Thread: Case MFG Co. Little Valley, NY

Just picked up this blade, It was framed with some other old barber shop items.

Welcome to SRP. That is in nice shape. IIRC they left Little Valley around 1905 when the Case Bros factory burned down. Now AFAIK 'Case MFG' is a rare stamp. I don't recall seeing it before. Is there a XX on the flip side, or on the monkey tail ? Any other stampings ?

There are no other stampings on it. The other side of the handle has some discoloration from being in a frame for so long. But other than that, it's in really nice shape.

Some Case Bros stamps throughout the years;


As Case Bros dissolved, different family members branched-out and did their own thing at times. Some research might find that the 'MFG' will reveal the particular makers.

Martin shall be along!

This is what I found out about it. They only made them for 6 months.

In January 1910 Case Brothers Purchased the Smithport, PA Cutlery co reportedly making their razors Case MFG.co little Valley, NY, after only a short period of operation, the factory burned down in June 1910 and they rebuilt the factory in Warren PA.

Man, they had factories burn down left and right. Not only Case Bros, IIRC they had two burn down, LV and Springville. I believe Western and maybe Cattaraugas may have burnt down theirs as well.

Fires were common in factories back then. Consider they used coal forges, kerosene lights or open flame gas lights. Proper disposal of oily rags was not at the top of their safety list. Even hot bearings on line shaft's used to power equipment caused fires.

Slawman

Yep, I have never seen one like that. I have a few but I doubt I would have one that says Case MFG Co. Great find!

I have to find my book on the Case Dynasty, but IIRC, Case MFG Co was founded after the Case Brothers had sold the Tested XX trademark to W.R. Case and Sons in 1914. I'm thinking around 1915-1920, but I need to find the book and check. It is a rare find, and in good shape.

Found the information. Case Manufacturing was founded by Andrew Case in 1908, after selling off his shares in Case Brothers. Case Brothers was still operating, so I was wrong in my post above. It was based in Kane, Pennsylvania, but also made razors in Little Valley. It was purchased and absorbed by Russell Case into W.R. Case & Sons in 1911 or 1912, as away to replace the capital and machinery that the Platts family had taken when they left Little Valley for Boulder Colorado to start Western States Cutlery. Case Manufacturing was one of many companies that W.R. Case & Sons absorbed as they consolidated the various family businesses.