I have a 1901 Sawyer's handbook by the Covell Co. It is mostly about large band saws. It goes on
abut the superiority of band over circular as if the circular saw was on the way out.

Bob Swinney
"Don Stauffer" wrote in message
...
I had been told when visiting an old lumber camp tourist attraction that
the circular saw was a mid-nineteenth century invention.

I have been trying to determine what an early Nineteenth Century steam
saw would look like. In doing a google search, I find a lot of
references to circular saws even in Seventeenth and Eighteenth century,
including ganged circular saws in Eighteenth Century.

Anyone know when the circular saw was invented, and did a reciprocating
power saw precede it? I realize the first power saws were water powered
rather than steam, so I guess power saws could go back quite aways.