The News from ElephantToenails.com

When I was writing the article on Welcome to My World I contacted David Anthony to inquire about their Gowanda, NY factory years of operation. I ran on some conflicting info in different knife books.

My purpose here is to provide correct dates for us as we go forward in our research, not to prove any other book or author wrong.

David has authored several articles on the Platts family and their history in cutlery. He is viewed as The Authority on anything Platts related.

Here is what David had to say (I inserted the pictures)-

Scott,I’ll be happy to tell you anything about the Platts family cutlers that I can. Some of Goin’s dates are wrong and because everyone else relied on his information, the other knife guides are usually wrong on their dates also. Here are the correct dates gathered from 20 years of extensive research:

C. Platts & Sons, Gowanda, NY 1896-1897

C. Platts & Sons, Eldred, PA 1897-1900

C. Platts’ Sons, Eldred, PA, 1900-1905

Platts Bros. Eldred, PA 1905-1907:

These knives were not actually manufactured by the Platts Bros. but were contract or “private brand” knives almost certainly made by the Eldred Cutlery Co. but bearing the Platts Bros. Eldred, PA stamp. There is absolutely no evidence that any knives stamped Platts Bros. were made before Charlie and Frank Platts started this jobbing business in 1905, after C. Platts’ Sons was sold to W.R. Case & Sons.

Platts Bros. Andover, NY 1907-1910

Platts Bros. Union, NY 1910-1911

Hope this helps. Please let me know if I can be of any further assistance. It was a pleasure to hear from you.

Best Regards,

Dave Pierce

David and I have corresponded over the last few years primarily pertaining to his articles in Knife World.  In the Jan. 2006 edition, he wrote “Little Town with a Big History.”

Now David has joined us here at ET.com.    

David L. Anthony of North West Pennsylvania , near lake Erie

I learned of toenails years ago due to my love cutlery from the

state of Pennsylvania. Of course the knives from Eldred, PA 

Platts relations and the popular toenail. I hope to someday own

one of those giant Platts knives.

I have been into all Pennsylvania knives for more than 35 years,

but toenails have been a passion for at least 20 of them.

I don’t focus on patterns as much as I do Penn related tang stamps.

All of my knives tend to be vintage, older than 1970, mostly

older than 1940.

I am a municipal manager and oversee a large Township on Erie

county Pa.

I love knife shows, but only get to a couple a year due to their

location.

My dream knife is a Union Razor Tidioute Toenail. I hope to get

one someday. Of course I would love a Platts as well.

Please take a look at my Book “Tidioute: A Town With an Edge”

Scott has been kind enough to mention it here on this site. It

has photos of Toenails sent to me by Scott and also some history

on them from Tidioute as well.

my e-mail is dragon@velocity.net  feel free to contact me with

comments or questions

Thanks David for stepping up and sending in your profile. I did a review of his book and it is “filed” under the Book Reviews category here in The News.

 Stayed tuned for the next ET Member Profile.  Go ahead and send yours in so we can meet you too.

David Anthony delivers yet again, this time with Tidioute: A Town with an Edge.

If you haven’t gotten a copy of David’s book yet, do yourself a favor and buy it for yourself for Valentines Day. 

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