ODD Swell center celluloid penknife.

[Iron Hoarder]

Hello All,

Here is one for the collective. I misread what it said when I bought it so I paid too much. Poor lighting etc. I thought it said Mrs. Thomas Edison. It actually says Mrs. Thomas Elsdon At any rate I can't find out who she was so if anyone does please enlighten me. I wonder why she would give people knives. The tang stamps are interesting as well.

[knifeaholic]

Novelty Cutlery Co Canton Ohio

My understanding is that these knives could be ordered personalized even if someone only wanted to buy one knife with his/her name on it so it may or may not have been a giveaway.

[knife7knut]

Nice little picture handle knife IH.Novelty Cutlery Co started manufacturing clear celluloid handled knives around 1880 and didn't go under until 1948. They pretty much had the market cornered until their patents expired.They developed a novel idea of putting customers pictures under their handles and of course advertising.They also got literally thousands of people to become their agents locally for a small cut of the price.
Bernard Levine had a great chapter in his book on knives.
A word of caution:your knife looks like it is in the early stages of celluloid degradation(the crack in the scale and the reddish brown area on the bolster).These things deteriorate badly under the scales;attacking the brass liners in particular and it is difficult to detect on the surface.As a precaution I would keep it separate from other knives as it will attack the steel as well.

[Miller Bro's]

I thought it said Mrs. Thomas Edison. It actually says Mrs. Thomas Elsdon At any rate I can't find out who she was so if anyone does please enlighten me. I wonder why she would give people knives.

See here;
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thomas_Elsdon_Ashford

[knife-nut]

Don't feel bad about misreading that. I looked at the pictures first before reading the text, and I did the same thing. I thought it said Edison too. Mark.