Joseph Buford Cox
Encyclopedia
Joseph Buford Cox invented what is now known as the chipper type chain
for chain saws. He based his design on the C-shaped jaw
s of the larva
of the timber beetle.
Joseph and his wife, Violet, founded "The Oregon Saw Chain Co." in 1947. Cox later started a small casting company called OMARK, now known as "Omark Industries". In time, Oregon Saw Chain became a subsidiary of Omark Industries which was in turn acquired in 1985 by Blount, Inc., of Montgomery, Alabama
. Blount merged in 1999 with Lehman Brothers Merchant Banking Partners. The company is known today as the Oregon Cutting Systems Division of Blount, Inc. Most chainsaws, with the exception of some Stihl
saws, use an Oregon chain based on the invention of Joseph Buford Cox.
Joseph Buford Cox only reached the third grade in his formal education.
Saw chain
The saw chain, or "cutting chain", is a key component of a chainsaw. It consists of steel links held together by rivets, and superficially resembles the bicycle-style roller chain, although it is closer in design to a leaf chain...
for chain saws. He based his design on the C-shaped jaw
Jaw
The jaw is any opposable articulated structure at the entrance of the mouth, typically used for grasping and manipulating food. The term jaws is also broadly applied to the whole of the structures constituting the vault of the mouth and serving to open and close it and is part of the body plan of...
s of the larva
Larva
A larva is a distinct juvenile form many animals undergo before metamorphosis into adults. Animals with indirect development such as insects, amphibians, or cnidarians typically have a larval phase of their life cycle...
of the timber beetle.
Joseph and his wife, Violet, founded "The Oregon Saw Chain Co." in 1947. Cox later started a small casting company called OMARK, now known as "Omark Industries". In time, Oregon Saw Chain became a subsidiary of Omark Industries which was in turn acquired in 1985 by Blount, Inc., of Montgomery, Alabama
Montgomery, Alabama
Montgomery is the capital of the U.S. state of Alabama, and is the county seat of Montgomery County. It is located on the Alabama River southeast of the center of the state, in the Gulf Coastal Plain. As of the 2010 census, Montgomery had a population of 205,764 making it the second-largest city...
. Blount merged in 1999 with Lehman Brothers Merchant Banking Partners. The company is known today as the Oregon Cutting Systems Division of Blount, Inc. Most chainsaws, with the exception of some Stihl
Stihl
Andreas Stihl AG & Company is a manufacturer of chainsaws and other handheld power equipment including trimmers and blowers. Their headquarters are in Waiblingen, Baden-Württemberg near Stuttgart, in Germany. The company was founded in 1926 by Andreas Stihl, an important innovator in early chain...
saws, use an Oregon chain based on the invention of Joseph Buford Cox.
Joseph Buford Cox only reached the third grade in his formal education.