Linder Ohligs Morningstar

[Capt. Farrel]

A few days ago I was lucky to win on a Linder Morningstar. The "Morningstar" brand seems to be gone for a long time and you just see them sporadically on Ebay. I am not quite familliar with the Linder history but their website states that they still produce knives in Solingen-Ohligs. Nevertheless a good part of their knives seem to come from China today. I might be wrong and would love to hear from the specialists.
This knife looks like it was never used. It had a bit of rust and was dull overall so I did some sanding and polishing. Does anybody know about the brand of this particular knife?

[jerryd6818]

Even though I've had a Linder on my wish list for a long time, I know nothing about them That is one fine looking jack. Congratulations.

[Capt. Farrel]

Thank you Jerry! Unfortunately the main blade shows some pitting. I didn´t want to grind too much material of it so I left it like this. It´s been a ling time since Linder operated under the name "Linder & Co. Ohligs" so I suppose the knife is at least 30 to 40 years old.

[basser5]

Linder & Co., Junkerwerk, Solingen. ...Brand name Morning Star (Morgenstern)
Registered in 1898 by Eduard Linder. Still in Business as of 1998


Tim

[jerryd6818]

Actually (in my opinion) it's in excellent condition for it's age. I'm tickled to get the knives I collect in comparable condition. That's a very nice pattern and a very nice example as well.

[Capt. Farrel]

Thank you Tim! They work now under the name "Carl Linder Nachf. e.K." which means "Carl Linder successor, registered merchant". It seems that the Linder company was split at some point in time. The Linder Junkerwerk in Solingen is now producing foamed plastics and a Linder GmbH in Ohligs is making canvas blinds! I wonder if they are connected in any way...

@Jerry: This was easy, just a bit of sanding and a few seconds on the buffer. Some collectors want to keep their knives in the most original condition but I just don´t like them rusty and dull....

[basser5]

Your welcome Frank!

Carl Linder Nachf was a different company.
It was originally Carl and Robert Linder Stahlwaren-fabrik.

I have reference to over a dozen Linder companies that the families intertwine.
If you would like this info Frank, i would be happy to send it to you.


Tim

[Capt. Farrel]

That would be nice Tim! I have won another Linder Morningstar (cornering the market here... ) which will need a bit more TLC, so knowing the company that made them would add to it.

[Miller Bro's]

That knife was made before 1940, IMO

Nice old knife

[basser5]

Pm sent.......Happy reading


Tim

[Capt. Farrel]

Tim´s documents show (thank´s again Tim!) that the jack knife was produced anywhere between 1939 and 1970.

@Miller Bro´s: It´s interesting that you put it to 1939 as I would have thought it would be from around 1965 to 1970, but this is an uneducated guess by me anyway...

[Capt. Farrel]

Meanwhile I won another Linder Morningstar (guess I am kinda hooked....). This one is a stockman and it´s condition is not as good as the one before. There´s a little rust on the blades which can be removed easily but the handles are made of celloloid. There is a bit of shrinkage and staining of the shield and the pins so a re-handle of the knife would be good. I will wait with it until I feel more sure-footed in doing such a job. Don´t want to spoil this one....







Dang, can´t stop...

[Miller Bro's]

I would not worry about the blades they look good with the patina on them, however I would worry about that celluloid out gassing, if it is not doing so already and that is what caused the spots on the blades. If that is the case you will need to remove the handles right away before any more damage is done.

[Capt. Farrel]

Yes, the handles will have to go. Unbelievable they used cello for so long...

[Miller Bro's]

This one was made in the 1980`s, never used, just decided to self destruct one day

[Capt. Farrel]

Wow, selfdestruct is the right word! I simply can´t believe why they used potential hazardous stuff like cello for so long.
I would have thought that it was banned long ago..... Do you know how long it took to desintegrate like this?

[Miller Bro's]

I would have thought that it was banned long ago.....

IIRC it was banned, but who is going to enforce it?

Do you know how long it took to disintegrate like this?

Could have been a couple days, a week or a month, don`t know exactly. It was fine when I bought a box full of knives, I put these newer ones aside and the next time I went inside the box, no more than 6 months later, this is what I found

This stuff is like a time bomb, it is sure to go off you just don`t know exactly when

[Capt. Farrel]

Goodness, that is quick! I´ve read so much about cello here that I started to avoid it. Timebomb is the right designation for those knives....