Antique Nichols Brothers Bros Knife Blade Sharpener Honing Rod

Antique Nichols Brothers Bros Knife Blade Sharpener Honing Rod
Mostly clean; some nicks in wood handle, missing the end hook; looks great!

In 1892 Walter E. Nichols and his brother, J. Henry, of Bernardston bought the failing plant of the Greenfield Tool Company and formed the firm of Nichols Brothers, manufacturers of butchers' tools. Walter Nichols learned the cutlery trade at the age of 10 but when the brothers started to turn out butchers' tools they were laughed at by hardware men who argued that Yankee craftsmen could not manufacture suitable knives and meat cutters. Only the English were adept at this trade and the Nichols brothers were foolish to attempt this enterprise, they were told.

But they were stubborn. Walter made the tools and J. Henry Nichols loaded a wagon with these Yankee-made items and left town with only $2 in his pocket. They pulled back into town loaded with orders; from then on they had it made.
(INV #5)