Could not see the forest the trees are in the way

lt632ret · Post by **lt632ret** » Tue Sep 25, 2007 4:00 pm

I recently saw this display case and as some of you may know I am addicted to these so as usual I overpaid and got it. My rational was that it was an early Union ie Union Kabar knife case . My rational ( such as it was ) for needing it was that it would be just dandy for my Union KA-BAR automatic collection . When I got it I realized it was a razor display box . Which is fine since I am addicted to them as well and usually have more razors than displays for them anyway. I kept looking at the display and knew that I had seen the logo before it was oddly familiar. Then I realized that I had been looking at it for weeks almost every day. It is the same as the cover on David ( PA Knives ) book. Once I relized this I thought some of the readers might like to see it. LT

ea42 · Post by **ea42** » Wed Sep 26, 2007 2:50 am

LT, what a find! I doubt there are many of those around. Coincidently I just got the book yesterday and started reading it tonight. What an excellent book! I just read that Union Razor operated in Tidioute from 1902 to 1912(11?), when it relocate to Olean, NY. I'll bet David would love to see that one, get ready for a ton of drool icons!

Eric

orvet · Post by **orvet** » Wed Sep 26, 2007 4:14 am

Wow! Look at the detail on the corners of the case.
They don't make them like that any more, and haven't made them like that in a long long time!
Very nice.

Dale

Gr8Scout · Post by **Gr8Scout** » Wed Sep 26, 2007 9:08 am

what a way cool find.
Phil

LRV · Post by **LRV** » Wed Sep 26, 2007 1:11 pm

Oh, to have a time machine to go back just a few decades...

LT, Nice addition to your collection. Where will you put this one?

TTYL
Larry

lt632ret · Post by **lt632ret** » Wed Sep 26, 2007 4:12 pm

Actually razor displays are fairly small and I usually put them on shelves in a bathroom.
Strange that you should make comment on going back in time. I recently did an article for the AKA switchblade news letter ( it should be out this month ) regarding this very subject. I recently purchased a Kent knife sharpener cleaning machine at a patent prototype sale. These were popular from the mid 1800s until the 1920tys. A knife is inserted the wheel spun and inside was a grind stone with a notch in the middle for the knife to fit in and brushes to clean the knife as the wheel turned ( crocus powder was put in as an abrasive agent ) and it did a good job on carbon knifes which other wise would have soon rusted. It was from the estate of an elderly man whose grandfather had been a friend of T Edison. In fact the estate was in Tuxedo NY which is not far from me it is and was an exclusive community of mansions and old estates. It is where the term for the mens, dinner dining ware came from ( the tuxedo ) as well as the name ( again the Tuxedo pattern ) for a double bladed bow center knife pattern this style of pocketknife was also called the Jenny Lind pattern ( after a famous singer of that time period. ).

When I got the item home I found the machine a bit stiff ( to be expected from an item that old ). However when I looked inside I found not the normal stone and brushes. It had wires like a crude transformer and crystals similar to resisters. In any event it lead to a rather unusual experience. It is all to long and complicated to explain however I am posting a pic of an item I ( er brought back ). I had never seen one of these boxes. It also was just one of the artifacts. Yes indeed it is a very strange knife sharpener. I go into this much deeper in the article. Perhapes when it comes out someone can post the whole story. LT

ea42 · Post by **ea42** » Wed Sep 26, 2007 6:28 pm

LT,
Seems like they turned the knife sharpener into a generator

, Thomas Edison wasn't involved with that family, was he?

. Say, seeing as you brought that box home with you, I'm wondering if there might have been a few knives available from those Co-Op participants as well.

Eric

lt632ret · Post by **lt632ret** » Wed Sep 26, 2007 9:22 pm

There are several grails of this history that are virtually impossible to locate among them are examples of the Walden Knife CoO NY knives. This tang was only used from 1871 until 1876. Actually when the cutlers from NYK walked out ( over a dispute with Col Bradley, owner of NYK over playing baseball during lunch in 1870 ) and began Walden knife shortly there after some of the cutlers argued among them selves and while they were still affialiated they went on there own venture which had this name and was to fail in 76 and become Ellenville knife also known as Ulster ( both of these markings can be found.) Walden CoO was actually the first name of Walden knife and the first name of Ellenville and or Ulster. Now remember these knives were made in Walden. Any artifacts from this company are extremely rare some collectors claimed that they did not exist for many years that is how rare examples are. If you find this confusing that is because it is . I have included B Levines comment from his forth edition book ( which is a wonderful reference). I also have included some pics of one of these knives . Which I must have inadvertantly slipped into my pocket when I went back in time.

upnorth · Post by **upnorth** » Wed Sep 26, 2007 9:44 pm

AHA!! A time machine!!! I knew it!! How else could- - -oh never mind. Nice Co-O LT, only one I've ever seen!
Saaaayyyy, when you crank that machine do you hear the clip-clop of horses hooves??

!

ea42 · Post by **ea42** » Wed Sep 26, 2007 10:05 pm

Man that's nice! So that's what all that flashing was in the sky past Ellenville last night, I thought it was heat lightning. I just had the thought that it would be hard for someone to distinguish between the Walden Knife Co tang and the Co-op tang with a quick glance. Perhaps I may have overlooked it as well?...No such luck

Eric

jonet143 · Post by **jonet143** » Wed Sep 26, 2007 10:38 pm

LT, i hope you don't mind. i lightened up a couple of your pics to show more detail.

El Lobo · Post by **El Lobo** » Wed Sep 26, 2007 10:56 pm

johnnie,

That is why you are the MEGA Moderator.

Thanks for looking out for us, and you're getting good at this picture stuff.

bill

jonet143 · Post by **jonet143** » Wed Sep 26, 2007 11:18 pm

thanks bill, i've never seen the stamp myself and i wanted to drink it in, kinda like crown.

orvet · Post by **orvet** » Thu Sep 27, 2007 2:59 pm

I should know better than to look at LT's knives without a cover over my key board. I drooled all over it and shorted out ANOTHER keyboard.

LT, let me know next time you fire up the time machine, I would like to give you an order before you go back there again!

Seriously, thank you for posting these knives. They are probably the only examples of a Walden Co-Op knife that most of us will ever see.

Dale

Gunsmoke47 · Post by **Gunsmoke47** » Thu Sep 27, 2007 3:18 pm

LT, I don't respond to your posts very often because I am, quite frankly, an idiot when it comes to cutlery. The only upside to this is the fact that I realize it and can deal with it!

I do however, read (and look forward to) every one of your posts. The knowledge you share with all of us is wonderful. But how in the world a man of less than 150 years old could amass such a fine collection of not only cutlery items but all the go alongs with them is beyond me! Kuddos, Kelley

PA Knives · Post by **PA Knives** » Tue Dec 11, 2007 6:54 pm

I have opened this thread once again for a very good reason in my opinion. I happened upon this item on an auction site after it had already been sold.

I was heart broken, as it was a PERFECT piece for my collection and interest for obvious reasons.

Well I contacted the auction site and they kindly put me in touch with the new owner. It turned out to be our own beloved LT.

I then saw this thread and I could not beleive what I was looking at.

I was also KICKING my self for having not seeing it prior to the auction closing.

I humbly contacted LT to see if there was any way that he might consider parting with this historic piece.

Being the gentlemen that he is and understanding the wants and desires of a similar knife nut, he carefully decided that if I REALLY wanted it, He would reluctantly do so.

Well, today it arrived on my door step.

OH MY GAWD, for me Christmas came today. It is a thing of beauty in my eyes. My wife wondered if I ever looked at her that way. "YES I DO" but for different reasons.

LT is one of the finest knife people I know. He ranks right up there with Mike Losicco and many other of you outstanding people on have had the pleasure of knowing. To think that he would allow this piece to leave his personal collection of artifacts on cultery is amazing to me.

Thank you LT, you have no idea just how much I appreciate you allowing me to own this. I am truly honored.

Gang, here is one fine person. "and man does he know his knives"

Thank you for allowing me to express my gratitude.

upnorth · Post by **upnorth** » Tue Dec 11, 2007 8:10 pm

Pictures please!! or a URL!
You da man, LT! Poor PA just doesn't have enough knives

!

Sauconian · Post by **Sauconian** » Tue Dec 11, 2007 8:33 pm

Come on Charlie, David must be talking about the Union razor case on the previous page. He was just so excited, and babbling on, that he forgot to tell us what he was so excited about.

Can you imagine anyone getting that worked up over an old box ?

My, my, I think I'll go fondle and wax a couple of old knives now.

David, tell me I'm wrong so I can take the plasic cover off my keyboard !

Fran

upnorth · Post by **upnorth** » Wed Dec 12, 2007 1:11 am

Duh! I get it. It was so many months ago (3), I thought they were onto something new. Of course it is a perfect fit for "the guy from Tidioute"!
Thanks again for the old HJ, Fran! You are a generous guy yourself!!

Sauconian · Post by **Sauconian** » Wed Dec 12, 2007 3:30 am

You are welcome Charlie.

Orvet and Galvanic have repaid me. It all comes around.

Just keep the photos and history lessons coming....young fellow.

Fran

Sauconian · Post by **Sauconian** » Wed Dec 12, 2007 3:46 am

BTW David,

LT didn't give up a prized possesion to just another knife nut, but to another historian.

You both will leave behind not just a collection of artifacts, but knowledge for all who will follow.

Thank you both, for all that I learn and enjoy.

Fran

coalminer · Post by **coalminer** » Wed Dec 12, 2007 4:48 am

Justold, we know where our ol' whisky barrel went now!!Looks like they
put a crank on it, it'll blow & kill a half dozen!

That was a great find
LT but a greater justure!!

I love it when you'll let the ol' times ROLL

PA Knives · Post by **PA Knives** » Wed Dec 12, 2007 10:36 am

YUP!!

I got caught up in the fun and see that I didn't mention that it is the Tidioute display case. I will get a picture up of it FULL of Tidioute knives and razors etc. It set by my head all night last night. OH my I am crazy. But this thing just tickles my fancy and is such a wonderful addition.

Thanks for letting me express my joy.

upnorth · Post by **upnorth** » Thu Dec 13, 2007 12:22 am

See what you've done, LT?? He's sleeping with it

!!
I hope your wife doesn't mind, PA!!!

orvet · Post by **orvet** » Thu Dec 13, 2007 5:23 pm

Man, I am gone for a couple days and you guys are having a party!
I computer problems........too much drooling on the keyboard while looking at knife pics here on AAPK............don't know what happened to the printer though.

As one who has had the privilege of several purchases, trades, etc. with LT, I can honestly say that he is one of the most generous people I know, a real gentleman. I hold him in highest esteem, along with Al Mar & Les de Asis. All are/were Real Gentlemen and each a class act!

Dale