Thanks... Thomasg...That is great information
Wow Ken....Thanks for the great history....Some of those companies names sounds familiar to me...Don't know if I have seen, heard or own anyMumbleypeg wrote: ↑Tue Jan 23, 2024 6:02 am It can be confusing because there were two Charles Platts. The older who was trained in Sheffield, and a son also named Charles (Charlie). Neither of whom had anything to do with Western States - that was Harvey Platts who was one of the Platts sons. Per Levine’s Guide to Knives: (hope I got all this right)
Charles W. Platts learned the cutlery trade in Sheffield, England, becoming master cutler and learning skills needed to be a factory superintendent. He left and immigrated to the United States, where in 1872 he was hired as superintendent of Northfield Knife Company in Connecticut. While there his sons Harvey, Charlie, Ray, Joe, and Frank Platts were apprentice cutlers. Charles held that position with Northfield until 1891, when J.B.F. Champlin hired him to start Cattaraugus Cutlery in Little Valley, N.Y.
In 1896 he left Cattaraugus to start C. Platts & Sons Cutlery Co. in Gowanda N.Y., where he uwas joined by his sons. Charles W. Platts died in 1900, his sons taking over the business which by then had relocated to Eldred, Pa.
Russell Case left Cattaraugus Cutery and founded W.R. Case & Son Cutlery Co. in 1902, also in Little Valley N.Y. (he named it for his father W.R. Case who was also his chief financial backer). The company was a jobber whose knives were made primarily by C. Platts & Sons and Napanoch. (At the time W. R. Case Cutlery had no manufacturing of its own).
Harvey Platts was married to Russ Case’s sister. In about 1904 Russ Case hired his brother-in-law Harvey Platts, bought out the other Platts brothers and moved the equipment acquired from C. Platts and Sons to Bradford, PA. Russ Case now had a factory, and in Harvey Platts he got a business partner. Harvey was manufacturing superintendent, freeing Russ Case to run the company and sales. The company name was changed to W.R. Case & Sons.
Harvey Platts left in 1911 and moved to Colorado, on advice of his doctors due to having contracted “grinder’s consumption”. A few years later he started Western States Cutlery. Having no manufacturing capability for the first few years, Western got their knives primarily from W.R. Case & Sons. Within a few years they built a factory.
Platts Bros Cutlery, Andover, N.Y. Charlie, Ray, Joe, & Frank Platts
Union Knife Works was in operation in Endicott, N.Y. ~1911-1913, Charlie Platts was superintendent, Joe Platts manufacturing foreman.
Eureka Cutlery Company was In Nicholson, PA. Charlie Platts was superintendent 1913-1915.
Thomaston Cutlery Comoany, Thomaston, CT. Charlie Platts manger 1916-1930
Remington Arms Company, Bridgeport, CT. Charlie Platts, head cutler
Harvey Platts started Western States Cutlery in 1911 and remained until his death in 1947. Sons Harvey, Harlow, and Reginald ran the company for many more years until it was sold in 1984 to Coleman.
Ken
Ken, I always enjoy sitting in on your history classes. Thank you.Mumbleypeg wrote: ↑Tue Jan 23, 2024 6:02 am It can be confusing because there were two Charles Platts. The older who was trained in Sheffield, and a son also named Charles (Charlie). Neither of whom had anything to do with Western States - that was Harvey Platts who was one of the Platts sons. Per Levine’s Guide to Knives: (hope I got all this right)
Charles W. Platts learned the cutlery trade in Sheffield, England, becoming master cutler and learning skills needed to be a factory superintendent. He left and immigrated to the United States, where in 1872 he was hired as superintendent of Northfield Knife Company in Connecticut. While there his sons Harvey, Charlie, Ray, Joe, and Frank Platts were apprentice cutlers. Charles held that position with Northfield until 1891, when J.B.F. Champlin hired him to start Cattaraugus Cutlery in Little Valley, N.Y.
In 1896 he left Cattaraugus to start C. Platts & Sons Cutlery Co. in Gowanda N.Y., where he uwas joined by his sons. Charles W. Platts died in 1900, his sons taking over the business which by then had relocated to Eldred, Pa.
Russell Case left Cattaraugus Cutery and founded W.R. Case & Son Cutlery Co. in 1902, also in Little Valley N.Y. (he named it for his father W.R. Case who was also his chief financial backer). The company was a jobber whose knives were made primarily by C. Platts & Sons and Napanoch. (At the time W. R. Case Cutlery had no manufacturing of its own).
Harvey Platts was married to Russ Case’s sister. In about 1904 Russ Case hired his brother-in-law Harvey Platts, bought out the other Platts brothers and moved the equipment acquired from C. Platts and Sons to Bradford, PA. Russ Case now had a factory, and in Harvey Platts he got a business partner. Harvey was manufacturing superintendent, freeing Russ Case to run the company and sales. The company name was changed to W.R. Case & Sons.
Harvey Platts left in 1911 and moved to Colorado, on advice of his doctors due to having contracted “grinder’s consumption”. A few years later he started Western States Cutlery. Having no manufacturing capability for the first few years, Western got their knives primarily from W.R. Case & Sons. Within a few years they built a factory.
Platts Bros Cutlery, Andover, N.Y. Charlie, Ray, Joe, & Frank Platts
Union Knife Works was in operation in Endicott, N.Y. ~1911-1913, Charlie Platts was superintendent, Joe Platts manufacturing foreman.
Eureka Cutlery Company was In Nicholson, PA. Charlie Platts was superintendent 1913-1915.
Thomaston Cutlery Comoany, Thomaston, CT. Charlie Platts manger 1916-1930
Remington Arms Company, Bridgeport, CT. Charlie Platts, head cutler
Harvey Platts started Western States Cutlery in 1911 and remained until his death in 1947. Sons Harvey, Harlow, and Reginald ran the company for many more years until it was sold in 1984 to Coleman.
Ken
I'll second that motiondoglegg wrote: ↑Tue Jan 23, 2024 2:45 pmKen, I always enjoy sitting in on your history classes. Thank you.Mumbleypeg wrote: ↑Tue Jan 23, 2024 6:02 am It can be confusing because there were two Charles Platts. The older who was trained in Sheffield, and a son also named Charles (Charlie). Neither of whom had anything to do with Western States - that was Harvey Platts who was one of the Platts sons. Per Levine’s Guide to Knives: (hope I got all this right)
Charles W. Platts learned the cutlery trade in Sheffield, England, becoming master cutler and learning skills needed to be a factory superintendent. He left and immigrated to the United States, where in 1872 he was hired as superintendent of Northfield Knife Company in Connecticut. While there his sons Harvey, Charlie, Ray, Joe, and Frank Platts were apprentice cutlers. Charles held that position with Northfield until 1891, when J.B.F. Champlin hired him to start Cattaraugus Cutlery in Little Valley, N.Y.
In 1896 he left Cattaraugus to start C. Platts & Sons Cutlery Co. in Gowanda N.Y., where he uwas joined by his sons. Charles W. Platts died in 1900, his sons taking over the business which by then had relocated to Eldred, Pa.
Russell Case left Cattaraugus Cutery and founded W.R. Case & Son Cutlery Co. in 1902, also in Little Valley N.Y. (he named it for his father W.R. Case who was also his chief financial backer). The company was a jobber whose knives were made primarily by C. Platts & Sons and Napanoch. (At the time W. R. Case Cutlery had no manufacturing of its own).
Harvey Platts was married to Russ Case’s sister. In about 1904 Russ Case hired his brother-in-law Harvey Platts, bought out the other Platts brothers and moved the equipment acquired from C. Platts and Sons to Bradford, PA. Russ Case now had a factory, and in Harvey Platts he got a business partner. Harvey was manufacturing superintendent, freeing Russ Case to run the company and sales. The company name was changed to W.R. Case & Sons.
Harvey Platts left in 1911 and moved to Colorado, on advice of his doctors due to having contracted “grinder’s consumption”. A few years later he started Western States Cutlery. Having no manufacturing capability for the first few years, Western got their knives primarily from W.R. Case & Sons. Within a few years they built a factory.
Platts Bros Cutlery, Andover, N.Y. Charlie, Ray, Joe, & Frank Platts
Union Knife Works was in operation in Endicott, N.Y. ~1911-1913, Charlie Platts was superintendent, Joe Platts manufacturing foreman.
Eureka Cutlery Company was In Nicholson, PA. Charlie Platts was superintendent 1913-1915.
Thomaston Cutlery Comoany, Thomaston, CT. Charlie Platts manger 1916-1930
Remington Arms Company, Bridgeport, CT. Charlie Platts, head cutler
Harvey Platts started Western States Cutlery in 1911 and remained until his death in 1947. Sons Harvey, Harlow, and Reginald ran the company for many more years until it was sold in 1984 to Coleman.
Ken
