Thomaston Sleeveboard Pen - Inlayed Shield and Patent

[LongBlade]

This is a Thomaston Sleeveboard Pen Knife I picked up in the last month or so which I think has a pretty cool story. Though I buy a pen knife on occasion it is not my first choice for a pattern style but something intrigued me when I saw a photo of the master blade back side which had stamped "patent applied for" - couldn't quite make it out but took the chance and won the knife. I didn't know what to make of it as I had read anybody could stamp "patent applied for" on their blades... of course folks want to see the patent number. After receiving the knife and confirming what I had seen, I did a patent search online and found the patent which is attached below. The knife is no doubt celluloid but I believe with binders based on color and density perhaps it is less likely to self-destruct based on what I have read but this knife has its own nice home away from the others anyway . The inlayed shield is celluloid and check out the surface as it appears to have been textured with a series of cuts that look like they were produced by a sharp multi-pointed comb (for lack of a better word). Charles W Platts was the inventor and ran Thomaston knife in the 1920s (you can see his signature on the bottom of patent diagram of this knife with a date of 1922 - the patent when published is dated 1924 on following pages). According to Platts this knife design had many advantages - including more durability and the ability to stamp your initials on the shield rather than do an expensive engraving which he states will tarnish anyway ... Please read the patent for a full description of claims and advantages if you are interested - I think you may enjoy it! {I think you can enlarge the patent photos for reading - wasn't sure if I could have downloaded the pdf which I have and thought the jpegs would work better. Also please let me know if you want the link to patent on the web and you can view other patents which Platts referenced for his claims and future patents that referenced Platts patent for their claims including the Imperial Knife company in 1945 and La San Marco di Francesco Bugatti & C. S.A.P.A. as late as 2007 for kitchen cutlery.

The knife itself is 3 & 1/4" closed, hard snap to both blades, no wobble and the blades look near full... Well here's the story in photos and patent at end.. I hope you enjoy it as much as I did... I really like this knife, to put it mildly, and a great addition to my collection !! (Now on to trying to get some pics of the Holley Hunter and a few others to post... I know you guys love photos as you said when I joined the forum )...

Lee

Here's the money shot

[msteele6]

There is a name for the style of celluloid used for the shield, it's called "waterfall".

Nice old knife.

[FRJ]

Beautiful knife there, Longblade and great documents too.
It must be Charles W. Platts Jr. in Thomaston at that time. C. W. Platts of Northfield passed in 1900.

[Colonel26]

Very cool knife, and story! I've never seen celluloid inlaid in celluloid before. That's a real neat old knife.

[wlf]

Thanks for the post Lb.You sure belong here.That's got to be a rare knife.

[LongBlade]

Thanks guys!!!

msteele6 - thanks for defining it for me as "waterfall" - when you turn it in the light you can see wierd shimmers coming off the shield..

It was Charles Jr - as you said FRJ not his father but interesting in that he didn't put Jr after his name but maybe that wasn't done often back in the early 1900s (and doubt he named more than one son Charles ... The Platts family - father and all 5 sons - were no doubt big in knife making from what I have read - I even think there are descendents still involved today if I remember correctly!!

wlf - thanks for those kind words!! It can be tough being the new kid on the block but you guys have made me feel at home here!

Lee

[FRJ]

The Northfield Mfg. area is fascinating to visit even if there are only foundations left and the large stone blocks that were mortised for anvils. History awaits.

[Beechtree]

Great looking sleeveboard Longblade
and great job on the foot work finding the appropriate documents.

[RobesonsRme.com]

Interesting knife and story. I like it.

Queen and Dollar knife put celluloid shields in celluloid handles. I suspect others did, as well.

David Clark has posted several knives here with yellow handles and red or blue shields.

Charlie Noyes

[knife7knut]

Interesting knife and story. I like it.

Queen and Dollar knife put celluloid shields in celluloid handles. I suspect others did, as well.


Charlie Noyes

I concur Charlie;a most interesting knife and story. I have one knife(shown at top of picture)that I cannot read the stamp on the tang but has celluloid scales with contrasting celluloid bolsters saw-toothed together.

[LongBlade]

Thanks again guys!! Lots of fun finding that one and doing the background search...

That is an interesting knife as well knife7knut with celluloid bolsters... I wonder if there is a patent for that design, ie - many patents reference others in their claims... the patent web link for my Thomaston knife patent is https://www.google.com.ar/patents/US1498886 Once you get to that one you can click on a few referenced patents and you will be able to access them... if celluloid is the object of the patent you just possibly may find one with celluloid bolsters as an improvement and then figure out the knife as it lacks the tang stamp... and keep in mind each patent will lead you to other patents... just a big tangled web

Lee

[FRJ]

Interesting link, Lee. it's great that it's on the forum.