Dolmar Chainsaws Merging With Makita

History of The Sachs Dolmar Company, (and Its Relationship with Makita Chainsaws)

Although the reputation of the Dolmar Company has its foundation in gasoline-powered chainsaws, its other line of products is also exceptional in terms of their quality, performance and durability. Makita chainsaws are rolling out of the Dolmar plant now.

You will see in our chart below, that some of them are already orange!!

Because Dolmar, which also now makes chainsaws under the Makita brand, boasts such amazing equipment, their products are often the first choice among professionals in the know — professionals that include forestry and tree service companies and individuals, as well as people in the landscaping and construction industries around the globe.

In the following article we will discuss the long and storied history of the Dolmar Corporation — a history that includes a long relationship with the Makita company and that corporation’s line of impressive chainsaws.

Where Are Dolmar Chainsaws Made ?

Headquartered in the bustling and beautiful city of Hamburg, Germany, Dolmar is a longstanding company that specializes almost exclusively in quality outdoor power products — products such as chainsaws, weed trimmers, blowers, power cutters and more.

How It All Started

Back in 1926, a man named Andreas Stihl invented the world’s first electric powered chainsaw—an invention that would later lead to the founding of the Stihl Corporation, which is still in business today and continues to be one of the most recognized names in the world for power tools and outdoor power equipment.

One year after Stihl’s invention of the electric chainsaw, a man named Emil Lerp improved upon this idea. Lerp invented the world’s first gasoline powered chainsaw. Lerp’s gasoline powered chainsaw was a heavy two-man style unit that weighed approximately 130 pounds (58.97 kg). He named this unit “Type A.”

After inventing the “Type A” gasoline powered chainsaw, Lerp had to select a site at which to test his invention. He chose Mount Dolmar in the Thüringer Forest of Germany, not far from the city of Hamburg. The test of this invention was a rousing success, and Emil Lerp wasted no time in starting the world’s first company to produce and sell gasoline powered chainsaws later that year—in 1927. In honor of the site at which his new chainsaw was successfully tested, Lerp named his new company Dolmar.

The Dolmar Company was an immediate success, and the company started to mass produce the Type A chainsaw. They marketed and sold the chainsaw throughout Germany and into parts of Europe, and as their success grew, so did their line of products.

Below we have created a brief time line that outlines certain historical milestones for the Dolmar Corporation:

1930

As the success of the Dolmar Company grew, Lerp and his team of engineers were consistently hard at work improving upon their design. One of these improvements came in 1930, when the company developed and unveiled their Type C chainsaw.The Type C Chainsaw was the first lightweight (or at least lighter weight) gasoline powered chainsaw to hit the market, and it was marketed successfully in Europe and overseas, including the United States.

1938

In 1938, the Type CL chainsaw hit the market. This Dolmar design—another two-man, gasoline powered chainsaw—was considered to be very innovative and far ahead of its time. Because of this innovation, the Type CL remained in production at the Dolmar Corporation until 1964.

1952

The year 1952 marked a major turning point for the chainsaw industry. It was in this year that the Dolmar CP chainsaw entered production. The CP chainsaw was the world’s first one-man operated gasoline chainsaw to ever be developed.

1957

As the CP chainsaw flourished both in Europe and overseas, the engineers were again hard at work improving upon their design. Then, in 1957, the Dolmar company unveiled their new CF chainsaw, a one-man gasoline powered chainsaw that featured a new type of all-position diaphragm carburetor.

1969

Due to a rise in demand for Dolmar products, in 1969 the corporation relocated to a factory in the city of Hamburg-Wandsbek (the company is still headquartered in the city of Hamburg today).

1972

The 1970s and 1980s saw a wave of improvements and expansions for the Dolmar Corporation. One of these innovative improvements came in 1972, when the company introduced the world to the first dual-mass vibration damper system.

1985

In 1985, while their chainsaw sales were flourishing throughout the world, the Dolmar Corporation introduced new products that would become part of their impressive product portfolio, specifically brush cutters and weed or string trimmers.

1987

Another major advancement credited to the Dolmar Corporation came in the year 1987. It was in that year that the company introduced the world’s first chainsaw with a fuel-injection carburetor.

1991

1991 was a significant year for the Dolmar Corporation. It was in this year that the company was taken over by the Makita Company, a move that would open up new international markets. Although Makita owned the company, products with the world-renowned Dolmar name were (and still are) manufactured. This would also lead to the unveiling of the Makita brand of chainsaws several years later (see next section)—chainsaws that are made in Germany by the Dolmar factory and are very similar to the Dolmar brand of chainsaws.

1993-1994

In 1993, the Dolmar company would once again showcase its innovative spirit by developing a new duplex-air intake system with a separate inlet port for the idling mixture. In 1994, Dolmar adds electric hedge trimmers to its now formidable line of products.

1997

In 1997, Dolmar really took a step to upgrade user comfort in its tools, offering a new line of power cutters which offered superb ergonomics and superior handling traits.

The 2000s and Forward

At the onset of the 21st century—in the year 2000, Dolmar introduced the world’s first four-stroke chainsaw. This led to a launching of professional chainsaws with a then unheard of power to weight ratio. They also introduced in that year their highly efficient Airmaster—an air filtration system that would work with all of its professional chainsaws.

In 2002, the Dolmar Corporation unveiled its line of professional hedge trimmers; complete with a new-age and very ergonomic handle system. In 2005, due to increasing energy costs around the globe, Dolmar stepped up and extended its line of wood splitters and circular saws, making it easier for individuals to ready firewood to heat their home.

In the year 2004, Dolmar began selling the PS-5000 chainsaw, a model that included very high RPMs and lightning-like acceleration. Then, in 2005, the company invented the world’s lightest gasoline powered chainsaw to date, a model it called the PS-221 TH. In 2007, the Dolmar Company celebrated its 80th anniversary and the company is still going strong to this day.

Dolmar has a history littered with new inventions, innovations and state-of-the-art products, and a reputation that is second to none in the world of power outdoor equipment and accessories.

Dolmar and Makita Chainsaws

As you can see, the Dolmar Corporation has a history quite unlike any other equipment company, but a history one might expect from a company that invented the world’s first gas powered chainsaw.

Part of that history occurred in 1921, when Makita took over Dolmar—a move that expanded the market considerably for chainsaws and other power equipment. Today, the chainsaws made in the Hamburg, Germany factory are marketed with both the Dolmar and Makita name, but there is very little to no difference between the two brands.

The Dolmar name had always meant quality when it came to their chainsaws, just as the Makita name has always been well-respected for its impressive line of power tools. Thus, the borrowing of the name Makita to expand chainsaw sales was basically a no-brainer.

With a Makita chainsaw, just like with a Dolmar chainsaw, you can expect:

Easy Starts

The Makita chainsaw offers smoother and more dependable starts in any type of weather and 30 percent less pull resistance.

Touch and Stop

The Makita chainsaw has a single choke/run/stop lever that offers simple stops with just one touch. It also offers a Lock-Off position to prevent accidental starting.

Light and Durable

The Makita chainsaw has magnesium housing for improved durability and less weight. The optional heavy-duty cartridge air filter system offers extended air filter life and improved durability.

Powerful

With its die cast cylinder – with closed transfer ports – the fuel exchange is vastly improved, which in turn leads to greater power.

Versatile

The optional full-wrap and heated handle on the Makita chainsaw leads to greater versatility.

Easy Maintenance

With its floating rim sprocket, the Makita Chainsaw is easy to maintain and has improved chain life in comparison to the competition.

Easy adjustment

The Makita chainsaw features two bar studs and side access chain tensioning for easy adjustment.

Efficient

The Makita Chainsaw features 13,800 RPM – compared to 12,000 on some models. This leads to faster acceleration and makes it much more efficient in terms of cutting performance.

Reduced Vibration

With its steel spring vibration mounts, the Makita chainsaw is engineered to reduce vibration, making it easier to use for long periods of time.

As you can see, whether the chainsaw you own says Dolmar or Makita, you can expect many years of quality, performance and durability.