its larger cousins, the Chug-A-Saw is almost comically small.
The ad specifies a 9-inch cutting bar, though some surviving examples wear 10–12″ bars depending on what owners fitted later.
Its defining features include:
- A compact magnesium-alloy style engine housing commonly used in O&R tools
- Side-mounted fuel tank and matching oil tank, giving it a “dual canister” look
- Manual chain oiler (thumb-pump style)
- A simple tubular loop handle
- A tiny O&R reed-valve two-stroke engine, around 20–22cc
- Centrifugal clutch and direct-drive sprocket
Owners often remark that the saw looks like a cross between a model airplane engine and a toy chainsaw—yet it’s very much a real, functioning cutting tool.
The engine itself was rated at ¾ horsepower and touted as burning only one pint of fuel per hour, making it extremely fuel-efficient compared to normal chainsaws of the era.
Despite O&R’s engineering pedigree, the Chug-A-Saw was never a commercial blockbuster – it was produced in limited numbers and is “one of the less common” O&R-powered chainsaw models, appearing only “once in a blue moon” on the collectors’ market.
When one does surface, enthusiasts take note: “It’s definitely worth getting if you can,” as one collector put it. These saws were sold in the early-to-mid 1960s, and production likely ceased as larger companies and emerging battery technologies overtook the niche for tiny gas-powered tools.
Collectors love the Chug-A-Saw precisely because it’s so unusual. Its size and proportions are unlike anything from McCulloch, Homelite, or STIHL.
Many surviving examples have fascinating backstories: some were found in sheds, barns, or even rescued from scrap heaps, only to be revived with basic carburetor work and fresh fuel.
A recurring comment from owners is how surprisingly well they run. Even after decades of sitting, many O&R engines spring back to life once their diaphragms and fuel lines are refreshed. Parts can be tricky to find, but because O&R used similar components across many tools, determined restorers often succeed.
Values vary widely due to rarity—Chug-A-Saws are far less common than other O&R-powered tools—but when they appear, they generate strong interest. For collectors of miniature chainsaws or O&R memorabilia, the Chug-A-Saw is a top-tier piece.
The Ohlsson & Rice Chug-A-Saw is beloved not because it was powerful—but because it’s such a quirky, ambitious attempt to build the smallest practical gasoline chainsaw. It represents an experimental, innovative era in tool design when companies weren’t afraid to try strange ideas.
Today, the Chug-A-Saw stands as a tiny, noisy, wonderfully weird chapter in chainsaw history—and a must-have conversation piece for vintage saw enthusiasts.
| Specification | Details |
|---|---|
| Model Name | Ohlsson & Rice Chug-A-Saw |
| Manufacturer / Distributor | Chug-A-Saw Co., El Monte, California (engine by Ohlsson & Rice) |
| Production Era | Early–Mid 1960s |
| Engine Type | O&R single-cylinder 2-stroke |
| Displacement | ~20–22 cc (approx. 1.2–1.3 cu in) |
| Horsepower | ¾ horsepower |
| Fuel Consumption | 1 pint per hour |
| Fuel Mix | Typically 16:1 (standard for O&R compact engines of the period) |
| Starting System | Recoil starter |
| Ignition | Points-type magneto (typical O&R setup) |
| Guide Bar Length | 9 – 12 inches |
| Cutting Capacity | Trees up to 18 inches in diameter |
| Drive Type | Centrifugal clutch → direct sprocket (no reduction gearbox on this model) |
| Oiling System | Manual oiler (thumb-pump style) |
| Weight | 10 lbs |
| Dimensions | 8 × 10 × 24 inches (H × W × L) |
| Handle Style | Single front loop handle |
| Tank Design | Dual cylindrical tanks (fuel + bar oil) mounted around the engine |
| Original Price | $109.50 (1963) |
