McCulloch Motors Corporation

McCulloch Motors Corporation
See also McCulloch (disambiguation)
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McCulloch Motors Corporation is a manufacturer of chainsaws. The company was founded in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, in 1943 by Robert Paxton McCulloch as a manufacturer of small two-stroke gasoline engines and introduced its first chainsaw in 1948, the Model 5-49.[1]

McCulloch moved its operation to California in 1946. In the 1950s, McCulloch manufactured aircraft engines, which were sold to RadioPlane in the 1970s.

Bob McCulloch also started Paxton Automotive, manufacturing McCulloch-labeled superchargers like the one fitted to the Kaiser Manhattan and Ford Thunderbird.

In 1959, they produced their first kart engine, the McCulloch MC-10,[2] an adapted chainsaw two-stroke engine.[3]

In 1964, Robert P. McCulloch founded Lake Havasu City, Arizona, with a factory and housing for its workers. In 1967, McCulloch discontinued its line of outboard boat engines which it began after the 1956 purchase of Scott-Atwater Mfg. Co. of Minneapolis, Minnesota- the manufacturer of Scott-Atwater outboard boat engines.[4]

In the 1970s their range was expanded to add hedge trimmers, string trimmers, and leaf blowers, but started a narrow focus on lawn and garden equipment.

In January 1999, the company filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy and sold its European division to Husqvarna AB. In October 1999, its North American operation was acquired by the Taiwanese company Jenn Feng Industrial Co., Ltd. Jenn Feng added electric power tools and pressure washers to the product line.[5]

In March 2008, Husqvarna acquired Jenn Feng outdoor products division, gaining access to the McCulloch brand in the North American market.[6] McCulloch is since a brand within the Husqvarna Group.

Contents

See also

Other Related Companies

References

  1. ^ McCulloch Company - Company history
  2. ^ The McCulloch Kart Engines
  3. ^ 1959 - McCulloch's Entry into Kart Racing
  4. ^ - Manufacture of Outboard Boat Motors
  5. ^ McCulloch sold to Taiwanese manufacturer - Home Channel News, 25 October 1999
  6. ^ Sweden's Husqvarna buys Taiwan outdoor assets - Reuters, 17 March 2008

External links