American Knife Co. Thomaston

[stockman]

Really Nice Knife.

Harold

[FRJ]

Thank you, Harold.
I've got a neat old Southington Cut. Co. in Knife Lore too. And a Terrier as well.

[FRJ]

I just got this info from a friend that knows a collector that lives in Conn, cool reading.

I would like to share with you this true story.
This week I went to a local jewelry store and spoke to the 72 year old owner that lived in Winsted hid whole life.
He told me the following story. He lived one street over from Highland lake where the first EMPIRE knife company was located.
Empire first operated out of this building using the overflow of the water from the lake to get power to run the equipment to make the knives. In 1903 to 1906 Empire move to a new building built just for them and by a larger water stream to have adiquite power
to make the knives. The old building buy the lake was used for other businesses. In 1955 whenWinsted had the great flood
the American knife company was using this lake building and making knives. On the morning of the 1955 flood the jewelry store owner woke up to a loud bang and crash. The excess water flowing from the lake was undermining the foundation of the American knife company factory. The flood took the building and all the knives and washed them downstream. The jewelry store owner was
11 years old boy at this time. He told me he walked along the banks of the river and picked up knives by the 5 gallon pail.
he said he gave knives to all his friends and relatives. I never new that the American Knife company used the first Empire Knife Building. it was a very interesting story to me. I hope you enjoy it.
Tom"

Mike, thanks for that story. I'm sorry it got ignored.
I wanted it to be seen and read again and I wanted to show off this old pruner in this thread.

Also, I want to show an "American Winsted" that Mike was referring to. American Knife Co., Winsted Ct.