THE W & H CO + USA + NEWARK NJ = Whitehead & Hoag.

[Waukonda]

That.....

Thank you, Ike.
I am looking forward to finding
and posting more of these.

I hope that you succeed!

[New_Windsor_NY]

While engaged in a search and purchase mission for "W & H" pocket knives, I found the article posted below. I read it and decided to contact The Buttonhook Society about the POSSIBLE, "W & H" buttonhook and the DEFINITE, "W & H" buttonhook pocket knives I previously posted under this topic or thread. They are the LAST TWO pictures posted below.
Caption(s), if any, are on the BOTTOM of the corresponding picture(s).
Click on a picture to ENLARGE.

Here's the text of the email, also the pictures, I sent The Buttonhook Society on Sunday, October 29, 2023, at 11:33 PM.
"Hi. I am hoping that you can help me by answering a couple of questions regarding the two pocket knives that are pictured below.
The pocket knife in the top set of pictures (CHERRY RIPE) may, or may not be a buttonhook pocket knife as the tool is broken off. The blade is stamped "...W & H...", which of course is The Whitehead & Hoag Company. There is no stamp on the stump of the broken tool.
The pocket knife in the bottom set of pictures (PROMETHEUS-GRUPPE. PROF E MÜLLER.) is obviously a complete buttonhook pocket knife. The blade and the tool are both stamped "...W & H...", which of course is The Whitehead & Hoag Company.

My questions are:
1) When were these two pocket knives manufactured? I am guessing the late 1800's to the early 1900's.
2) I have read in a few different books, magazines, etc., that The Whitehead & Hoag Company did NOT manufacture their own advertising pocket knives. But, that various knife and cutlery companies manufactured the advertising pocket knives for The Whitehead & Hoag Company. So, if The Whitehead & Hoag Company did NOT manufacture the two pictured pocket knives, then what company or companies did?

Thank you for ANY information that you can provide.
Stay safe, ------ -----."

I will post the answers, the results, the response, IF and WHEN received.

[Reverand]

Cool!
I hope that they can help fill in some history.

[New_Windsor_NY]

Cool.....

Thank you, Scott.
I have already received a reply.
Here it is.....(next post).

[New_Windsor_NY]

See my original post from Monday, October 30, 2023.

While.....
Here.....
My questions.....
I will post the answers, the results, the response, IF and WHEN received.

Here is the reply that I received from The Buttonhook Society.
I received it today, Monday, October 30, 2023.

"RE: Buttonhook society information request.
Today at 1:37 AM

Good morning ------,
You have two great finds! I have several of these photographic buttonhooks in my collection but they are rarely seen in the UK. I am really pushed for time this week but I will be able to find information about them and send it to you. If you don't mind waiting until next week, I will be able to do a more thorough job (and enjoy doing it). I will also study my own for maker's marks. Am I right in thinking you may be American?
Best wishes,
Penny."

And my reply.....
Re: Buttonhook society information request.
Today at 3:48 AM

"Penny,
Good morning and thank you for your reply. To answer your question. Yes, I am an American. I do not collect buttonhooks, I collect pocket knives. I have no problem waiting for the information. I greatly appreciate your efforts and I thank you again.
Stay safe, ------."

ANY and ALL further correspondence will be posted.

[New_Windsor_NY]

While I'm waiting for the information from The Buttonhook Society....

Very recently, my trip to the post office produced this advertising, fob or key ring, pattern or style of pocket knife. It now becomes my latest example to be posted under this topic or thread. It is also the latest example to be added to my collection. It is a W & H, one blade, one tang stamp, 2 1/16" closed, all metal, advertising, fob or key ring, pattern or style of pocket knife. The tang stamp is the curved or arched style, WITH the USA in the center. The main blade front tang stamp says, "THE W & H CO (over) USA (over) NEWARK NJ" The main handle side says, "PITTSBURG TRUST CO. - PITTSBURGH, PA." It also says, faintly, "PATENTED" above the loop or ring. The other handle side is blank, it says nothing. This is my second W & H pocket knife that advertises this particular company, business, product, event, organization, etc. My other PITTSBURG TRUST CO. pocket knife, has been previously posted under this topic or thread. Overall, this pocket knife is in GOOD condition. This pocket knife needed very little cleaning. I took some pictures and here it is.
Captions, if any, are on the BOTTOM of the corresponding picture(s).
Click on a picture to ENLARGE.

***** TRIVIA *****
See My Previous Post, Under This Topic
Or Thread, From Friday, June 16, 2023.

[New_Windsor_NY]

While I'm waiting for the information from The Buttonhook Society....
EDIT: This afternoon, I sent the same email to The Buttonhook Society that I sent back on Monday, Oct. 30, 2023 (posted).

Very recently, my trip to the post office produced this advertising, fob or key ring, pattern or style of pocket knife. It now becomes my latest example to be posted under this topic or thread. It is also the latest example to be added to my collection. It is a W & H, one blade, one tang stamp, 2 1/16" closed, all metal, advertising, fob or key ring, pattern or style of pocket knife. The tang stamp is the curved or arched style, WITH the USA in the center. The main blade front tang stamp says, "THE W & H CO (over) USA (over) NEWARK NJ" The main handle side says, "TRANS-CONTINENTAL - FREIGHT Co - CHICAGO" It also says "PATENTED" above the loop or ring. The other handle side says, "REDUCED RATES - ON HOUSEHOLD GOODS - AND AUTOMOBILES" This is my first W & H pocket knife that advertises this particular company, business, product, event, organization, etc. This pocket knife came with a chain. The blade does have a few nicks in it. But overall, this pocket knife is still in GOOD condition. This pocket knife needed very little cleaning. I took some pictures and here it is.
Captions, if any, are on the BOTTOM of the corresponding picture(s).
Click on a picture to ENLARGE.

***** TRIVIA *****
Just doing a basic Google search did not provide much information at all on the TRANS-CONTINENTAL FREIGHT Co.
The last two pictures are really the only images that I could find.
The items are NOT mine. The pictures are NOT mine.

[Waukonda]

Very interesting knife and background info, Skip. Is that an original chain?
Thank you for another snippet of history, always enjoy these posts.

[New_Windsor_NY]

Very.....

Thank you, Ike.
The chain IS original, as in vintage or antique.
There might be a VERY slight chance that it originally came with the knife, but I really doubt it.
I believe that the seller just included it, with the pocket knife, just for the sale.

[New_Windsor_NY]

THIS POST IS IMMEDIATELY FOLLOWED BY ANOTHER, CLOSELY RELATED POST.

Very recently, my visit to the post office produced this advertising pocket knife. It now becomes my latest example to be posted under this topic or thread and to be added to my collection. It is a HARRISON BROS & HOWSON, two blades, four tang stamps, 3 1/8" closed, one spring, all metal, advertising, pattern or style of pocket knife. The main blade front tang stamp says, "HARRISON (over) BROS (over) & HOWSON" The main blade back tang stamp says, "SHEFFIELD (over) ENGLAND" The secondary blade front tang stamp says, "CUTLERS (over) TO HIS (over) MAJESTY" The secondary blade back tang stamp has the CROWN symbol or logo and says, "ALPHA" The main handle side has an embossed image of a train. The other handle side says, "THE TRAVELERS INSURANCE COMPANY" I do NOT know for sure if there was a second line of advertising on this handle side. If there was, it most likely said "HARTFORD, CONN.-TICKET DEPARTMENT." It does look like something may have been "removed." There appears to be some remains of whatever it was, at the center pin. But, I can not make out what the remains are. The main blade has no half stop. It does have an ok opening and closing snap. The secondary blade has no half stop, but does have a decent opening and closing snap. I now have a total of eight pocket knives that advertise THE TRAVELERS INSURANCE COMPANY. In my VERY NEXT post, I will continue from where I left off here. I will post pictures of ALL my, previously posted, TRAVELERS INSURANCE COMPANY pocket knives for comparison. This pocket knife that I am posting now is in VERY GOOD condition. I gave it a minor cleaning. I took some pictures and here it is.
Captions, if any, are on the BOTTOM of the corresponding picture(s).
Click on a picture to ENLARGE.

[New_Windsor_NY]

THIS IS A CONTINUATION OF MY PREVIOUS POST.

Again, my main reason for starting this topic was to TRY and determine what knife or cutlery company(s) manufactured, or at the very least, had a hand in the manufacturing of advertising pocket knives for Whitehead & Hoag. The companies that are represented by the first six pocket knives pictured below, in alphabetical order by tang stamp, are HARRISON BROS & HOWSON, L. F. & C. (Landers, Frary & Clark), MERIDEN KNIFE Co. and ROBESON ShurEdge. Pictures #7 & #8 are of the TRAVELERS INSURANCE COMPANY pocket knives that have W & H tang stamps. Whitehead & Hoag DID NOT MANUFACTURE their own pocket knives. According to GOINS, "c 1870-1959 Whitehead & Hoag was founded in 1870. They went out of business about 1959. This was an advertising specialties firm; the knives were made for them by a variety of cutlery manufacturers." So, what company made the TRAVELERS INSURANCE COMPANY advertising pocket knives for Whitehead & Hoag? I doubt that it was HARRISON BROS & HOWSON, but you never know. There seems to be a connection between HARRISON BROS & HOWSON and at least one or more of the three knife or cutlery companies I previously mentioned. So, compare these pocket knives with each other. Compare the handles, the main blades and the secondary blades. There are more similarities between these pocket knives than there are differences. So, what company made the TRAVELERS INSURANCE COMPANY advertising pocket knives for Whitehead & Hoag? I don't think I'll ever know for sure, but I will keep investigating. The following pocket knives have ALL been previously posted throughout and under this topic or thread.
Captions, if any, are on the BOTTOM of the corresponding picture(s).
Click on a picture to ENLARGE.

***** Here is the most recent, up to date list, of the cutlery companies that possibly made,
or possibly had a hand in the manufacturing of, pocket knives for Whitehead & Hoag. *****

H. BOKER (U.S.A.) - No Hard Evidence (So Far).
CATTARAUGUS CUTLERY COMPANY - No Hard Evidence (So Far).
HARRISON BROS & HOWSON - Slight Chance Of Involvement.
L. F. & C. - 99.999% Sure Of Involvement.
MERIDEN - Slight Chance Of Involvement.
NOVCO - 99.999% Sure Of Involvement.
REMINGTON UMC - No Hard Evidence (So Far).
ROBESON - 99.999% Sure Of Involvement.
E. C. SIMMONS KEEN KUTTER - No Hard Evidence (So Far).
VALLEY FORGE - 99.999% Sure Of Involvement.
VOOS - 99.999% Sure Of Involvement.

***** NOTE *****
The last two pictures show just four of the tang stamps found on four different TRAVELERS INSURANCE COMPANY pocket knives. The four tang stamps on the two HARRISON BROS & HOWSON, TRAVELERS INSURANCE COMPANY pocket knife blades, are shown in more detail, in my previous post. The two L. F. & C. pocket knives have the same tang stamp(s), so I am only picturing one of them. The two ROBESON ShurEdge pocket knives have the same tang stamp(s), so I am only picturing one of them. The two W & H CO pocket knives have the same tang stamp(s), so I am only picturing one of them.

[Ripster]

Dang Skip you sure are a thorough man! Over 2 years and 18 pages of being on the hunt . Very Commendable!!
That 6 percent on Savings accounts still gets a chuckle . And please let us know if you hear back from the buttonhook society again.
Happy Thanksgiving out there

[New_Windsor_NY]

Dang.....

Thank you, JP.
Better than 18+ years and 2 pages of being on the hunt.
If I didn't enjoy it, I wouldn't be doing it.
A happy and safe Thanksgiving to you and yours.

[New_Windsor_NY]

I found this "W & H" just a little too late.
I am posting this advertising pocket knife for future reference only.
This advertising pocket knife is NOT mine. The pictures are NOT mine.
Caption(s), if any, are on the BOTTOM of the corresponding picture(s).
Click on a picture to ENLARGE.

***** If the new owner wishes to part with it, PLEASE PM ME! I am NOT a cheapskate. *****

[Waukonda]

I found this "W & H" just a little too late.
I am posting this advertising pocket knife for future reference only.
This advertising pocket knife is NOT mine. The pictures are NOT mine.
Caption(s), if any, are on the BOTTOM of the corresponding picture(s).
Click on a picture to ENLARGE.

***** If the new owner wishes to part with it, PLEASE PM ME! I am NOT a cheapskate. *****

Too bad you missed that one, Skip, pretty cool looking. Good luck!

[New_Windsor_NY]

Too.....

Thank you, Ike.

[New_Windsor_NY]

While I'm waiting for the information from The Buttonhook Society....

I found this "W & H" just a little too late.
I am posting this advertising pocket knife for future reference.
This advertising pocket knife is NOT mine. The pictures are NOT mine.
Caption(s), if any, are on the BOTTOM of the corresponding picture(s).
Click on a picture to ENLARGE.

***** If the new owner wishes to part with it, PLEASE PM ME! I am definitely NOT a cheapskate. *****

[New_Windsor_NY]

This morning, I received this reply to my inquiry. It is from Penny, at The Buttonhook Society. What does The Buttonhook Society have to do with Whitehead & Hoag advertising pocket knives? Well, this is a continuation of correspondence that started back on Monday, October 30, 2023 (two posts) and to a much lesser degree, on Monday, November 20, 2023, under this topic or thread. Go back and look. You'll see the connection. Hopefully, to be continued.....

Photographic Buttonhooks
Today at 2:04 AM
"Hello ------,
I am sorry – yes, I did forget you. Your first email slipped away out of sight and I have had very little spare time since I received your second email. Paul Moorehead, founder of the Buttonhook Society, wrote a book, “The Holy Grail of Buttonhook Collecting.” It is rather a difficult book to put in the scanner but I attach a page which may be of help. I hope you will be able to work out the text on the right. Opposite is a photograph of buttonhooks similar to yours. I will send that soon.
Best wishes,
Penny."

"Photographic buttonhooks"
"The invention of celluloid in 1869 by John Wesley Hyatt had given the world its first semi-synthetic plastic and it was crucial in the development of button badges and photographic buttonhook handles. Thin sheets of celluloid could be used to cover paper and give the effect of the traditional enamel without the cost or labour skills needed to work with enamel. It also meant that there was no longer any need for soldering or screwing. All that was needed was a printed image and a thin sheet of celluloid to cover it. Benjamin S. Whitehead patented the first innovation to the design of pin back badges in 1893 by inserting a sheet of transparent film made of celluloid over a photograph mounted on a badge to protect the image from scratches and abrasions. Whitehead & Hoag of New Jersey were one of the biggest manufacturers of pin back buttons and they were responsible for their production. Once the idea of putting pictures under a plastic cover caught on, it was but a short step to put photographs under plastic handles. This gives rise to the thought that someone had the bright idea of promoting these buttonhooks with photographs that celebrate particular events, like births, marriages and deaths. Who knows, but you have to admire the ingenuity with which some people could find a way of turning these inventions to their own advantage. Most of those known appear to be from 1905 to 1925."

My Reply.
Re: Photographic Buttonhooks
Today at 5:51 AM
"Hello Penny,
I received your email and I appreciate the information that you sent.
I can't wait to see the "photograph of buttonhooks similar to yours."
Stay safe,
------."

***** NOTE *****
".....Opposite is a photograph of buttonhooks similar to yours....."
I have NOT received THAT photograph yet. Below, is a different photograph.

***** NOTE EDIT *****
I received the "photograph of buttonhooks similar to yours....." today at 9:24 AM
It is the last picture posted below.

My Reply
Re: Photographic Buttonhooks
Today at 9:35 AM
"Penny,
Thank you VERY much! If ANY other information pops up regarding the pocket
knife and buttonhook connection or collaboration, PLEASE send it to me.
Stay safe,
------."

[Waukonda]

Very interesting, Skip, appreciate you posting this info.

[New_Windsor_NY]

Very.....

Thank you, Ike.
I just updated my last buttonhook post.

[C-WADE7]

Very interesting Skip. I had no idea celluloid was that old, and nice to have a W&H tie in that’s from printed research material.

[New_Windsor_NY]

Very.....

Thank you, Coley.
I started with just two questions regarding my one definite and my one possible buttonhook pocket knife.
It seems that the year(s) of manufacture question has been answered, 1905-1925. But, 100% positive?.....
However, my question of WHAT COMPANY MANUFACTURED THEM, remains unanswered.

[edgy46]

Thank you Skip.
Great information about celluloid as well as button hooks.

[New_Windsor_NY]

Thank.....

NO! Thank you, Bill.

[New_Windsor_NY]

THIS IS AN UNPLANNED CONTINUATION OF MY TWO PREVIOUS
POSTS ON THANKSGIVING, THURSDAY, NOVEMBER 23, 2023.

A few days ago, my trip to the post office produced this advertising pocket knife. It now becomes my latest example to be posted under this topic or thread and to be added to my collection. It is a W & H, two blades, two tang stamps, 3 1/8" closed, one spring, all metal, advertising, pattern or style of pocket knife. Each tang stamp is different. The main blade front tang stamp is the curved or arched style, WITHOUT the U.S.A. in the center. The secondary blade front tang stamp is the block style, WITHOUT the U.S.A. or NEWARK, N.J. The main blade front tang stamp says, "THE W. & H. CO (over) NEWARK, N.J." The secondary blade front tang stamp says, "THE (over) W. & H. CO." The main handle side has an embossed image of a train. The other handle side says, "THE TRAVELERS INSURANCE COMPANY - HARTFORD, CONN.-TICKET DEPARTMENT." This is my third TRAVELERS INSURANCE pocket knife with W & H tang stamps. I now have a total of nine pocket knives that advertise THE TRAVELERS INSURANCE COMPANY. They have ALL been previously posted under this topic or thread. The main blade has a crisp half stop along with a wicked opening and closing snap. The secondary blade also has a good half stop, with a nasty opening and closing snap. This pocket knife is in VERY GOOD+ condition. It needed no cleaning at all. I just wiped it off. I took some pictures and here it is.
Captions, if any, are on the BOTTOM of the corresponding picture(s).
Click on a picture to ENLARGE.

***** NOTE ***** NOTE ***** NOTE ***** NOTE *****
The following four knife or cutlery companies POSSIBLY made, or at the very least, POSSIBLY had a hand in the manufacturing of THE TRAVELERS INSURANCE COMPANY pocket knives for Whitehead & Hoag. They are, HARRISON BROS & HOWSON, L. F. & C. (Landers, Frary & Clark), MERIDEN KNIFE Co. and ROBESON ShurEdge. BUT my W & H, TRAVELERS INSURANCE pocket knife that is the subject of this post, is different from my other two, W & H, TRAVELERS INSURANCE pocket knives. The secondary blade on this pocket knife is different from the secondary blades on my other two. There are two tang stamps on the blades of this pocket knife. Each tang stamp is a DIFFERENT style. There is a total of four tang stamps split between my two other, W & H, TRAVELERS INSURANCE pocket knives. The four tang stamps are ALL the SAME style. So, is there yet ANOTHER knife or cutlery company that wants to join the party? Or, was this W & H pocket knife manufactured by one or more of the previously mentioned four knife or cutlery companies? My investigation continues.....

***** TRIVIA *****
This was also posted on Thursday, September 28, 2023.
With just a basic Google search, there is PLENTY of information and
images to be found regarding THE TRAVELERS INSURANCE COMPANY.
Here is just a very small portion of one article.
Per Wikipedia.....
....."The Travelers Insurance Company was founded in Hartford by James G. Batterson, a stone contractor who became aware for the first time of accident insurance for travelers (i.e., an early form of travel insurance) while traveling in England in 1859 from Leamington to London. His railway ticket included accidental death insurance coverage up to the amount of £1,000, and lesser indemnities for non-fatal injuries. Batterson visited the London and Paris offices of European insurers to learn about the accident insurance business, then went home to Hartford and raised $500,000 in capital to launch a company to provide accident insurance to American travelers....."