International Cutawl

[Alistair Hosie]

Does anyone know of a small machine called a Cutawl by international i e what it was designed for I found out it was made in the twenties 1922 but was thinking of turning it into a die filer with a bit of modication this is what it looks like although the one I have has a table into which it slots and can be removed.Alistair
http://www.intermatic.com/hr/hrhist3.htm

[DR]

Yes, I've seen those machines. I believe they were still making them in the not too distant past. Signmakers among others used them. Essentialy they were a saber saw you pulled towards you instead of pushing away like the ones we see so many of today.

[Alistair Hosie]

DR I hope you don't mind I sent you a few pics of the one I am doing up.
It is correct you say that they were used by signwriters why?I ask ,what is the advantage of pulling toward you instead of pushing away. Mine as you will see is on a table so I dont know if this will affect the direction of cut.I see they refer to it as a cutting device as opposed to a sawing device wonder what kind of cutting it did also see one article I found show'd it as cutting cardboard.
Thanks for the help do you think it is wise to leave it as is, or should I alter it (if poss) to a die filer as I have a scrollsaw and a jigsaw set up already regards Alistair