Posted 8 years ago
whyatt
(63 items)
this is a cool set I found for 5 bucks at the flea market. I believe its wwII , but not sure. I really have no idea how old they are.
ron, if youre out there, I could use some help here, if youre up to it.
I cant believe these things haven't rusted and fallen apart. really nice pcs for my german collection.
the only item ive seen that's having any relevance to the LAW novelty co. is a post card dated 1908 . im at a real loss on this 1.
It's in English, so not either war.
These pull-apart eating sets, or "picnic sets," go back at least to 1900. I have one made by Landers, Frary, & Clark which appeared in catalogues ca. 1912. I have seen them made by several other companies in varying qualities. They are often sold as a "Civil War knife & fork set" or "campaign" eating knives to suggest military provenance but I don't believe they were ever issued items. I'm sure some soldier somewhere carried one he had brought from home. L.A.W. Novelty is not listed in my reference of German cutlery firms so they were probably not known for cutlery. This set was just another "novelty" item for them, further distancing it from a military connection, in my opinion. Values are all over the place depending on whether or not the seller has ever seen one before or thinks it's unique. I've seen them on eBay offered for $80. A well-made set in good condition should be worth $20; a bit more if it's by a known knife manufacturer. I don't know what the two studs on your fork's handle are for; possibly a spoon with matching slots in its handle slipped onto the set.
thank you ron. that's very insightful. I actually have an ANTIQUE set.. your thinking always impresses me. .. perhaps, just novelty reproductions of a civil war item ??????
the guy I got it from said a little about the civil war... but I thought it not be that old. his price of 5 bucks was way more than fair !
thanks again, RON!
id love to see pics of yrs, ron.
any thoughts on the bulldog brand pocket knife I listed, ron ?
I have never paid too much attention to Bulldog knives because they are too new for me. I focus on pre-WWII and specifically 19th century cutlery. Also, I have always felt (perhaps too cynically) that Bulldog marketed specifically to collectors rather than making knives to be used. Yours is odd if it's supposed to be a "surgical" tool. I recognize the blunt-ended blade as a bandage or clothing removal tool for quick work in an emergency without danger to the patient. I don't think anybody would use a saw like that anymore for amputation as that's not generally done in the field. And it has a cap-lifter. Do any medications used by medics come in crown-capped bottles? It looks like one of the earlier ones (1980-'76) rather than a Parker version so it has some value but I don't want to guess what it might be.
thank you ron. perhaps designed for field emergency use. the saw on this thing is thick and extremely sharp. ive no doubt , itll cut bone.
Whyatt, Here are two listings for a slide-apart picnic set. 172331722406 is a modern set with plastic handles proving that the idea is still alive and well. More interesting is 162162134430 which is advertised as a Landers Frary & Clark but I’m suspicious. He says that the “Universal” trade mark is worn off by “light scratches”; and the fork is marked Peres (not Perers) of Germany. First I doubt that LFC, which was the powerhouse manufacturer of kitchen cutlery and flatware in the early 20th century, would sub out to a German firm. Second the “worn off” trade mark and miss-matched handles are not LFC quality. I’m going to post a pic for you of my LFC set for comparison.
PS. As always, I am happy to be proven wrong IF there is solid evidence to that effect.
Hi UncleRon,
Were you going to post links to the two listings you refer to in post #9? Thanks.
although not the quality of your set. mine do look very similar. and the wood has held up well.
you brought up subcontracting. im not so sure the major german makers wouldntve subbed out cheaper products to surrounding makers. but im not at all sure either way.
maybe even the unfamiliar l.a.w. novelty co.
Gillian. Those are the ebay listing numbers. You can find the listing by pasting the number in their search line.
whyatt. German makers might have done that but LF&C was arguably the largest maker of general kitchen cutlery, as well as pocket knives, in the US at the time. There would have been no reason they couldn't produce these items themselves.
Here's another interesting modern variation from Japan. 272362723867
what a great subject for conversation.. youre the man, ron !
Thanks UncleRon - so used t0 seeing live links. I'll do as you say.
Thanks again.
ya know, I wasn't even aware that it was a pull apart set before this , ron
it looks really cool assembled.