1 Attachment(s)
A Bare-Bones History of the Graef Cutlery Company
I thought I'd share some of my recent research with you.
The Graef Cutlery Company
dates of operation: 1878-1908
Located in New York City, the Graef Cutlery Co (not to be confused with larger firms such as Graef and Schmidt) was owned and operated by Albrecht Graef for 30 years. The company was located at 104 Duane from 1878-1883, at 98 Duane from 1884-1898, and finally at 320 Broadway from 1899-1908. (Source: Trow's New York City Directory, Vols. XCII-CXXII)
I wasn't able to dig up any personal info on Albrecht Graef himself, but the city directories also printed his home addresses. In 1892 Graef moved to 28 W. 75th, which is how I know that the Albrecht Graef mentioned in the following snippet from the New-York Tribune is the same Albrecht Graef of the Graef Cutlery Co.
Attachment 289197
(New-York Tribune. May 11, 1908. pg 5.)
Without any further details to go on, I'd say that sounds like either destitution or death without heirs. Either way, it certainly underscores that the company came to a close in 1908.
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The Graef Cutlery Company is listed as "A. Graef" in Goins. Though Goins has the correct Broadway address, he missed 26 years of the company's existence, noting Graef as being in business from only 1905-1908. However, Goins does offer some detailed information (which I haven't been able to verify) that seems worth mentioning. According to him, razors made up the bulk of the Graef Cutlery Company's sales, and the razors were manufactured by Wester & Butz in Solingen, Germany. (Goins, pg 112)
I would guess that over 30 years, Graef dealt with multiple German manufacturers. But if Goins is right, Wester & Butz was probably Graef's go-to firm in the final years of his business.