American Hone Co

[Clockguy]

This came in a box with a couple of straight razors, and the auctioneer told me it was to Hone straight razors.......can anyone identify this stone? Its 2inches x 5 1/2 inches, very black color, marked "American Hone Co", "Olean, N.Y." and has a engraving of an eagle on the stone.....came in a small cardboard box with the same information on the cover of the box.....Thanks

[Hirlau]

You just did identify it,
"..marked "American Hone Co", "Olean, N.Y." and has a engraving of an eagle on the stone." It is a razor hone. It appears in great shape, just a little dish soap and a tooth brush cleaning. Let it dry a week or two before storing.

I really can't tell you much more about it that you already know.

[Clockguy]

The history of the American Hone Company.

The company was located at Olean, New York and during early 1900s a man named Merle Johnson bought the company and moved it to Moravia Iowa shortly thereafter.
Once settled in Iowa the company hired employees to run company. One of these employees was named Louis Hiatt. Her job was to make and bake the sharpening stones using the recipes that came with the company. Louis was very clever but at this time she had the added benefit of being able to contact the original owners to refine the techniques for baking these stones using the various ingredients of each differing recipe. Louis passed away during 2004,so the recipes passed away with her. The stories that describe antique products are very interesting.