I just received the January issue of Farm Collector and noticed the mention in the editor’s column that there would be an article about ice saws in the February issue (read the story: “The Coldest Harvest”). I have two ice saws (including blades) that were made by the Gifford-Wood Co. in 1922 and 1923. They both have LeRoi engines, thus my interest since I collect LeRoi engines (these brought my collection to 29 engines).
We live in the southwest corner of Missouri near Pineville. I bought these saws in Iowa last summer. They were used in Ottumwa, Iowa, for ice harvesting in the 1920s and ’30s. I took one of the saws to several shows this summer and the response was interesting. Most have wondered how this vertical saw could cut trees. Very few recognized it as an ice harvesting saw until I pointed out the sled runners it is built on and some photos of ice harvesting I found.
Ed Malcom (The LeRoi Man)
(417) 226-4865 (home)
(479) 903-3005 (cell)
e-mail: momalco@olemac.net