I have only used electric chain saws since roughly 2000. Remington was the brand I started with, good value for the money. I burnt up my first one in about 4-5 years, likely 16 to 20 cord, not the motor but a drive component, but bear in mind I use them hard. I have a couple of the latest model from home despot, they work and do the job, quality is just going down hill though, crappy plastic. bars and chains that come loose and need tightening all the time.
I have been buying older Remington saws when I find them at the restore and thought I would post a pick of my two favorite models that I highly recommend. So if you ever spot these models, they are a keeper, you should snatch them up!
The top model I think is from around the late 70s era, judging by the K-tel bass-o-matic yellow plastic ( who gets that reverence). The bar held tight and in place by a proper nut, that you can put a wrench on, instead of the now typical plastic wing nut assembly that any 200 pound gorilla can twist apart. Its light, nimble, only a 14 inch bar but that's often all you need, draws a modest 9 amps.
The lower unit has the 16 inch bar, again a proper nut for tightening the bar down, A nice large oil resivour, thats visible making checking your oil level easy, a diaphragm on the oil cap so you can pump in a good measure of oil if your really burying the blade and leaning into it. A solid cushened cross handle. I would guess a late 80s going into the 90s model. More powerful, drawing 13 amps. This model is a work horse. After this model Remington had 2 more styles, with quality going down hill as bean counters had more say in the design. I have these newer model as well but wont post pics as they are nothing special.
One thing that I have never seen before is on the yellow unit...It has a self sharpening feature. Note the threaded rod, with a grinding stone on the end. You screw this down until it just makes contact with the chain and each time the teeth swing around the drive pinion they are drug over the stone. A handy feature to have!
I paid 25 for the top one and 20 for the bottom, those prices are typical at the restores. 8 or 9 electric chainsaws put away now, so I am good for life, likely x 2.
There are of course high end electric chainsaws, 300 and up, those go outside my price range, I am only recommending these as I have found them to be good value for the money, and you can afford to have spares, thats always important.
Give a man a gun, and he can rob a bank. Give a man a bank, and he can rob the world.