Road Trip to Titusville, PA

[Travman]

My brother-in-law and I recently made the trek to Titusville, PA to visit the GEC factory and spend a some time with people we know. The first thing we saw upon arriving was a delivery of blades from Peter’s Heat Treat. Manofcarbonsteel

Then a trip inside to see Joan Mae in the store.

 

[Travman]

Bill Howard was kind enough to come talk with us in the store. He likes to hear about why anyone would come that far for a pocket knife.

Here is Bill later that afternoon finishing some knives. These look to be the Waynorth Harness Jacks for Charle Campagna.

 

[Travman]

In case anyone doesn’t know what the GEC factory entrance looks like.

 

[Travman]

Randy Bell, chief engineer. They get off work earlier on Fridays. So he came out side to talk after his shift.

Here is my new knife with the two knives Randy was carrying in his pockets.

 

[JW225]

In case anyone doesn’t know what the GEC factory entrance looks like.

Thanks for this travelogue, Travman ! This is a trip I definitely plan on making one of these days. Congrats on the 86.

 

[Travman]

While Bill Howard was in the store, he opened and closed this Tidioute Bocote 86 several times and said this was his kind of knife. He likes them simple and straightforward. So I figured I would get the knife Bill had just played with.

 

[mrknife]

While Bill Howard was in the store, he opened and closed this Tidioute Bocote 86 several times and said this was his kind of knife. He likes them simple and straightforward. So I figured I would get the knife Bill had just played with.

one marrow each for you and nate eh?

 

[Jerbhola89]

Awesome Travis! Thanks for sharing yours and Nathan’s trip. Cool to see some behind the scenes during normal operations.

Excellent pick up too!

Randy’s beard is twice as crazy now

 

[Travman]

Awesome Travis! Thanks for sharing yours and Nathan’s trip. Cool to see some behind the scenes during normal operations.

Excellent pick up too!

Randy’s beard is twice as crazy now

Randy plans on dressing up like Father Time this New Years Eve and then shaving the next day.

 

[Jerbhola89]

Someone will need to make a trip and get a picture because that may mean it’ll be down to his knees! Bill might not let him back in if his beard is a trip hazard…

 

[mrknife]

Someone will need to make a trip and get a picture because that may mean it’ll be down to his knees! Bill might not let him back in if his beard is a trip hazard…

good thing he doesnt go near the lathe or polisher too much i hope, well any spinning tool

 

[B.F.U]

So cool to see Bill working on the Waynorth Harness Jacks!

 

[Johnnythefox]

Bill Howard was kind enough to come talk with us in the store. He likes to hear about why anyone would come that far for a pocket knife.

Here is Bill later that afternoon finishing some knives. These look to be the Waynorth Harness Jacks for Charle Campagna.

Wow thats going to make those HJs even more special.

How many knives did you buy in the end?

Great photos and story by the way.

 

[Fixall]

Wow! Thanks for letting us live vicariously through you Travis! What a fun trip.

Taking a trip to the GEC factory has got to be on just about every traditional knife collectors bucket list, lol. I hope to make it over to that side of the country for a tour some day.

 

[Alex.Y.]

I hope to make it over to that side of the country for a tour some day.

I hope to make it to that side of the ocean some day, lol. Which is not very likely to be honest. So I would really suggest you, and anyone in US, to find some time and do it. Just because you can.

 

[glennbad]

That's a nice little visit you made, looks like it was enjoyable!

 

[BuckShack]

"He likes them simple and straightforward" says it all. That's what makes their knives great. Great trip, thanks for sharing the pictures!

 

[Will Power]

While Bill Howard was in the store, he opened and closed this Tidioute Bocote 86 several times and said this was his kind of knife. He likes them simple and straightforward. So I figured I would get the knife Bill had just played with.

Like EVERYTHING about that knife and more, got to be the best of the 86 family

You are very fortunate to live close enough to GEC for a visit - dream of thousands....and many thanks for showing us round.

Regards, Will

 

[TheIncredibleHoke]

Nice trip, Travis! I really need to get myself out there. Thank you for sharing the pics!

 

[Campbellclanman]

Great trip to see you do Travis, brings back great memories of when Paul and I went there to the GEC Rendezvous