I'm not sure that going by maker is the best way to obtain a good saw - well, not in the UK anyway.
Saw manufacture in North America was dominated by about four companies, of which one, Disston, eventually hoovered up the opposition and effectively became a monopoly supplier. In the UK, there were hundreds of makers, some large and some small, and pretty well all of them made decent saws, some of them for only a few years, some for a couple of centuries. Thus, there are some names that crop up a lot, and some that are rare, but there's no real correlation between quality and whether they're common or scarce.
If you're buying a couple as users rather than setting out to collect, perhaps better to look for something with a straight blade, not too rusty, and perhaps with a handle design that you like. I find the older 19th century style handles to be more comfortable than the modern pared-down aesthetic 'blocky' ones, but preferences do vary. As a woodworker, you can do something about handles - reshape or replace - but from experience, doing something about bent blades is a lot more challenging!
Buying from internet auctions can be a bit hit and miss, and it's probably wise to accept a fairly high 'lemon' rate if you buy cheap ones. It may be wise to pay more (web auction or dealer) for sizes and tooth configurations you want, rather than spending the same to end up with three good 'uns and six scrappers.
That's my experience, anyway!
