Does anyone else think this isn't safe?

Gees Del.
Your childhood sounds about as dangerous as mine was.
I used to operate the bar end of one of these saws for my Dad.
Could you imagine what they would do to a parent these days for having a 10 year old kid on this thing?
We used to ride on the fenders of tractors, and on top of a load of stacked wood on the way home with a 2 ton Chevy flatbed.
Child protective services would have had a field day with parents back then.