Thread: USA made CMON. A Burrell/Case connection?

Lots of conflicting info (unsupported) in your 2 BB references, but I can assure you German-produced PJM CMons with the fancy scales and bolsters post date those made in Ellicotteville and those from Allegheny. Again, reference above article. I do suppose Mr Monkhouse was possibly making razors for PJM in Germany before he emigrated to The U.S. and that relationship was null and void until after WWII
On your Spear. It has nothing to do with Carl Monkhouse and everything to do with PJM. Spears were produced in Germany, likely by the makers of the several other PJM brands INCLUDING PJM CMONS. Many examples of Spears exist which were imported by PJM for other barber supply houses/ hardware and are thusly stamped. In other words, I feel that it is possible Carl Monkhouse worked for PJM in Germany producing their razors prior to WWII. His name came into prominence as he came to the U.S. and began reselling German cutlery until such time as that was no longer possible whereupon he moved to Ellicottville and Joined Burrell making cutlery and other items during WWII. German goods were shunned a while after the war, so naturally, an American nameplate was needed to get PJM 's goods selling again in the U.S. In fact, I have seen no references as to what exactly Carl actually made in Germany before he emigrated to the U.S.
Hence the arrival of PJM German Imports with fancy, inlayed, and bolstered scales bearing Carl Monkhouse's name.
Cutlery has always been quite competitive. Lots of relationships and name recognition involved. Makers and stamps are not always the same thing!

Yeah its an interesting story to follow. I though it was awesome to find that after the passing of Carl M Sr two sons took over the family operations and are still cranking out productions today. Hope they carry on.

As far as PJM I hope to find more info on him. A businessman of his scale seems would have left a larger trail. Would be awesome to find some sales catalogs or more info on the Spear. Tnx

Thank you for an interesting thread Sharptonn, it's a good read!

Cheers, Steve

Ohhtay! It get's better! Since we know the Monkhouse family still runs Cutlery Associates, I decided to go to the source.
Picked up the phone and called. The phone was answered by Carl Monkhouse III who provided all the info he could recollect. It seems his father, Carl II, did not speak of the old days much, so things are forgotten. However, he told me that they are now a sharpening service at the same location his grandfather began in 1937.
I must say that I have been guilty of reading heresey and passing it along as the gospel so some facts make things a bit more clear. First we must understand that he dealt in a wide array of cutlery and surgical instruments, so he was not strictly a 'razor man' , as razors were but one facet of his resume.
Carl Monkhouse began as a cutler in Solingen in the early 1900's. His grandson is unclear of his relationship with PJM prior to coming stateside, but I expect old, simple PJM C Mons such as this example were made by him and distributed in the US By PJM. Carl III was unsure if other PJM names from that period, such as Spear and Merit could be attributed to his grandfather or not.



Some opine, as do I, that as the Nazi regime took hold that Carl Moved his family to The U.S. as we know he arrived here in around 1937 and settled in San Francisco doing business as Ace Cutlery. An example of this lies here:



Somewhere in there, he garnered interest in Allegany, NY as that was in the cutlery-making hub of the nation. He held, for a short time, interest in Allegany Instrument, so it would seem this was his source of surgical instruments, etc. Razors such as this might bear this out:


After that short-lived relationship, he went down the road and established Cutlery Associates, which was his mainstay from then forward, maintained by his successors. Keep in mind this was 1937 as Cutlery Associates was founded.
Things were happening fast to this point, so it would seem he was a smart and savvy businessman with some capital.

Then on to 1940 when Burrell Cutlery was begun to cash in on wartime production. I will admit I was erroneous in my conjecture of Burrell producing razors. Carl III confirmed that Burrell was a knife maker, period. So as Carl Monkhouse joined him in Ellicotteville, it had to have been post 1940, but I have no dates on the clippings above. They were provided by Martin in a different thread. Perhaps he can date them. So it seems that the arrival of Carl and his workers and his Cutlery Associates branch in Allegany provided the Ellicotteville duo of Monkhouse and Burrell with surgical instruments, razors, scissors, and completed the lineup for wartime production. SO Ellicottville razors with either stamp are seemingly attributed to Carl Monkhouse, not Burrell!

Onward to after the war, Carl went to Allegany and I expect the razor business was quite slow. Besides, he had been working a good while. His grandson told me this was when he allowed an associate (forget the name!) to use the C Mon name for a short while. This was the period as razors were imported and the "star" logo was in place. Interestingly, Carl III related that they had a factory in Sheffield for a while. While unsure if razors were made there, this pair of Sheffield scissors with the star logo bears it out:



After a bit, Carl sold the rights to his name to Peter J Michaels and PJM imported the razors we see with the bolsters and fancy inlays with the CMon names and logos as well as shears, brushes, strops, and other items from Germany.
Cutlery Associates production began to cease and remained as a dealer and sharpening/ repair service as it is today.

THAT is my story and I'm sticking to it!
My thanks to Carl Monkhouse III for taking time to talk to me.
My thanks also to everyone I stole pictures from!

I originally got this to resell it, but thanks to this thread, it's going in the stable!

The article Tom in this thread http://straightrazorpalace.com/razor...ct-razors.html post #4 is from 1943.

Zak thats a very nice monk razor, but that said what is the book laying under about?

Looks like 1943 as Carl teamed up with Burrell!
So Carl III has informed me that he contacted John Burrell and he is willing to discuss some history!
Also, Carl told me John would know much more. I shall wait til after the holidays to call him and get some good questions for him. Should be interesting. I shall post as I learn!

Originally Posted by Martin103

Zak thats a very nice monk razor, but that said what is the book laying under about?

1903 International Grinders Association manual.

Originally Posted by Voidmonster

I originally got this to resell it, but thanks to this thread, it's going in the stable!

I assume the backside tang stamp is light or worn? Does it say Monk-Co?
Now I am confused. A later PJM Blackie always says CMon Blackie. An Ellicottville or Allegany, always Blackie CMon.
Not the case in this Ellicottville specimen. Also not the N.Y.?

Not always!