Case Brothers Cutlery Co.

Case Brothers Cutlery Co.
1881-86: John D. Case Co., Little Valley, New York. John D. Case awarded
patent for his butterfly razor on February, 8, 1881.
1886-87: Jean, John, and Andrew Case were involved with Cattaraugus
Cutlery Co., Little Valley, New York.
1890-1900: Case Bros., Wholesalers of Cutlery, Spring Green, Colorado.
1896: John, Jean, and Andrew Case form Case Brothers Cutlery Co. in
Little Valley, New York (jobbers).
1900: Case Brothers Cutlery Co. incorporated in Little Valley, New York
(manufacturing company).
1901: Elliot and Dean Case leave Case Brothers to form Standard Knife
Co., Little Valley, New York.
1902: J. Russell Case leaves Case Brothers.
1903: Standard Knife Company goes out of business.
1907: Case Brothers open a second factory in Kane, Pennsylvania.
1909: Andrew J. Case leaves Case Brothers to join Union Cutlery Co.
Case Brothers purchases the Smethport Cutlery Company in Smethport,
Pennsylvania. Case Brothers, Kane, Pennsylvania, reorganized under the
name Kane Cutlery Co.
Smethport factory burns to the ground in June, 1909.
1910-11: Case Brothers build new factory in Warren, Pennsylvania to
replace Smethport works.
1912: Case Brothers Cutlery Co., Little Valley, New York, burns to the
ground. On March 27, 1912, Case Brothers Cutlery Co. reaches an agreement
to rebuild in Springville, New York.
1913: Case Brothers, Springville, New York, goes into operation.
1914: In late 1914, Case Brothers Cutlery Co., unable to recover from two
devastating fires (Smethport, Pennsylvania, and Little Valley, New York)
goes out of business. On October 21,1914, Case Brothers Cutlery Co. sells
its trademark "Tested XX" to W. R. Case & Sons.
W. R. Case & Sons
1900: Little Valley Knife Association incorporated in Little Valley, New
York (H. Crandall, jobber).
1902: In January 1902, J. Russell Case forms W. R. Case & Son Cutlery
Company, in Little Valley, New York (jobber).
1903: December 31, 1903, H. N. Platts reaches an agreement to merge with
W. R. Case & Son, as W. R. Case & Son's. This was after Harvey Platts
purchased his brothers share of C. Platts Sons Cutlery Co., Elred,
Pennsylvania.
1905: On February 5, 1905, the company applies for and receives its
operating charter from the State of Pennsylvania. They move the business
to Bank Street in Bradford, Pennsylvania.
1905: Crandall Cutlery Co. is incorporated as a manufacturing company in
Bradford, Pennsylvania (formerly Little Valley Knife Association).
1907-09: Platts Brothers Cutlery Co., Andover, New York (in operation for
less than two years).
1911: H. N. Platts leaves W. R. Case & Sons to form Western States
Cutlery Co., Boulder, Colorado. The actual separation of the two
companies took several years to complete (1911-1914).
1912: W. R. Case & Sons acquire Crandall Cutlery Co. of Bradford,
Pennsylvania.
1914: W. R. Case & Sons acquire "Tested XX" trademark from Case Brothers
Cutlery Co.
1915: W. R. Case & Sons first use "Tested XX" trademark. During this
period (1914-20), W. R. Case & Sons reorganize its entire product line
because of World War I and the departure of H. N. Platts.
1917: Start of United States participation in World War I.
1920: W. R. Case & Sons "Tested XX" line is in full production.
Case introduces a second, less expensive line under
the Standard Knife Co., Bradford, Pennsylvania, mark.
1923: W. R. Case ends use of Standard Knife mark. 1926: Kinfolks
incorporated in Little Valley, New York (Kinfolks razors are manufactured
by W. R. Case & Sons).
1936: W. R. Case & Sons acquire razor stocks and trademark of Genco
Corporation.
1940: W. R. Case changes its line stamping to "Case XX" (full
implementation is delayed for several years due to World War II).
1941: Start of the United States' participation in World War II.
1942: Although Case had been reducing razor production since the mid1930s, W. R. Case effectively ends razor production in January 1942
(relying on existing stocks and razors acquired from Genco) and begins
tooling up for the war effort.
1945: World War II ends. 1955: Case introduces a new line of razors to
replace exhausted stocks (marked "Made in USA by Case") (approx. 1955-60)
Kinfolks Incorporated, Little Valley, New York, goes out of business.
1962: W. R. Case manufactures the genuine mother-of-pearl "CASE ACE" as
mementos for its officers and salesmen; W. R. Case & Sons formally ends
57 years of straight razor production.
1965: W. R. Case changes product line marking to "Case XX USA."
1970: Case changes
product line marking to the dot system.
1972: W. R. Case & Sons is sold to American Brands Inc.
1980: Case changes product line marking to lightning SS with dots system.
1988: American Brands sells W. R. Case & Sons to James F. Parker,
Chattanooga, Tennessee.
1990: W. R. Case & Sons is sold to River Associates, Inc., of
Chattanooga, Tennessee.
1990: Case changes product line markings to W. R. Case & Sons, Bradford
USA, PA, and the year.
1993: W. R. Case & Sons is sold to Zippo Mfg. Co. of Bradford,
Pennsylvania.
1993: W. R. Case & Sons change the product marking to a long tail C, USA,
with dots underneath.