The Texas Chainsaw miracle stunt

Following Jim Moran’s success with the National West Virginia Axe Company, he was quickly employed a few months later by a little known Texas Saw Company.

Moran employed oarsmen from two competing rowing teams who came all the way from Washington for a cleverly devised photo opportunity. Using huge saws from the saw company, the oarsmen sawed through massive tree trunks that had been felled earlier in the day in an attempt to show how sharp and easy to use the saws were, whilst also proving to be a great way to “work out” for the oarsmen.

The public watched as the men sawed through 4ft thick tree trunks in record time. The picture was splashed across numerous newspapers, and once again Moran had succeeded to promote a seemingly dull product by means of his amazing creativity and brilliant ideas.

Over 40 years later in 1974, a young ambitious writer/director called Tobe Hooper was inspired by this photograph to make one of the most horrific and apocalyptic movies of the 20th Century.