What The Old Timer Line Really is...

[Codger_64]

A third article from the May 1980 Old Timer Almanac for your enjoyment:

What The Old Timer Line Really is...

Back about 20 years ago, Uncle Henry Baer, President of the Schrade Cutlery Corporation was driving back from the Ellenville plant where the Schrade knives are made to New York City with his brother Albert Baer, Chairman of the Board of The Imperial Knife Associated Companies Inc., talking about the product that they had just seen being made at the Ellenville Plant. Uncle Henry mentioned to his brother that what was needed in those days besides a good five cent cigar, was a good old fashioned type of knife. His brother replied, "That's a good idea Henry, and that wouldn't be a bad name for a knife line either - Old Timer.

And so the Old Timer line was born in a name, at least. However it took a little longer than that to develop the knives. First, Uncle Henry talked to people who used knives throughout the country. From farmers, ranchers, hunters and fishermen. What he was looking for in a knife was something that would combine beauty and function, and would perform better than any other knife on the market. Right from the very beginning, Uncle Henry decided that there would be no compromising the quality of his new line. In a time when stainless steels were becoming the rage because they kept their good looks, he insisted on a working man's blade of high carbon cutlery steel that would hold it's edge and yet resharpen easily. With the concept of the carbon steel blade in mind, he added solid nickle silver for bolsters, solid brass for linings, and a rugged saw-cut handle for sure grip and easy handling. Knowing that the finest materials needed the surest touch of the best of craftsmen, Uncle Henry insisted that only the top cutlers in the factory worked on his new line of Old Timer knives. These cutlers, many second and third generation masters of their art, combined the raw materials that Uncle Henry procurred with over 100 hand operations to produce the first Old Timer knives some 6 - 8 months after the first conversation during that drive to New York City.

Today the philosophy that began some 20 years ago still holds true, and Uncle Henry, the original Old Timer, still oversees the making of his line of Old Timer Knives.

 

[A. G. Russell]

Codger:

The only problem with looking at that sort of publication is that they were probably written by Bob Ernst, Deacon, as he was called was a congenitel lier and had a great imagination. What he did not tell you was that Henry was a front man for his brother. Henry had a cubical in the middle of a large office filled with cubicals he had a recliner in that cubical where he spent most of his days sleeping. Albert had an office of about 1 and a haalf acres with a desk larger than Henry's cubical. Henry couldn't give you the time of day without checking with Albert first.

The date is about right, the first OT was the barlow in 1958. I could be off but would only take th4e word of Dave Swindon for correction. Dave worked for Schrade for about 60 years knows it all. You should work on getting him involved. I do not know if he uses computers or not.

all the best,

A. G.

 

[Codger_64]

Thanks for the input, Mr. Russell. So far, Mr. Swinden has been mute. It is my understanding that he is not computer savy. And also that he is reluctant to give interviews, particularly with regard to the history of Imperial Schrade. In fact, myself not being credentialed in the cutlery writing field, few of the former management have agreed to communicate with me as yet. Perhaps I should work on getting introductions from people in the industry they already know.

I agree that Dave Swinden Sr. would be a gold mine of information most useful in setting down a true history of the company (s). More than one of my contacts has praised his experience as a master cutler in his own right, besides being a former member of upper management during some of the company's prime years.

Michael

 

[Codger_64]

I'd like to add a couple of points for clarification here if I may. In 1980, when this was written, Henry B. Baer was 82 years old and still working, though not in the Ellenville factory every day. He continued to be an active part of the company for several more years before retiring, inducted into the Cutlery Hall Of Fame in 1983, and died in his home at the age of 88 in 1987.

Regarding former Schrade Sales Manager Bob Ernst, he went into business with James Parker in 1983 forming American Blade, a short lived venture importing Japanese knives. I have no idea if he wrote the Almanac article, but he may well have. The Almanac was, afterall, a company owned advertising periodical, and one would expect "fluff" pieces to appear in it along with new product and management change announcements and charity involvement coverage. It also included several pages showing each years current catalog offerings.

Michael

 

[lrv]

Wouldn't you like to get AG, Dave Swinden, Wally, Joe and others in a room with all our favorite beverages a few collectors and a video/tape recorder to discuss the history of the cutlery industry. I'll bet there are quite a few stories that would be of great interest we could drag out of them.
Id pay to be there.
TTYL:
Larry
P.S. The Barlow (2OT) was available 3/1959 the 8OT 2/1960
I wonder if Henry's chair is still available. I need a good place to have a nap

 

[Bartleby]

Amen, brother Irv. Great post gentlemen, thanks kindly.

 

[A. G. Russell]

I'd like to add a couple of points for clarification here if I may. In 1980, when this was written, Henry B. Baer was 82 years old and still working, though not in the Ellenville factory every day. He continued to be an active part of the company for several more years before retiring, inducted into the Cutlery Hall Of Fame in 1983, and died in his home at the age of 88 in 1987.

Regarding former Schrade Sales Manager Bob Ernst, he went into business with James Parker in 1983 forming American Blade, a short lived venture importing Japanese knives. I have no idea if he wrote the Almanac article, but he may well have. The Almanac was, afterall, a company owned advertising periodical, and one would expect "fluff" pieces to appear in it along with new product and management change announcements and charity involvement coverage. It also included several pages showing each years current catalog offerings.

Michael

I knew Henry in his mid 60s and that is the time I speak of. I am told that Albert carried Henry all of his life and treated him that way. I would have given Henry a private place to sleep. Making him "work" in a crowded cubical while Albert had an office that could have been cut into three large offices was not very nice.

A. G.

Ernst snuck off to Japan while on a "hunting trip" and on his return was fired. Albert had been told of his being in Japan by sone one in Japan.

 

[Codger_64]

As a futher reference to this original post concerning the story related as to the origin of the "Old Timer" line, here is a snip from a 1981 interview with Henry Baer by Robert A. Cotner in National Knife Collector Magazine. Perhaps the origin of the name "Old Timer" wasn't a figment of a hack's imagination.



Michael