This company was established in 1921, and closed operations in 1935. The following is an article from the Terre Haute Tribune, March 9, 1921.
“The scope of Terre Haute industry has widened to include a cutlery manufacture at Twenty Second and Elm Streets, by the Wabash Cutlery Co. Pocket knives will be manufactured from the raw materials to the finished product ready for sale. A one story stone structure has been erected for the company and the complete equipment will be placed within two weeks.
Gasoline engines will be used for the operation of the plant for a short time and it is then probable that electric motors will be installed. The equipment in a plant of this kind is much different from that of any other manufacturing plant. The features in the machinery are the extra grade grinding and buff stones and the large punch press to press out the blades from sheet steel.
Different parts of the knife will be made and then assembled. The blades will be tempered after they are cut out of the sheet steel, which is of special quality for use in such work. The celluloid handle knives will be manufactured for the present. Art handles, the poses for which are taken from real life by Chicago art studios, will be featured as the knives are novel and very attractive. Plain color celluloid handles will also be made. One of the specialties which is known as straight order work is the placement of the name and address under the clear celluloid on one side of the handles and any other design which might be desired on the other side.
Twenty men will be employed in the plant and as salesmen for the company. Chicago is the nearest manufacturing plant of this kind and this gives a wide area for the wholesaling of the goods. W.J. Slattery, T.S. Hibbard, and H.H. Hibbard, who are members of the company, have been engaged in the business for over twenty years, and for the past seven years have been located in Chicago. Other incorporators are R. Eddy and Merrill Ripple.”
This firm later added bone, pearl, and other materials for handles. Among the many contract knives made by Wabash were the Ku Klux Klan knives, which are very much sought after by collectors.
In 1931, the name was changed to the Indiana Cutlery Company. This seems to have been an attempt to stay in business during the depression. The name was changed back to the Wabash Cutlery Company in 1933. The offices under both names remained at 811 22nd Street.
c 1921-1935