Customer Reviews

Tidioute: A Town With an Edge

5 star:		(1)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

David Anthony has graced us with a great little book about a specific time and place in America - the late 1800s through the 1930s in the small town of Tidioute, PA. Every town has its claim to fame, and Tidioute's was as the home of several makers of high quality pocket knives. The inter-relationships of these companies were as complicated as the family ties in War and Peace, but fortunately Mr. Anthony has included a table giving the dates and dispositions of the various companies. With this in hand, it is easy to follow the story of the people and companies involved. One thing I found most interesting was a comprehensive inventory of the Tidioute Cutlery Company LTD as of its startup in 1896. It gives an idea of what was needed to form a small manufacturing concern at the time, just as would be found in almost any town in America. Everything from walrus hide to rattlers to critlers steadies was needed to start the operation. Another high point is the charming photograph of young Zeb Atkins, daughter of one of the last cutlers of Tidioute, holding her rifle and a dead squirrel. All told, this is a wonderful look back at small town America in its heyday.