Creative Woodworks & Crafts-050-1998-winter, страница 56

In 1979, Shirley and Galen Erdley started Galen Erdley, creator of the on a road to S.A.G.E. scroll saw. adventure neither of

them would have ever thought possible. Their children raised and grandchildren abounding, the pair led a full life in the small country town of Highland, Kansas. Then they decided that it was time to claim something solely for themselves.

The road to Missouri

While on a trip to Arkansas, searching for materials with which to construct their dream house, the Erdleys happened to pass through Branson, Missouri. Not pressed for time, they spent a few days in Branson and fell in love with the area. While there, Shirley also discovered an interest in woodcrafting.

More trips followed, and with each excursion the two became a bit more attached to Missouri, until they finally decided to build a summer home there and start business.

Some sage advice

In their travels, Shirley and Galen met a man who had built his own scroll saw. He offered the Erdleys, who were fascinated by this possibility, tips on constructing one for themselves. They purchased some of the parts he was selling and began drafting the plans for their

first saw. _

In 1984, S.A.G.E. (for Shirley and Galen Erdley) Creations was bom. Its first home was a small shop near Branson. During this time, sons Rick and Mike had also moved to Missouri to help run the business. Galen had by now completed his homemade

scroll saw, which Mike was immediately taken with. From then on, he scrolled most everything, until his untimely death in 1 986.

Eventually, the Erdleys moved into a house with a workshop, and Rick, determined to take Mike's place, taught himself to use the scroll saw. His determination finally paid off, and within a year he became an excellent scroll sawyer.

In 1 987, the Erdleys again moved their shop, this time to Mutton Hollow, Missouri. Naturally, they brought their homemade scroll saw with them. The S.A.G.E. saw was such a novelty that it helped draw people into the shop. The Erdley family stayed at this location for two years, with

Galen improving upon his saw design all the while. After a few more improvements, Galen sold his first scroll saw.

Another move brought the shop to Engler's Block, a craft mall in Branson; this proved to be a very profitable venture. Galen's scroll saw began to sell so well that they had a six-month waiting list for orders. Rick, still diligently working on his scroll sawing techniques, became well-known in the region for his talents, a combination of both his determination and the precision saw on which he worked.

The S.A.G.E. scroll saw comes with an 1 8" arm and is built entirely of oak, save for the blade, the motor, a few screws to The S.A.G.E. scroll saw is built almost entirely of m hold it all together, and oak, and each is individually numbered._p® some necessary hardware. Each saw is individually numbered, and is renowned for its lack of vibration. Each saw takes approximately two weeks to build, and at $795 is really quite a bargain.

Scroll World