There's an ad for these on the back of one of my magazines, the June 1948 issue of Popular Home Craft, 35 cents, 40 cants in Canada. That would have put me right at 7 1/2, and I would have killed for one of them.
The saw is listed at $5.85, complete (with 3 saw blades), POSTPAID. Blades were 50 cents a dozen. You could even send $2.00 part payment, and the postman the balance, plus postage, on C.O.D. delivery. Plus money back after 10 days if not delighted.
They say boys from 8 to 80 (girls too) have fun with them. Now how many parents today would trust an 8 yo with one f those. And, if they did, the second the kid got nicked by the blade, they'd probably be crying lawsuit. Gods above, I would have absolutely loved to have one. But back in those days, with many families, mine included, $5.85 was some big bucks, not to be spent on things like that. Besides, I never even heard of one until many years later. If by some wild whim of fate had allowed me to own one, I'd have gotten a safety talk that would have gone something like this, "Be careful with that thing, and don't expect another if you break it". And, if by some chance I did suffer a wound with it, I'd hear something like, "Well, serves you right for playing around". But you can bet I'd ever cut myself with it again Too bad more parents don't have attitudes like that today.
I could actually use one of these things at times, and they frequently show up on eBay for less then $10, postage extra. But unless I find one at a yard sale or flea market, I'll probably live life without one.
I do like the part of the ad that says, "Safe as a hand saw"; I've nicked myself plenty of times with hand saws.
JOAT What is life without challenge and a constant stream of new humiliations?
- Peter Egan