Catalog Vintage question

[steve99f]

I fished out a catalog from the 'bay. Pictures attached, the cover and 2 interior pages. The cover has a ink stamp on it with a name and address that includes a zip code. Zips were mandatory @ 1968 but I have a repop of an earlier numbered catalog. This one has no number, no form number on any pages. 8 pages total including front and back covers. No color photos. I'm hesitant to use any knife marks I can see to base a date estimate as I know catalog illustrations may not have been updated to show current marks. Appreciate any help on this.

[steve99f]

After doing some more poking around I found a google book on the WR Case & Sons and in they had this catalog pictured with the caption that indicated this was the oldest catalog the factory had in its archive. This book was published in 2006 or 07. Also mentioned was the NRA stamp on the cover. This mark was not added after publication but as part of the cover art. It stands for the National Recovery Administration, a 30's era FDR socialistic enterprise whose reason for being was to restrict competition. This declared illegal in 1935. So is this catalog that old?

[Shearer]

Looks like zip codes with 5 numbers was introduced in 1963.
They did have codes earlier with only two numbers.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/ZIP_Code

Grant

[steve99f]

That is true what you say Grant about 1963 but according to wiki, it wasn't mandatory so I assumed that no one was using it. Maybe someone slightly more "experienced" could comment on the use of zip codes. I was around in 1963 but at 11 probably wasn't paying much attention to the zip code issue. Or in '68 for that matter.

Based on my second post I'm hoping I lucked into a much older catalog than the 60's. Although a 60's book would be a fine thing to have.

[Shearer]

Don't know if it's the same person.
Full Name Pryse Robinson
Birth Date 10 Apr 1910
Death Date 1 Sep 1981
Death Location Middletown, OH, 45042

Grant

[knifeaholic]

What you have is a fairly common 1970's reprint of a very rare 1930's Case "short line" catalog. The reprint is nice to have but there were thousands of them printed and distributed. I have only seen one original of that catalog. The original is not a stapled catalog but is a folio type with the pages held in by paper fasteners.

Pryse Robinson was a knife collector and dealer in the 60's to 70's and had that reprinted from an original. The original of course will not have his name on it.

[Shearer]

http://www.jbrucevoyles.com/A98-17/A98- ... e%203.html
I wonder how I found this one ?

[steve99f]

Thank you for that information Steve. I had my hopes but am not surprised by what you say. By "short line" you mean an abbreviated catalog not intended to show the entire line? I was surprised to see how few knives were shown when it came in. The seller also included in his sale a Case tri-fold piece AS-79 with a price list from 1981 and some Parker era pieces. Again, thanks!

[steve99f]

http://www.jbrucevoyles.com/A98-17/A98- ... e%203.html
I wonder how I found this one ?

Thanks for the link Grant. I gave a little more than the minimum. I didn't even think to check Voyles.

[knifeaholic]

Thank you for that information Steve. I had my hopes but am not surprised by what you say. By "short line" you mean an abbreviated catalog not intended to show the entire line? I was surprised to see how few knives were shown when it came in. The seller also included in his sale a Case tri-fold piece AS-79 with a price list from 1981 and some Parker era pieces. Again, thanks!

Yes, just a sample of the product line. It is a great reprint to have.

In the second edition of my book, I used that one intro page to the catalog as one of my intro pages.

[steve99f]

Thanks for the reply. I don't mind reprints if well done and this is. The staples do rust though. Should probably take them out. Cornell has a Case # 69 that is fine.

[Mumbleypeg]

I have this reprint and thought it was originally from a 1936 catalog - not sure where I got that idea. Also assumed (dangerous, I know) it was an abbreviated catalog because it came out during the Great Depression).

I have no evidence to corroborate any of this.

Also have another, more comprehensive reprint with a blue cover, published by Grawolf Trading Company. Not sure when the reprint was published but I got it from Dewey Ferguson, in the early 1970s IIRC. It's a compilation of at least two old catalogs and has much of the same content and artwork of the orange covered Pryse Robinson reprint. Well worth having if you're interested in Tested era knives and can find a reasonably priced copy. The last page is a historical treatise and interesting reading about knife materials and catalog production. Click on the picture to enlarge if you're interested.

Ken

[steve99f]

Different artwork but the same cover otherwise Ken, minus the reference to Pryce Robinson. Looks about from the same era.