The collar saw of Carl Kusch
Carl Kusch of Germany invented a way that a person would never be without a saw when they needed one, because the saw could be worn around their neck at all times. From his 1909 patent:
Kusch evidently had high hopes for his invention, because he obtained patents for it in the United States, Great Britain, France, Switzerland, Austria, and Germany. Although in his patent he never explained who he thought was going to buy the thing. The military, I'm guessing, because it seems designed to be part of a German soldier's uniform. Although as far as I know, no army ever outfitted its soldiers with this thing.
This invention relates to a saw which can be worn on the dress or on the person and is also provided with a frame adapted to serve as a guard.
The invention consists in a flexible saw frame convertible at any time by suitable means into a rigid frame and which is so constructed that the saw blade can be put into the frame in the known manner, when the saw is used as a tool, or be fixed to the flat side of the frame when the frame is used as a guard. In the latter case the frame of the saw protects the dress or the body from contact with the saw blade.
The invention consists in a flexible saw frame convertible at any time by suitable means into a rigid frame and which is so constructed that the saw blade can be put into the frame in the known manner, when the saw is used as a tool, or be fixed to the flat side of the frame when the frame is used as a guard. In the latter case the frame of the saw protects the dress or the body from contact with the saw blade.
Kusch evidently had high hopes for his invention, because he obtained patents for it in the United States, Great Britain, France, Switzerland, Austria, and Germany. Although in his patent he never explained who he thought was going to buy the thing. The military, I'm guessing, because it seems designed to be part of a German soldier's uniform. Although as far as I know, no army ever outfitted its soldiers with this thing.
Comments
I dunno.. sounds like a great way to cut off someone's head. Which might not be the intended purpose.
Posted by Richard Bos on 03/22/20 at 12:29 PM
Great for when you have been assigned as the guard for M'lady who has been left alone wearing a chastity belt.
Posted by Virtual in Carnate on 03/22/20 at 02:34 PM
Hey - you never know when you’ll need a saw.
Posted by Brian on 03/22/20 at 08:50 PM
Flexible saws were a tool of spycraft rather than everyday use. But modern times have created a demand. https://www.amazon.com/dp/B01FO9V0I2?tag=duckduckgo-ffsb-20&linkCode=osi&th=1&psc=1
Posted by eddi on 03/22/20 at 09:33 PM
eddi - I was just thinking that this looks like something Q would give to 007 who would use it later in the movie. 😊
Posted by Patrick on 03/23/20 at 08:10 AM
Yes, of course! When confronted with the chastity belt, 007 deftly whips out this saw to cut it away.
Posted by Virtual in Carnate on 03/23/20 at 12:05 PM
I'd be (at least mildly) surprised if this worked well. It's basically a coping saw, but the blade is flexible and the handle not particularly sturdy. Either of those causes problems. Together, it'd produce more frustration than chips.
@eddi -- There has always been industrial/professional demand for wire saws because of their ability to cut large objects and complex shapes, but it's always been expensive. With the advent of electroplating diamonds onto wire, the cost has dropped so hobbyists who need to cut stone or hardened metal can start using them. It's probably going to forever remain more art than science to use one which isn't mounted in a tensioned frame, but it is a growing field.
@eddi -- There has always been industrial/professional demand for wire saws because of their ability to cut large objects and complex shapes, but it's always been expensive. With the advent of electroplating diamonds onto wire, the cost has dropped so hobbyists who need to cut stone or hardened metal can start using them. It's probably going to forever remain more art than science to use one which isn't mounted in a tensioned frame, but it is a growing field.
Posted by Phideaux on 03/23/20 at 12:16 PM
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Category: Fashion | Inventions | Patents | Military | 1900s