Founded in 1870 with W.E. Gowdy as president. Originally known as the “Walden Co-operative Knife Company,” they began with 18 employees. The co-operative type business did not have immediate success.
In 1874, they were changed to a stock company with J.S. Taylor president, A.H. Saxe secretary, George Weller Jr. vice president, and Edward Whitehead general manager. They purchased the Giles Andrews Satinet factory on Water Street, and with good management they prospered.
By 1881, employment was up to 125 workers, and in 1891 over 200 men worked in the Walden Knife Company plant. Edward Whitehead became president in 1891, and under his leadership they enjoyed growth.
In 1893, he persuaded George Schrade to move the Press Button Knife Company to Walden. The automatic knife was manufactured in the Walden Knife Company plant. In 1903, Walden purchased the patent and Schrade’s interest in the Press Button Knife Company.
By 1911, over 600 workers were employed in the plant. They were the largest producer of pocket knives in the world at that time.
The E.C. Simmons Hardware Company of St. Louis, Missouri took over controlling interest in the Walden Knife Company in 1911. W.D. Simmons of St. Louis was president, and Samuel Andrews of Walden, manager. Simmons operated this factory until 1922 when they merged with the Winchester Arms Company, forming the Winchester-Simmons Company.
Winchester ran the plant for a while, closing the plant in September, 1923. The machinery was moved to New Haven, Connecticut, and the buildings were later sold to the Schrade Cutlery Company of Walden, New York.
c 1874-1923