KNEWSLETTTER IN A KNUTSHELL 4 Show the Knife 4 Western_PK36 4 My Lost Knife 4 Merle’s Knife Show 4 No meetings for awhile 4 Signatures Of Quality 4 Application for the 2021 Show Our international membership is happily involved with “Anything that goes ‘cut’!” May 2020 Simply Show the Knife ibdennis Every once in a while there is a knife that captures my attention and results in many years of study. A description of such a knife follows: The handles are metal (probably nickel silver), and the words are clearly readable. THE HOLDER OF THIS KNIFE WILL BE ALLOWED ONE DOLLAR ON ANY MAN’S SUIT OR OVERCOAT. SIMPLY SHOW THE KNIFE. The back side of the knife reads: ROBERTS BROS. TOGGERY MEANS WEAR the country but have little information about them. Back before EUGENE ORE. the internet, the University library here in Eugene was the best historical research place. Those were the days when searches The knife is tang marked - A.W. WILLIAMS & CO.- NEW were done on microfilm readers, and I still recall going so YORK on the front tang and H. KESCHNER GERMANY ON fast that nausea and dizziness took hold. Looking for ads for THE BACK TANG. There are a total of two blades. Because Roberts Brothers resulted in looking from 1900 to 1917. it appeared in such good shape, I thought it was a reproduction knife and of recent manufacture. It was not. By luck I came across a postcard which looked south on Willamette Street. There on the street corner was a picture of When I first purchased this knife back in the 1980s, I was the Roberts Brothers store. To me it was exciting and caused me puzzled over the word “toggery.” A trip to my Funk & Wagnall to continue to research the history of this company. Even with didn’t help, as this word was not listed. Several dictionaries the help of the Internet, it was still a challenge. The postcard later I found the word, and the information that the word was was not dated, but there was a clue when looking at the street. first used in 1811. It also suggested that it came from “togs” and A 1908 Willamette Street postcard showed the paved street, was used in reference to clothing. In any event, it was one of but this street pictured hard packed dirt. Better for horses. Also those words that would come into fashion for a period of time the Roberts’ card is referred to as a divided back postcard. This and then phase out. It gave me the clue that Roberts Brothers means the message and the address were split on the one side. was a clothing store. Pretty smart, hey, considering that the That happened in 1907. discount listed on the knife was for The internet search today has newspapers available from 1846 a man’s suit or onward, and a search provided by the University of Oregon overcoat. Momma web search site pins the first ad for Roberts Brothers as 1907. didn’t raise no The last ad was May 10, 1917. From the knife markings, A.W. dummy. Williams was the distributor and sales agency for Keschner of Germany. WW1 started in 1914, and it was unlikely Germany Over the years I was manufacturing advertising knives from 1914 to 1918. have pondered about this knife. I It seems that all the locations “For Simply Show” were have seen several companies on train routes. A Williams Company salesman other advertising could ride the train and take orders for advertising items when knives similar to it would stop in major cities along the route. The next search this from across Continued on page 2 OKCA memberFree to haveClassified a table in April 2021. Ads for publication. The Seek-Re-Tary You can delay payment of your dues This will be the last issue until until December 15, 2020; but what if you Report Free classified ads will run up to three issues and then be dropped. Available onlythe to Septemberpaid members. Writeissue your is admailed. on anything you have handy (except bambooforget?? leaves) Not and an email especially or snail mail good to the gamble. OKCA, PO BoxThe 2091, Summer Eugene ORHiatus 97402. is The upon number us. and size of elayne ads submitted by a single member will be accepted, or excepted, dependent on available space and the mood of the editors. Many of you have already mailed your roll We will continue to answer the over applications. Thank you very much. Thank you to all who have been phone calls and process the mail understanding of the inconvenience and We have several that is received, but it will be a disruption of our 2020 Show plans. of the 2020 slower pace. display award It has been a very strange March and April. Remember we will have a knives in hand. December 12, 2020 Holiday This should be the Knewslettter with all of Please see our the hype and excitement of the April Show. Show. It is a one day Show (7:00AM to website to view 4:00PM). The price for a table is $40.00. That is not the case, since the Show was them and to not a happening. By edict from the Oregon No application is necessary. I assume that acknowledge we might have a larger turn out than the Governor, the Show was cancelled. Also the artistry of cancelled were the April no-host dinner past several years, since there are many of our knifemaker us who need a good knife fix. Hopefully meeting and now the cancellation of the members. These will be presented at May no-host dinner meeting. Restaurant you will be able to attend. Note on the the 2021 Show for the displays that are check December Show. closure means no meetings. We will have recognized by the judges. a no-host dinner in June, July and August Be sure to look at our Facebook Page. with no meeting (if we are so granted). It We have not received the Great Eastern Thank you Lisa Wages for your efforts will be an opportunity to share some of our Cutlery knives from the factory. We have on our behalf to keep this page current. treasures acquired during these months. not received any notification from them Anyone can request to be added to the when they will be shipped to us. When page, however you must be a current There is a table application for the April we have received them, we will announce 9-11, 2021 Show included with this (2020) OKCA member to advertise on this on Facebook, and also on our website, the page. Knewslettter. We request you fill it out date they will be shipped. and write roll over to reserve your table(s) Stay safe and a distance from others for the 2021 Show. You can even email Thank you to the individuals who have (especially those we have designated as the application instead of snail mail. At contributed articles to this Knewslettter. If partners). It reduces the arguments and this time we are encouraging you to pay you have an article for us, but do not type, frustration. your dues for 2021. You must be a 2021 write it out and mail it to us; I will type it Simply Show the Knife discount. Over the years I have seen Man” strikes my imagination. continued from page 1 knives like this from the following In an attempt to narrow down the date was to determine when the trains came Oregon cities: Albany, Ashland, Grants for this knife, I feel comfortable about to Eugene, Oregon. And that date was Pass, Medford, Portland, Salem and The the window of 1909 to 1914. This 1906 when Southern Pacific opened the Dalles. This does not account for the story has some conjecture, but I hope train station. other states from Maine to California. it will be found fairly accurate. Rather I suppose maybe these could be mail There are many variations of this knife like throwing a dart that far back and order purchases; but somehow the idea from different stores stating different having it land at the corner of Fifth and of a salesman-drummer like the “Music clothing apparel and amounts of the Willamette. TheThe views views and and opinions opinions implied implied or or expressed expressed herein herein by by authors authors and advertisers are not necessarilynecessarily thosethose ofof thethe Oregon Oregon Knife Knife Collectors Collectors Association, Association, its its editors, editors, or or its its officers; officers; and noand no responsibilityresponsibility for for such such views views will will be be assumed. assumed. The The OKCA, OKCA, its its officers officers and and its its editors editors assume assume no no responsibility responsibility for for claims claims of advertisersof advertisers for thefor qualitythe quality of goods of goods and servicesand services the advertiserthe advertiser provides.provides. The The act act of of mailing mailing or or delivering delivering a amanuscript manuscript or or advertisement advertisement shall shall constitute an express warrantywarranty onon thethe partpart ofof the the contributor contributor that that the the material material is is original original and and in in no no way way an an infringementinfringement upon upon the the rights rights of of others. others. The The act act of of mailing mailing or or delivering delivering a a letter or questionquestion toto thethe editor editor shall shall constitute constitute permission permission to to publish publish the the letter letter or or portion portion thereof thereof unless unless the the Oregon Oregon KnifeKnife Collectors Collectors Association Association is isinformed informed otherwise otherwise in inthat that letter.