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Harrington Cutlery Company

Reply by Sue OldsWidow on September 8, 2012 at 12:45

History

Harrington Cutlery Company

The Harrington Cutlery Company was established in 1818, in Southbridge, Massachusetts by Henry Harrington, a New England craftsman and inventor. The Harrington Cutlery company was the first cutlery manufacturing company established in the United States. Harrington manufactured surgical equipment, shoe knives and firearms. Some of his firearms are on display at the Old Sturbridge Village Museum in Sturbridge, MA. In 1884, Harrington introduced the Dexter trade name. Named after one of his sons, Dexter Harrington, the Dexter line of kitchen and table cutlery became known for its high quality in American homes and restaurants.

Henry Harrington, a New England craftsman and inventor, established the first cutlery company in the United States on June 18, 1818 in Southbridge, Massachusetts. Harrington manufactured surgical equipment and shoe knives, as well as well crafted firearms. As his cutlery line expanded, he gradually discontinued his firearm business. In 1884, Harrington introduced the Dexter trade name. The Dexter line of fine kitchen and table cutlery soon gained a reputation for quality in America's homes and restaurants.

Dexter-Russell is the largest manufacturer of professional cutlery in the United States, and have maintained a tradition of excellence in both materials and workmanship. Dexter Russell is the proud successor to the two oldest American cutlery manufacturers: Harrington Cutlery Company and John Russell Cutlery Company. All of Dexter Russell’s products are made in the United States.

Dexter-Russell, Inc. manufactures professional cutlery products. It offers professional chef knives for use in restaurants, hotels, and other institutions; and meat, poultry, and seafood processing knives. The company also provides industrial knives and tools. In addition, it offers spatulas or turners for flipping, turning, serving, or scraping. The company offers its products through its stores and distributors, as well as online. Dexter-Russell, Inc. was formerly known as Russell Harrington Cutlery Company and changed its name to Dexter-Russell, Inc. in April 2004. The company was founded in 1933 and is based in Southbridge, Massachusetts with operations in Canada, the Russian Federation, and Mexico. Dexter-Russell, Inc. operates as a subsidiary of Affinity Group, Inc.

Lawrence R. "Red" Phipps 10/19/20-4/8/12

He was a US Army Veteran of World War II, serving in the Army Corps of Engineers and was a recipient of the Purple Heart.
Red was a foreman at Russell Harrington Cutlery Co. in Southbridge for 47 years, retiring several years ago.

He began as an engineer, craftsman, salesman and deliveryman. In those early days, Isaac P. Hyde did everything.

New England's leather and shoe industry needed high-quality knives to cut and shape its wares. Hyde saw the need and filled it. By budgeting his time, he could fashion the knives by hand, finish them, load them in his buggy, distribute them, factory to factory, and get back to Southbridge in time to sweep up the workshop.

From this modest beginning, Hyde built first a reputation, then a factory. By the close of the 19th century, he had expanded his line of knives to include custom styles for a variety of industrial uses. In 1917 another factory was built, this one in the shape of the letter H. Beyond the initial coincidence of that shape and the company name, the new building was designed for efficient work flow, improved illumination and expected expansion.

Hyde Timeline

1870 - Isaac P. Hyde establishes his company in Southbridge, Massachusetts, making knives for local industries.
1893 - Mr. Hyde sells his company to the LaCroix and Clemence families; the industrial knife product range is expanded.
1917 - The company moves into a modern new one-floor, H-layout building, designed for efficient work flow and improved illumination.
1925 - The H-layout is filled in with additions.
1927 - Hyde introduces its now-famous painting and decorating tools.
1953 - The factory gets a new large addition for the grinding department and machine shop.
1956 - Hyde introduces the "Card-O-Sell" packaging system.
1957 - Another addition is completed, housing the warehouse, engineering and computer department.
1960 - The shipping facility is enlarged; the executive offices are added.
1966 - A large new addition houses the heat treating department which is equipped with all-new equipment.
1968 - The Russell Harrington Cutlery Co. of Southbridge is acquired.

1974 - The new plant on Eastford Road is dedicated.
1975 - Hyde celebrates its 100th Year of Progress.
1978 - The heat treating department undergoes a major expansion.
1979 - The circular grinding department undergoes an expansion.
1980 - The Wilson Machine Knife Co., Inc. is acquired.
1981 - Gutmann Cutlery, Inc. is acquired.
1983 - The Exact Level Co. is acquired.
1984 - A new warehouse expansion is added to the plant.
1988 - Beaut-Ease Products is acquired.
1990 - Customer Focused Teams Installed.
1991 - The Exact Level division is divested.
1998 - The American Paint Paddle Co. is acquired.
1999 - Hyde attains ISO 9001 Registration.
2000 - Hyde celebrates its 125th Anniversary.
2001 - The Russell-Harrington Cutlery Co. is renamed Dexter-Russell, Inc.
2003 - Hyde Mfg. Co. becomes the corporate parent of The Hyde Group of companies.
2003 - The Wilson Machine Knife division is relocated to Southbridge.
2003 - A. Richard Ltd. is acquired (Mr. Richard, the founder, started his company after moving to Quebec in 1890, having spent 5 years learning his trade from Isaac Hyde).
2005 - Roman Decorating Products is acquired.
2005 - Hyde's painting and decorating tools undergo a major re-branding, modernizing this well known and respected brand.
2009 - Hyde's Industrial Blade Solutions division embarks on a major expansion.

Tags: Co, Company, Cutlery, Dexter-Russell, Gutmann, Harrington, Inc, Knife, Machine, Wilson