McCulloch Motors Corporation
McCulloch Motors Corporation is an American outdoor-power-equipment brand best known for chainsaws and compact gasoline engines.
Last updated August 24, 2026
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Overview
McCulloch Motors Corporation was an American manufacturer founded in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, in 1943 by Robert Paxton McCulloch. It began by producing small two-stroke gasoline engines and later became associated primarily with chainsaws and other outdoor power equipment. The company introduced its first chainsaw, the Model 5-49, in 1948, helping establish the McCulloch name in the developing market for portable mechanized forestry and landscaping tools. McCulloch moved its operations to California in 1946 and broadened its engineering activities during the following decades. In the 1950s, the company manufactured compact engines for target drones. McCulloch engines also found specialist applications in small autogyros, including aircraft based on the Bensen B-8M and Wallis WA-116 designs. The company’s engineering interests extended beyond lawn and garden equipment through Paxton Automotive, which produced McCulloch-branded superchargers. These superchargers were used in applications including the Kaiser Manhattan, the 1957 Studebaker Golden Hawk, and the Ford Thunderbird. The company entered karting in 1959 with the MC-10, a kart engine derived from its chainsaw two-stroke technology. McCulloch kart engines became part of a broader ecosystem of specialist racing components, including intake manifolds, mufflers, conversion equipment, throttle linkages, air stacks, and other accessories developed by outside specialists and suppliers. McCulloch also diversified through the purchase of Scott-Atwater Manufacturing Company in 1956, entering the outboard-boat-engine business. That outboard line was discontinued in 1967. McCulloch’s corporate and civic history was closely connected with Lake Havasu City, Arizona. In 1964, the company established a factory and worker housing there. Robert McCulloch was also involved in acquiring London Bridge at auction. The bridge was dismantled, transported to Arizona, reconstructed in Lake Havasu City, and opened in 1971, becoming a major local landmark. During the 1970s, McCulloch expanded its outdoor-equipment range to include generators, hedge trimmers, string trimmers, and leaf blowers, while increasingly concentrating on lawn and garden products. Black & Decker acquired the company on October 4, 1974. Black & Decker later sold McCulloch to a private group in November 1984. The company entered Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in January 1999. Its European division was sold to Husqvarna AB during 1999, while its North American operation was acquired in October of that year by Jenn Feng Industrial Co. of Taiwan. Under Jenn Feng, the McCulloch product range was extended to include electric power tools and pressure washers. In March 2003, MTD Products entered a distribution and licensing agreement with Jenn Feng under which MTD would exclusively produce McCulloch products in North America. In March 2008, Husqvarna acquired Jenn Feng’s outdoor-products division, giving Husqvarna access to the McCulloch brand in the North American market. McCulloch has since operated as a brand within the Husqvarna Group rather than as an independent publicly listed manufacturer. Its historical identity combines compact-engine engineering, chainsaws, lawn and garden tools, and a series of corporate ownership transitions.
History
McCulloch Motors Corporation was established in Milwaukee, Wisconsin, in 1943 by Robert Paxton McCulloch. Its initial business focused on small two-stroke gasoline engines. The company relocated its operations to California in 1946 and introduced the Model 5-49, its first chainsaw, in 1948. Chainsaws eventually became the company’s best-known product category, although McCulloch maintained a broader engineering and manufacturing portfolio. During the 1950s, McCulloch produced compact engines for target drones. Its small four-cylinder, horizontally opposed two-stroke engines also became associated with light aircraft and autogyro applications. The company expanded into automotive forced-induction equipment through Paxton Automotive, producing McCulloch-labeled superchargers fitted to vehicles such as the Kaiser Manhattan, the 1957 Studebaker Golden Hawk, and the Ford Thunderbird. In 1956, McCulloch purchased Scott-Atwater Manufacturing Company, a Minneapolis outboard-engine manufacturer. McCulloch later discontinued the outboard line in 1967. The company entered kart racing in 1959 with the MC-10, a kart engine adapted from its chainsaw two-stroke design. The engine supported a market for related specialist components and conversion equipment. McCulloch established a major factory and worker community in Lake Havasu City, Arizona, in 1964. Robert McCulloch was involved in the purchase of London Bridge at auction in the 1960s. The bridge was subsequently reconstructed in Lake Havasu City and opened to the public in 1971. This project became one of the most visible legacies of McCulloch’s Arizona activities. The company broadened its consumer product portfolio during the 1970s, adding generators, hedge trimmers, string trimmers, and leaf blowers, while moving toward a narrower strategic emphasis on lawn and garden equipment. Black & Decker acquired McCulloch on October 4, 1974. A later ownership change occurred in November 1984, when Black & Decker sold the company to a private group. McCulloch sought protection under Chapter 11 of the United States Bankruptcy Code in January 1999. The restructuring separated its European and North American activities. Husqvarna AB acquired the European division, while Jenn Feng Industrial Co., a Taiwanese company, acquired the North American operation in October 1999. Jenn Feng added electric power tools and pressure washers to the McCulloch range. In March 2003, MTD Products entered into a distribution and licensing agreement with Jenn Feng. The agreement made MTD the exclusive producer of McCulloch products in North America. In March 2008, Husqvarna acquired Jenn Feng’s outdoor-products division. This transaction gave Husqvarna access to the McCulloch brand in the North American market and placed McCulloch within the Husqvarna Group. The brand’s historical product identity remains rooted in chainsaws, compact engines, and lawn and garden equipment, while its corporate identity has evolved through successive acquisitions, licensing arrangements, and restructuring.
- 2008
McCulloch becomes part of Husqvarna Group
[1]Husqvarna acquired Jenn Feng’s outdoor-products division and gained the McCulloch brand in the North American market.
- 1999
Bankruptcy and division restructuring
[1]McCulloch filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection, after which its European and North American operations changed ownership.
- 1984
Sold to a private group
[1]Black & Decker sold McCulloch to a private group in November.
- 1974
Acquired by Black & Decker
[1]Black & Decker completed its acquisition of McCulloch on October 4.
- 1971
London Bridge opens in Lake Havasu City
[1]The London Bridge, acquired with Robert McCulloch’s involvement and reconstructed in Arizona, opened in Lake Havasu City.
- 1967
Outboard-engine line discontinued
[1]McCulloch ended the outboard boat-engine line acquired through Scott-Atwater.
- 1964
Lake Havasu City development begins
[1]McCulloch established a factory and worker housing in Lake Havasu City, Arizona.
- 1959
MC-10 kart engine introduced
[1]McCulloch introduced its first kart engine, the MC-10, adapted from chainsaw two-stroke technology.
- 1956
Scott-Atwater acquired
[1]McCulloch purchased Scott-Atwater Manufacturing Company and entered the outboard-boat-engine business.
- 1948
First McCulloch chainsaw introduced
[1]McCulloch launched its first chainsaw, the Model 5-49.
Products and positioning
Historically positioned around accessible, practical, and portable power equipment for forestry, lawn care, gardening, and specialist engine applications. The brand is now part of Husqvarna Group’s outdoor-products portfolio.
Chainsaw · 1948
Model 5-49
Introduced in 1948, the Model 5-49 was McCulloch’s first chainsaw. It represented the company’s transition from small-engine manufacturing into portable forestry and outdoor power equipment and became an early foundation of the McCulloch chainsaw identity.
Kart engine · 1959
MC-10
The MC-10 was McCulloch’s first kart engine, introduced in 1959. It was derived from the company’s chainsaw two-stroke engine technology and supported McCulloch’s participation in the growing kart-racing equipment market.
Outdoor power equipment · 1948
McCulloch chainsaws
Chainsaws became McCulloch’s signature product line. The brand’s chainsaw business grew from its early two-stroke engineering and remained central as the company expanded into consumer lawn and garden equipment.
Outdoor power equipment · 1970
McCulloch lawn and garden equipment
McCulloch expanded into generators, hedge trimmers, string trimmers, and leaf blowers during the 1970s. These products reflected the company’s later concentration on household, landscaping, and general lawn-care applications.
Automotive performance equipment
McCulloch superchargers
Through Paxton Automotive, McCulloch manufactured McCulloch-labeled superchargers for automotive applications. The equipment was used on vehicles including the Kaiser Manhattan, the 1957 Studebaker Golden Hawk, and the Ford Thunderbird.
Brand decisions
2008
Husqvarna acquires Jenn Feng’s outdoor-products divisionM&ABackground
Jenn Feng controlled McCulloch’s North American operation and related outdoor-product activities.
Action taken
Husqvarna acquired Jenn Feng’s outdoor-products division in March 2008.
Aftermath
McCulloch became a brand within Husqvarna Group, extending Husqvarna’s access to the McCulloch name in North America.
2003
License and distribute McCulloch products through MTDStrategyBackground
Jenn Feng owned McCulloch’s North American operation after the 1999 restructuring.
Action taken
Jenn Feng signed a distribution and licensing agreement with MTD Products, granting MTD exclusive North American production rights for McCulloch products.
Aftermath
The agreement shifted North American manufacturing and distribution responsibility to MTD while retaining the McCulloch brand.
1999
Restructure through Chapter 11 and divisional salesOtherBackground
McCulloch filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in January 1999.
Action taken
The company sold its European division to Husqvarna AB and its North American operation to Jenn Feng Industrial Co.
Aftermath
McCulloch ceased operating as a unified independent manufacturer, with its regional businesses placed under different owners.
1970
Broaden and then refocus on lawn and garden equipmentStrategyBackground
During the 1970s, McCulloch expanded beyond chainsaws into generators, hedge trimmers, string trimmers, and leaf blowers.
Action taken
The company broadened its product range while beginning to concentrate more narrowly on lawn and garden equipment.
Aftermath
Outdoor power equipment became the central consumer-facing identity of the McCulloch brand.
1967
Discontinue the outboard-engine businessStrategyBackground
McCulloch had entered the outboard-boat-engine market through its 1956 acquisition of Scott-Atwater Manufacturing Company.
Action taken
The company discontinued its outboard boat-engine line in 1967.
Aftermath
McCulloch’s product portfolio moved away from outboard engines and increasingly emphasized chainsaws and lawn and garden equipment.
Recent events
- 2008
Husqvarna acquires Jenn Feng’s outdoor-products division[1]
M&A · Leadership change
Husqvarna acquired Jenn Feng’s outdoor-products division in March 2008, bringing the McCulloch brand into the Husqvarna Group’s North American portfolio.
- 2003
MTD signs exclusive North American McCulloch production and distribution agreement[1]
Other
MTD Products and Jenn Feng entered a distribution and licensing agreement under which MTD would exclusively produce McCulloch products in North America.
- 1999
McCulloch files for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection[1]
Bankruptcy
McCulloch filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection in January 1999 amid a restructuring of its operations and assets.
- 1999
Husqvarna acquires McCulloch’s European division[1]
M&A
Husqvarna AB acquired McCulloch’s European division during the company’s 1999 restructuring.
- 1999
Jenn Feng acquires McCulloch’s North American operation[1]
M&A
Taiwanese manufacturer Jenn Feng Industrial Co. acquired McCulloch’s North American operation in October 1999.
- 1984
McCulloch is sold by Black & Decker to a private group[1]
M&A
Black & Decker sold McCulloch to a private ownership group in November 1984.
- 1974
McCulloch Motors Corporation is acquired by Black & Decker[1]
M&A
Black & Decker completed its acquisition of McCulloch Motors Corporation on October 4, 1974.
Sources1 sources
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