Thread: Cattaraugus and Little Valley info?

Hey all,

Does anyone have any research source or information on the razors made in Cattaraugus or Little Valley, NY? I have looked and found really not much history.

I am interested because my father (almost 80) was born and raised in Little Valley (with 8 siblings), and knew nothing about the razors made there by the at last count 6 or 7 manufacturers that I have been able to find mention including Kinsfolk and Case Bros. - I have pictures and post cards from Little Valley when he was a kid and the main street was a wide and very dirt road, quite rural. He would spend a lot of time hunting in and around the Cattaraugus Indian reservation and Zoar Valley, they knew everybody, and he had no idea razors were made there.

Just trying to find some interesting information for the old man.

K

I have no direct info but I do know that from the late 1800s into the early 1900s the area around Little valley was home to a large number of cutlery makers, probably the largest concentration in the whole country. I think by WW ll most had long vanished.

Try finding the book , I think the title is , The Knife maker who went west by Harlow Platts. He is of the Platts family that help start Case Cutlery and later Western States Cutlery. It is very interesting to see how all the cutlery makers are some how tied togerther in the early years.

There's a book, "Razor Anthology" that is a compilation of razor-related articles from Knife World. I don't own a copy but have looked through one on inter-library loan from the local library. Many articles on manuafacturers. On my list to purchase one day.

Also, there's "Goins' Encyclopedia of Cutlery Markings", also a Knife World book that I've looked at from inter-library loan.

Both are out of print I believe, but available for various prices at various out-of-print book suppliers...e.g. BookFinder.com.

- Dale

Sorry I didn't respond, but thanks for the information - If anyone comes upon anything else, let me know!

K

I found this snippet at Knife Info : Double Edge Razor : Dovo Manicure Kit : VintageBladesllc.com

CATTARAUGUS CUTLERY COMPANY, LITTLE VALLEY, NY
c 1886-1963
The company was founded by John B.F. Champlin and originally called J.B.F. Champlin, later J.B.F. Champlin & Son. In 1886, Champlin’s brothers-in-law, the four Case brothers, W.R., John D., Jean, and Andrew joined the company. It then became known as the Cattaraugus Cutlery Company. They didn’t become a manufacturer until about 1890 when they purchased tools and equipment from the Beaver Falls Cutlery Company that had recently gone out of business. Cattaraugus went on to make extremely high quality knives and straight razors that are much sought after by collectors.

Some interesting info here as well, timeline of the Cases: http://www.casepocketknives.com/case_history.htm

Western NY (around Buffalo) used to be a big center for steel in the first half of the 20th century, due to its location (Great Lakes and the start of the Erie Canal). This changed with the opening of the St. Lawrence Seaway, the interstate highway system, and a bunch of other stuff. The steel moved off to Pittsburgh, then overseas.

There were a number of razor companies around Buffalo -- Little Valley, Catteraugas, Geneva, to name a few. Alas, none are left, and little sign of their existence remains. Someday, I'm going to track down some folks that worked there and do an oral history project or some such thing.

cass

I've got "The Knifemakers Who Went West" and it is a good book. Kind of pricey on the used market but it is a large format hardcover with lots of illustrations and on quality paper. Two current titles that I don't have that may be of interest are on the Case company history. I haven't read them but here they are.

Hello Kriton,
As luck would have it, I grew up in Western NY, and I deer hunt in and around the areas of Little Valley and Cattaraugus NY. There is a little cutlery museum that I have driven past on several occasions but have never taken the time stop in. It may be a good starting point for you. To be honest with you I'd be interested to know what you find out. When ever I drive through these towns I take note of the old buildings and I wonder if those are the places where they used to make razors.
Well I hope this helps you out. Good luck.

American Museum of Cutlery

American Museum of Cutlery
9 Main Street
Cattaraugus, NY 14719
Patrick J. Cullen, Museum Curator
716-257-9813; 716-257-3431

Don and I had a really nice Cattaraugus Chief straight razor in the Classifieds. Hope the pic is good as this is a really nice example of a rare razor. This not a pitch to sell the razor, but it is worth seeing. Cattaraugus made some of the nicest shavers out there. I had been told that the folks that made Cattaraugus, Kinfolks and Case were all family.

Lynn