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

Must have been quite a razor production at Burrell Cutlery, John!

Was Walter Pohlig ever employed there?
Young Monkhouse remembered the name of Walter as I spoke with him....
I figure Carl was a businessman/salesman. Seems your grandfather was a knife maker.
Someone was methodically cranking the razors out in a fine display of skill and repetition in Ellicotteville. For a while!

That brings up an idea that I've had from time to time Tom..
I've owned multiple razors from the same manufacturers and noticed varying degrees and consistencies in quality.
My work in factories has taught me a few things about quality control. Not an easy thing to stay consistent with, especially over a long time.
So to see high quality, consistently achieved over a long period speaks volumes about the quality of the people working and managing any effort!

Cheers to the quality of individuals at Burrell!

I'm only familiar with Walter's name. I never met him. Harold Burrell died in 1950 before I was 5. I do still have great memories of Pop. I have somewhere a lot of his stuff. His notebook about production, razors that were in his desk when he died, photos etc. today I found a Burrell Cutlery strop. Harold had been Plant Manager at both W.R. Case and Kinfolk's. He, in my opinion was a master razor maker. With that being said, from it's start in 1940 until Harold's death in 1950, Burrell was a major producer of straight razors. The production included Burrell, C-Mon and many brands for jobbers. Because I'm not really good at this technical e-stuff, I'm happy to talk on the phone. (716) 498-1117.

What a nice thing to offer John! Your family has a rich history. I hope only the serious "historians" and craftsman will call you...not the average Joe's.

Thanks for sharing so much great info with us!

Here is a gratuitous picture of my shave gear tonight with a Top Flight, which made my old face as close to "baby-butt" smooth as it can get.

That is very gracious of you! I will allow time for the historians here to take up your time, it would be selfish of me..
Also I think that many here would drool over that notebook. The idea of looking through it is such a novelty! Man!
Thank you for sharing.

Also you may want to edit out that number as there are bots that scan web pages for numbers and names, maybe get unwanted calls.. maybe PM is better?

If I don't revognize an incoming number, I let it go to phone mail and then call back. My knowledge of Carl Monkhouse was that he was a barber sissor manufacturer. He rented part of 24 Rockwell from Burrell Cutlery. I have pictures of Carl at Burrell. My dad and Carl traveled together. Their customers were mainly suppliers to barbers. They included some of the largest and most well known. Peter J. Michels, S.R. Droscher and others.

So now I am beginning to see what I had come to realize!

Each partner had their own particular skills. I would like to call you soon and discuss. A litttle time to organize the facts and have pertinent questions for you.
Need to rewrite the story!


I know what you mean, John. Us old guys have our limits, you know!
I can talk on the phone and Email, but I just don't text at all.
Comes in handy!

Top flight are top notch I can also attest too Harold.

Thanks Tom!

Oh yeah! I did send you one!
Betcha I have owned 20 of the things.

I still have 5 between the CMons and the Burrells.....Make that 6.
Forgot about the wedge. It says Allegheny on it!