some plans and instructions for making pedal powered devices
http://www.mayapedal.org/machines.en
easy to see how a few devices like these would make life easier in no power times.
Some great stuff here PF ....many thanks!
we used to see pedal powered light bulbs and washing machines at The Big Green Gathering near Cheddar, lots of "Alternative" things going on there, shame it shut down cos of licensing issues, but we see a lot of similar things at The Green Scythe Fair every year.
Only thing I wondered about this device was that there was no weight on the other end of the saw. Therefore how long would it take for the blade to go through the log.
You saw wood you are pushing down on the cut so my thought would be some kind of weight on the other end of the blade.
Just thoughts.