ABOVE IS THE RED KARY-LITE FOR THE CANADIAN MARKET.BELOW IS THE KARY LITE QUEBEC MODEL RESTORED....
RESTORATION IN PROGRESS ON THE QUEBEC KARY-LITE.
VERY RARE SAW MADE IN BEDFORD,QUEBEC,CANADA.
TECHNICAL INFORMATION AND STUDY UNDER INVESTIGATION.
THE RED CANADIAN MODEL,A very rare saw found in Dunnville, Ontario, in needs to be preserved..I helped the owner of the saw in the mechanical restoration so the saw could be brought back to life and did acquired the saw for preservation and public viewing to be part of the museum exhibits. There is only very limited information about this saw.....If you know more please contact me. Thank you Robert Hendrik
Foundry casted in the province of Quebec in the county named "Brome-Missisquoi", township of Bedford. It was named "LA RAPIDE" (THE FAST ONE).
So far only 5 models exists and have been seen...A red saw for the Canadian market and with the courtesy of Rejean, a picture of the Green saw showing the Quebec fabrication origin.
Historical study in progress.......
Manufactured by: KARY LITE CO. BEDFORD,QUEBEC,CANADA.
ENGINE:WEST BEND 2734 FEATHERWEIGHT
CONSTRUCTION:ALUMINUM & SAND CAST MAGNESIUM.
INTRODUCED:1955
DISCONTINUED:1959 ?
DISPLACEMENT:6.4 cu. in. (105 cc)
BORE:2.250 in. (57 mm)
STROKE:1.625 in. (41 mm)
CYLINDER:Aluminum with cast iron sleeve
INTAKE METHOD:Reed valves
H.P.: 5 hp
WEIGHT :27 lbs. (12.2 kg) powerhead
CLUTCH TYPE: Direct Centrifugal
MAGNETO TYPE:Wico
CARBURETOR: Tillotson Diaphragm
AIR FILTER:Skinner ribbon
STARTER:Fairbanks Morse
OIL PUMP:Automatic pressurized/manual override
TIMING:0.15625 in. (3.96 mm) BTDC
POINT SETTING:0.020 in. (0.51 mm)
COIL GAP:fixed
PLUG:Champion H12J
MAIN BEARINGS:Ball and caged needle roller
PITCH:1/2 in.
COLOUR:Red enamel (Canadian) or green (Quebec) sold as KARY LITE CO.
Video is a courtesy of Robert Hendrik.
Many thanks to the Musée Missisquoi Museum, www.museemissisquoi.ca specially Heather Darch and the people from Bedford who participated in this research gathering information from books and archives........ Without their knowledge and memories, information on this rare saw would have been impossible.
The request went from Stanbridge East to a cruise ship in the Mediterranean to England back to Florida and then back to Stanbridge East all to discover the chainsaw was from Mystic, Quebec, Canada. An appropriate name after all the searching!
The chainsaws were casted at the Walbridge foundry in Bedford and assembled at the "Bedford Machine Shop".
From Fred Gilman:
LAWRENCE GUTHRIE WAS IN MYSTIC AND MADE THEM IN THE OLD WALBRIDGE FOUNDRY BUILDING. HE LATER MOVED TO BEDFORD AND BUILT THE BUILDING NOW THE DION-BAKER FUNERAL PARLOUR. THAT WAS A MACHINE SHOP MOTOR REBUILDERS UNTIL TERRILL'S BOUGHT THEM OUT AND STARTED EASTERN REBUILDERS;
From Ed Piche:
" Regarding your inquiry about the Kary-Lite chainsaw manufactured in Bedford.
The name Kary-Lite means nothing to me but the photograph does.
Lawrence Guthrie one time part owner of Guthrie and Miller garage mystic, sold up and joined Bedford machine shop.
He made a chainsaw at Bedford machine shop that looks exactly like this photo. I believe this chainsaw was manufactured in the mid fifties and later became L A Rapid.
I do not remember how long it was made. Apparently not for long.
From Heather Darch:
French:
Extract from the book "Bedford: 1890-1990" . Photos d'époque: «à l'intérieur des premiers locaux abritant la "Bedford Machine Shop.» ILes 2 personnes en habits a la gauche et a la droite sont les "freres Terrill" .
Description de l'article:
Bedford Machine Shop est un atelier mécanique des plus modernes et qui progresse à pas de géant, grâce à la compétence et à l'initiative de son propriétaire M.G.C. Terrill. La preuve, c'est que tout l'outillage a été transporté dans une bâtisse spéciale que vient de faire construire M. Terrill, avenue Victoria à Bedford. Les opérations y commenceront le 10 novembre 1947.
Tout ce qu'on peut désirer en fait de pièces mécaniques, on peut l'avoir à cet atelier exceptionnellement équipé ou travaillent des experts en leur métier. «La Bedford Machine Shop» a débuté très humblement il y a peu de temps, mais aujourd'hui, en outre d'accommoder tous ceux qui ont besoin de ses services dans la localité et dans les alentours, elle remplit nombre d'importants contrats pour des compagnies de Montréal, de St-Jean et de bien d'autres villes. Elle est actuellement à construire une bonne quantité de machines, de types élaborés pour une firme très connue de la métropole. On y fait aussi des moules les plus divers.
M. Terill a mis sur le marché une machine de son invention, particulièrement perfectionnée et pratique pour le marquage des rues en bandes blanches pour fins d'indications au trafic. Déjà plusieurs villes et villages s'en sont procurés et se sont montrés des plus satisfaits. Cet appareil est unique en son genre et fonctionne à merveille.»
Extrait de la Tribune de Sherbrooke le 30 octobre 1947.
English:
Bedford machine shop has modern installations under supervision of the owner M.G.C. Terrill. Equipment was moved in their new building on Victoria av. Operation started on nov. 10th, 1947.
«The Bedford Machine Shop» did fullfil many contracts for major companies in Montréal, St-Jean and many other cities. They make also cast molding for different applications including chainsaws. Mr. Terrill invented a unique machine that can paint lines on asphalt street. Many cities have purchased this device and are very satisfied.
Extract from Sherbrooke Tribune, oct. 30th. 1947
IS THERE ANY RELATION WITH THE "TERRILL D.D. SAW CO." IN BANGOR, MAINE, U.S.A. ....????????
THIS WOULD BE ANOTHER STORY TO FOLLOW..............
Bedford /History remembered...........Raconté 1801-2001
Philippe Fournier 2001
FRENCH: 1944 Bedford Machine Works Co. Ltd.
Cette usine débuta à Bedford en 1944, au sous-sol de l’édifice de M. Gaston Blanchette au 118, rue Principale. Les frères Gordon et Percy Terrill misèrent sur le potentiel régional d’un atelier d’usinage. En 1947, constatant une expansion impossible à cet endroit, les Terrill décidèrent de construire un nouvel édifice adapté à leurs besoins. L’immeuble, situé jusqu’en 1997 au coin des rues Victoria sud et Élisabeth, fut l’ancêtre de la « Eastern Rebuilders. »
À leur modeste édifice vint se greffer en 1956 les installations de cette compagnie spécialisée dans le reconditionnement des moteurs et des transmissions d’automobiles, la « Eastern Rebuilders Co. » De 1959 à 1962, la compagnie loua les locaux disponibles au 215 rue Rivière (aujourd’hui le salon funéraire Dion). Les activités de l’usine se prolongèrent jusqu’en 1979, sous la direction d’Edward Terrill, fils de Gordon Terrill.
1944-1947 Bedford Machine Works Gordon & Percy Terrill
1947-1979 Bedford Machine Works Percy & Gordon Terrill
ENGLISH: 1944 Bedford Machine Works Co. Ltd.
This factory began in Bedford ,Quebec in 1944 in a basement of Mr. Gaston Blanchette locate at 118 Main St.... Gordon and Percy Terrill saw business potential and opened a regional machine shop at this location. In 1947 with limited demands, the Terrill brother's decided to move and get a new building adapted to their needs. Till 1997 they were located at corner of Victoria south and Elisabeth till 1997....The ancester's of the "Eastern Rebuilders".
In 1956 they added an addition specializing in motor and transmission rebuilt under the « Eastern Rebuilders Co. » From 1959 till 1962 , installations at 215 River rd. (today the Dion funeral home) were under a lease. Factory activity went on till 1997 under the management of Edward Terrill, son of Gordon Terrill.
1944-1947 Bedford Machine Works Gordon & Percy Terrill
1947-1979 Bedford Machine Works Percy & Gordon Terrill
FOUNDRY HISTORY
Born in 1828 in the township of Mystic county of Stanbridge, Alexander solomon has more interest in mechanic than agriculture world of his father. Alexander Solomon left the family in 1846 to study sawmill building in the town of Littleton, New Hampshire with a friend, Peter Paddleford. Upon his return he patented many inventions in Canada and in the U.S.A. well known in the Scientific Magazine of 1862 having patented a sawmill. He also decided to create his own foundry. The Mystic Iron Works foundry, created in 1868 supplied major parts for sawmills and railroad companies such as Lake Champlain and St-Lawrence Junction Railways, division of South Eastern Railway. Walbridge developed steam engine, sawmill, lathe, and planer designs The chainsaw "La Rapide" was casted in that foundry in Mystic, Quebec, but very little is known about the official date of the foundry closure........................
As a single owner, Mr Albert Vigeant, an expert logger from the village of St-Zenon province of Quebec,Canada, manipulated this saw in many camps in "Lanaudiere" county of Berthier...logging area from September 11th 1951 to 1957. I acquired the saw from his son Luc who provided the pictures, documents and original receipt of sale. You can see Albert Vigeant operating this saw including a bow-saw and a MCCulloch3-25.
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