I own sixty-eight circular saws, and that’s utter lunacy, Part 2- the ‘50s

We’ve seen the starting lineup for one of the most successful circular saw lines of all time ( truly, only Skil and Black and Decker could compare, and let’s face it, they really didn’t) , and we’ve seen the generation that took those designs lessons to heart. These saws were incredibly well made, and they’ve survived the intervening seventy-plus years in droves. They were used in every capacity from home building to the war effort ( remind me to tell you the story of the circular saws headed to the Pacific theater, a fogbound airport, and a truck driver that must have read about Balto as a kid ) to immense satisfaction. They would be sold from 1926 to 1952 in gigantic quantities, and set a standard for quality, that Porter-Cable would live up to for decades. Meanwhile, back at the ranch, it is 1952, and we're about to meet some mid-century classics. Let me introduce the third generation- the fabulous 500 series of saws.

Left to right: my beloved extended arbor 508, an early 507, and the late version 507.

The smaller K-series saws were superceded by a group of machines that may have lacked the genteel luxury of the older models but compensated in speed, lightness and economy; if the K-88 is a celluloid collar, the 508 is a porkpie hat. The 507 and 508 ( or , as they were confusingly referred to in the catalogs, the 521 and 522) can be regarded as a K-series saw made with modern technology, and the immediate difference to the viewer is the large bakelite knob in front of the handle that replaces the time honored adjustment screw of the earlier saws. This knob merely loosened the depth slide, and the ability to finely tune depth of cut became a bit more hit or miss, although the adjustable gib was still present. The other easily spotted change was to the swing guard, which shed the distinctive ring for opening. The newer guard gives these saws a square jawed appearance which is recognizable at a glance.

There are other differences, one being the introduction of the "kick-proof clutch", which is in essence the replacement of the arbor and nut of the first and second generations with a bronze washer and screw. This screw incorporates a spring washer, and the whole affair is merely snugged up, allowing the saw blade to slip in a bind and reducing the chance of kickback. This system works quite well when done properly; the problem is, no one ever does it properly( the washer is supposed to be very lightly greased, and the screw is tightened just enough to bow the integral washer. Everybody, and I mean everybody, cranks it down dry like a lugnut on a tractor trailer rig, and now my eye is twitching).

Then 507 and 508 were immensely successful, and while the 507 disappeared by 1957, being outsold by the lighter smaller 115 (that's a story for another day), the 508 would be produced until the early '70's, making it the longest lived circular saw model of all time ( I know, I know, the Skill 77 has been around since the rocks were soft. That's a long lived model number, the 77 has constantly changed through the years). The saws only changed in cosmetics , the stickers on the handles and upper guards being altered by moving the model number to the end of the print, and the K-series style handle with the peculiar embossed front cover would be modernized to the standard clamshell handle found on the 528.



507 : 4,500 rpm (load), 7 1/2" blade, 15 lbs
508: 4,500 rpm (load), 8" blade, 17 lbs

Next time, we'll meet the only Porter-Cable saws with fender skirts the A-6 and A-8. see you then.