Platts Cutlery

C. Platts & Sons
Cutlery Company

Eldred, PA

History and photos
courtesy of:
THE KNIFE MAKERS
WHO WENT WEST
and
Eldred Centennial Book
1980.

In July 1897 the C. Platts & Sons Cutlery Company moved to Eldred from Gowanda, NY. The company would remain here in Eldred for eight years on the corner of what is now Elm Street and Platt Street. The building itself would be occupied by many different businesses until July 1995 when the building went up in a spectacular fire that threatened many other buildings and homes.
Platts production consisted of pocket knives, shears, scissors, razors, butcher knives, razor strops and hones. The company carried many cutlery items branded as Keen Edge and also contracted for other companies too. Platts founder Charles W. Platts (1838 - 1900) suffered a severe stroke while working at the Eldred company and died that same year.
His sons took over the family business and changed the name of the company to C. Platts' Sons Cutlery Company. The second eldest son, H.N. Platts, rose to leadership of the company along with his four brothers. H.N. Platts married Debbie Case in 1892 and he would consolidate Platts Cutlery along with Case Brothers in Little Valley, NY, and the new company would relocate in Bradford, PA, where the strong business thrives today.
The most substantial piece of the new enterprise in Bradford was the Platts factory workers and equipment. Platts was one of the best pocket knife factories of its time, and formed an essential foundation of the new W.R. Case & Sons Cutlery Company in Bradford.
H.N. Platts' home in Eldred is located on what is now King Street. Many of the original "fly wheels" where still located in the former building on Elm Street and severely damaged in the Walker Machine Shop fire in July 1995.
Platts knives are very collectable today.