In the early 1900's there really was a magic circle.
Less than 100 miles of two states held all the names we know and love and then some. Competition was strong and only a handful would survive the test of time.
While some of them were "jobbers" and not manufactures they were having their products produced within the circle.
In the 1920's the following companies existed in that 100 mile range
Union Cutlery, Olean, NY Cattaraugus Cutlery, Little Valley, NY W.R. Case & Sons, Bradford, PA
Coleman Cutlery, Titusville, PA Schatt&Morgan, Tiyusville, PA Kinfolks, Little Valley, NY
Cuba Knife Co., Cuba, NY Jess V. Crouch, Titusville, PA Queen City, Titusville, PA
K. Corp, Titusville, PA Robinson Knife Co., Bradford, PA Chris Wolf, Titusville, PA
Baldwin Cutlery Co, Tidioute, PA Standard Knife Co. Bradford, PA
With the great depression looming in the near future and such intense competition in a small area Baldwin Cutlery is sold to Vern Atkins, a local cutler. It was renamed the Penn Cutlery & Tool Company of Tidioute, PA.
This is one of my favorite areas to visit. Imagine what it must have been like when all those companies existed with 100 miles of one another. Imagine the knives that are still in that area and yet to be discovered in grandpa and grandmas attic and basement.
Thank you David Anthony for having such a wonderful reference book of that area, makes visiting up there a lot of fun :)
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Craig Henry
I can remember guys telling me when I got into serious collecting many, many moons ago that when you go to the Bradford area it's like going to heaven. LOL!
Jan 16, 2013
Sue OldsWidow
would have been a long ride to deliver some of those jobbing knives too!.....now days a couple hours of sight seeing, back then a week or so ...such a wonderful time in history it must have been
Jan 16, 2013
Jan Carter
I honestly did not know this was coming out when I wrote this but it is kind of cool so I thought I would share
Jan 17, 2013