The Remains of the Knife Factories of Yesterday

[LongBlade]

I figured you may have been by it Tom .... I did see the sign for Ted's famous steamed cheeseburgers - next time we will stop - got to go back and find Meriden Cutlery and Meriden Britannia (International Silver)... for those who don't know CT is famous for their steamed cheeseburgers

Tom - you ever been to the Industrial Museum in New Britain which features a LF&C exhibit? I heard there are a few knives... but its not clear to me whether the old LF&C Cutlery building is still there... Thats' on the list too among many others

[bestgear]

Yes Lee, I've been in contact with the curator of the museum for about the last 6 years. She's been instrumental in helping me assemble the documentation I've needed for the book I'm writing on Landers, Frary & Clark. They have a few pocket knives in their collection but nowhere near the 200+ model that they made over their 27 year history of making pocket knives.

The original factory no longer stands but there are plenty of other factories that still do in New Britain (Fafnir Bearing, Stanley Works and North & Judd to name a few) that were worth photographing.

My father's second cousin was a Collin's and we used to visit him at the factory in Collinsville before they closed in 1966. I was given a 1942 horn handled Raider Gung-Ho knife by his cousin that I consider amongst my most treasured possessions. I used to love fishing for trout on the Farmington River just below the factory dam. That brings back wonderful memories of growing up in Connecticut.

[FRJ]

Lee, great pictures of Miller Bro. Good effort.

Interesting stories bestgear. Look forward to the book.

[cattaraugus57]

Quite interesting Fellas...thanks for taking the time to keep this thread going.

[SolWarrior]

Bestgear, did that 27 year span take place at the beginning - 1912-1939? God's speed on your book.

[bestgear]

Thanks Sol. Upon further research and collaboration with a fellow LF&C aficionado, we have determine the pocket knife run to be 38 years (from 1912 to 1950) and not the 27 years that I previously stated. Nonetheless, the number of models is astonishing considering that they manufactured much more than pocket knives. We hope to have a book published in early 2018. Tom

[Beechtree]

Lee, That is really some fantastic shots of the Miller Bros. factory, I am pleased to know it is still in existence. I am glad you made the trip and shared it with us here.

Tom, Good for you! I too, along with Joe, look forward to the book. Can you tell me more about the dating of LF&C into 1950? I have been under the impression that while the table cutlery continued until 1950, pocket cutlery was discontinued sometime around the early 1930s. I like old catalogs and the latest catalogs I have seen were from sometime around 1930, with most of the advertising being done from the teens and twenties. If you would like to keep your information for the book and not post it here, I completely understand, I just wanted to ask if you could share some insight?

[wlf]

Tom ,I look forward to the book,good for you.

Joe you are a great contributor to this forum.