[SEL] Ottawa Drag Saw

[Dave Rotigel]

Hi All,
	Several weeks ago at the Cotton Ginning Show I watched while three drag 
saws (a 1 3/4 HP Herc, a 4 HP Ottawa and a 5 HP Ottawa) were used to cut 
rounds and provide something for the crowd to carry away--See: 
http://www.oldengine.org/members/rotigel/Cotton_Ginning_Days/
	That was enough to convince me that I needed one for our local shows here 
in PA. I called a few friends to let them know of my need, but no one knew 
where one was for sale. There was one on e-bay, but it was in AZ and the 
trip would have been a bit too far. Then last week-end at the Arden show I 
asked around and sure enough Robert Blanchard had a 5 HP Ottawa drag saw 
for sale for $1,000.00. Robert told me that it was an older restoration and 
it ran/cut well. There was an extra blade and a repro manual that went 
along with it and it was located at his home in near Raleigh, NC--about 200 
miles from the show. I gave Robert a deposit for the saw and by 1:00 on 
Sunday Arnie and I were headed East on Rt. 40 toward Raleigh. By 7:30 we 
had the drag saw loaded into my truck and were on our way north toward home.
	The saw is now unloaded and in my garage. It can be seen at: 
http://www.oldengine.org/members/rotigel/5_HP_Ottawa_Drag_Saw/
(The extra wheel is an "add on" to help with the moving of the saw. It is 
removed for cutting.) Later this week (if the weather co-operates) I'll try 
it out on a log or two!
	Dave
PS, Can anyone tell me the year of manufacture of this saw--S/N TE 28815?
PPS, Rob suggests that I NOT put ropes/fence up around it when 
demonstrating. He says that if something goes wrong I'll want to get out of 
the way rapidly and might trip on the rope/fence!