HORNET DJ 3500H and DJ3600H

HORNET DJ 3500H

This is the first model produced by J.D.Smith in Guelph, Ontario, Canada. Equipped with rope start. Originally the saw would be equipped with a spring loaded cover in the back to protect the spinning flywheel.Smith was trying to improve the starting method by adding an automatic rewind. The first units to be modified had the rewind recoil unit welded to the engine shroud. It became impractical due to maintenance issue. You can see on the picture that part of the rear recoil is still attached to the shroud and serial number 8 indicates that the saw was used for testing purposes just before the removal of the rope start and introduction of the new recoil unit equipped with "catching dogs".....A rare find.



MANUFACTURED BY: HORNET INDUSTRIES LTD. GUELPH, ONTARIO, CANADA YEAR INTRODUCED: 1948 NUMBER OF CYLINDERS: 1 CYLINDER TYPE: Cast iron INTAKE METHOD: Reed valves (2) OPERATOR CONFIGURATION: One Man operation HANDLEBAR SYSTEM: Rigid CHAIN BRAKE: none CLUTCH: Manual dry plate type DRIVE TYPE: Bevel gear transmission CONSTRUCTION: Sand cast magnesium MAGNETO TYPE: Bendix Scintilla CARBURETOR: Tillotson MD-17A float type MAJOR REPAIR KIT: nla MINOR REPAIR KIT: nla AIR FILTER SYSTEM: Skinner ribbon element STARTER TYPE: Rope OIL PUMP: Manual BREAKER POINT SETTING: .018 in. FLYWHEEL/COIL AIR GAP: fixed SPARK PLUG TYPE: Champion J6 SPARK PLUG GAP: .020 in. to .025 in. CRANKSHAFT MAIN BEARINGS: Ball and Roller types FUEL OIL RATIO: 12:1 RECOMMENDED FUEL OCTANE: Regular MIX OIL SPECIFICATION: SAE 50 CHAIN PITCH: 9/16 in., .5625 in. (14.2mm) CHAIN TYPE: Hornet planer chain SHORTEST GUIDE BAR SUPPLIED: 16 in. 40cm) LONGEST GUIDE BAR SUPPLIED: 36 in. 91cm) COLOUR SCHEME: Hornet Grey wrinkle finish enamel

HORNET DJ 3600H



Testimony:
Hello sir
I just viewed the video of your Hornet. My great Grandfather D.J. (Don) Smith was the founder of Hornet. I have been searching for info on saws or parts or anything I can find to keep the stories alive for my kids. Also my Brother and I have been looking for saws for sale. We would like to have one in the family. If you have any information that would help us please let me know..................
Thank you for your time
Matt Prazer
Wenatchee, Wa, USA


MANUFACTURED BY:HORNET INDUSTRIES LTD.GUELPH, ONTARIO, CANADA
YEAR INTRODUCED:1950
CYLINDER TYPE:Cast iron
INTAKE:Reed valves (2)
CONFIGURATION:One Man or Two Man operation
CLUTCH:Manual dry disc type
DRIVE TYPE:Bevel gear transmission
CONSTRUCTION:Sand cast magnesium
MAGNETO:Bendix Scintilla
CARBURETOR:Tillotson MD-41A float
CLUTCH:Manual dry disc type
DRIVE TYPE:Bevel gear transmission
CONSTRUCTION:Sand cast magnesium
MAGNETO TYPE:Bendix Scintilla K1-21
CARBURETOR:Tillotson MD-41A float type
AIR FILTER SYSTEM:Skinner ribbon element
STARTER TYPEHornet automatic rewind, manual engagement, steel cable.
OIL PUMP:Manual, built into transmission housing
IGNITION TIMING:fixed
BREAKER POINT SETTING:.018 in.
FLYWHEEL/COIL AIR GAP:fixed
SPARK PLUG TYPE:Champion J6
SPARK PLUG GAP:.020 in to .025 in.
CRANKSHAFT MAIN BEARINGS:Ball and Roller types
FUEL OIL RATIO:12:1
RECOMMENDED FUEL OCTANE:73 to 85 (Regular grade)
MIX OIL SPECIFICATION:SAE 30
CHAIN PITCH:9/16 in., .5625 in. (14.2mm)
CHAIN TYPE:Hornet Standard (scratcher type) or Planer Tooth chipper type

HORNET DJ 3600H EARLY 1 MAN SAW



Hornet was the first commercial 2 man chain saw available in Nova-Scotia, Canada 1948...sold as their model HJ

To my knowledge the company ceased operation in 1950 with whe take over from MALL TOOLS CO. from Vancouver. Hornet information is very limited. Please let me know if you have any information that could help to complete the history of the Hornet saws.

COMPANY LIMITED HISTORY .....Thanks for help and assistance to ANN (Guelph Historical Society) and Kathleen (the Guelph Civic Museum).
Their research:
The first listing is in 1945 and they are located at 151 Surrey St. E. (The Dalyte Building) and J. Smith is the President and General Manager. I don't have a book for 1946, 1948 or 1950 so I have a few gaps. In 1947 their main plant is still at 151 Surrey St. but they also have a second plant at 14 Lucan St. J. Smith is still Pres. and Gen. Man. In 1949, they have a third plant at 94 Gordon Street (near Wellington). At this point J. Smith is President and W.H. Calver is General Manager. There is no listing of the company in 1951. In all of the listings for the company they are listed as making gas powered motors and power chain saws.

MANUFACTURED BY:HORNET INDUSTRIES LTD.GUELPH, ONTARIO, CANADA
YEAR INTRODUCED:1950
CYLINDER TYPE:Cast iron
INTAKE:Reed valves (2)
CONFIGURATION:One Man or Two Man operation
CLUTCH:Manual dry disc type
DRIVE TYPE:Bevel gear transmission
CONSTRUCTION:Sand cast magnesium
MAGNETO:Bendix Scintilla
CARBURETOR:Tillotson MD-41A float
CHAIN PITCH:9/16 in

HORNET DJ3600H LATER 2 MAN SAW VERSION

(Mall Tool Company)(MTC)Hornet sign in Wayne Sutton museum.


Saw history: The little history that I have on the saw is: The saw was bought new by David Maxell. He used it in the woods of McKean and Potter Counties in Pennsylvania USA. After a Logging accident left him and his father unable to continue to logging. It passed through a few hands until it ended up in Perryville NY USA, Where I purchased it at an estate auction because it had ties to McKean County, the county in PA where I grew up. When you restore the saw, I'd love to see pictures of it. Shane

Hornet history in time:
The Hornet company was created and run by DJ Smith until he sold it out to Mall saws (Arthur Mall). They were produced in Guelph, Ontario, Canada by Don J Smith, the same man who imported the first Stihl's into Vancouver, Canada from the mid to late nineteen thirties . He started producing copies that evolved on cloning that saw and then sold it out to Reed Prentice who in terms was sold out to local business men who formed IEL from Vancouver.. In the mean time DJ Smith moved to Guelph, Ontario and in 1946 started producing the model HJ (his son's initials) two man Hornet. In 1948 he updated it to the model D and started producing the one man rope start model DJ 3500 (DJ being his initials). In 1950 he updated the one man to the DJ 3600 recoil start. At first the starter housing was part of the shroud cover. That was soon changed to a removable starter so the shroud and gas tank did not have to be removed to work on the starter. It was around this time that he sold out to Mall and so the Mall name appears on later models. He had said that taxes were so high in Canada on his business profits that he could not save any money from year to year and so he and his wife tried to spend it as fast as they made it and almost killed themselves off living too extravagantly. He lived out his later years in Eastern Washington State making custom hunting rifles, where I visited with him 1975. The Be-Bo was a Swedish copy and was introduced in 1948. I am not sure who was first, but they have the same style. I have been told that Gustav Holm imported Hornet and then made Be-Bo, but the time frames are not correct. The Mobilco Be-Bo was made here and rebaged to be sold in Australia. MARSHALL TROVER,


MANUFACTURED BY:HORNET INDUSTRIES LTD.GUELPH, ONTARIO, CANADA
YEAR INTRODUCED:1950
CYLINDER TYPE:Cast iron
INTAKE:Reed valves (2)
CONFIGURATION:One Man or Two Man operation
CLUTCH:Manual dry disc type
DRIVE TYPE:Bevel gear transmission
CONSTRUCTION:Sand cast magnesium
MAGNETO:Bendix Scintilla
CARBURETOR:Tillotson MD-41A float
CHAIN PITCH:9/16 in