1908 Sears catalog page

[tongueriver]

This page is 100 years old. Are these knives, or some of them contracted from Schrade?

 

[Codger_64]

Doubtful. Most early Sears knives were either made by New York Knife Company or imported by Kastor from Germany or England. Some, not all, were "Wilbert" branded. After 1922, most were provided by Kastor's Camillus. After 1940, most were made by Ulster. After 1946, some were Schrade, some Ulster, a few Imperials and a few Western States hunting knives and some German and Finnish hunting knives in the mix.

Sears catalog 1900:

 

[ea42]

Tongueriver,

A good many of the knives on your page are Wilberts, which were contracted through Empire Knife Co in Connecticut and Napanoch Knife Co in Napanoch, NY.
What year is that page from Michael? Looks to be 20's or 30's?

Eric

 

[Codger_64]

Well, I brain-farted that one. Yes, mostly Empire and Napanoch, not NYKC.

The page is 1900.

This one is 1928:

 

[Codger_64]

and 1940:

 

[ea42]

Well, I guess I had a brainfart on my guess of the age of your catalog. I guess that explains the use of fine English steel and non-XLL blades, and buffalo handles. Pretty cool that you got the 1940 cat. :thumbup:

Eric

 

[Codger_64]

Note in the margin, the trademark "World's Largest Store" accompanied by the "WLS" radio logo. Sears started the radio station in 1924 to serve farmers, their largest market share. Sears sold the radio station in 1928. So that brackets the date quite nicely.

Sears 1941: