Northampton Cutlery Company
Northampton Cutlery Company Records
1869-1987
MS 58
113 boxes
(55.75 linear ft.)
Special Collections and University Archives, University of Massachusetts Amherst Libraries
Cutlery company located in Northampton, Massachusetts until its closing in 1987. Records document company operations and technology used in the cutlery manufacturing process, as well as details about employment of immigrant and working class families in the region. Includes administrative, legal, and financial records; correspondence; personnel and labor relations files; and production schedules and specifications.
English.
The Northampton Cutlery Company was incorporated in 1871 with Judge Samuel L. Hinckley, its largest stockholder, as its first President. The property was purchased from J. H. Lyman and located along the Mill River in Northampton, Massachusetts on a site in which previous manufacturing plants had operated, beginning with Northampton Papermills (1836-1848), and subsequently Hampshire Flax & Hemp Company (1848-1850), Bay State Tool Manufacturing Company (1854-1858), Bay State Hardware Company (1858-1870), and Riverside Cutlery Company (1870-1871). Cutlery production began as a sideline venture for Bay State Tool during the Civil War, a time when 81% of cutlery produced in the United States was made in plants in Massachusetts and Connecticut. In 1885, a Knights of Labor Assembly of knife grinders was established in Northampton, considered by the Northampton Tercentenary Commission to be the first union of"real significance" in the town. The company closed in 1987.
Records document company operations and technology used in the cutlery manufacturing process, as well as details about employment of immigrant and working class families in the region. Records include: company histories; by-laws; deeds; board of directors meeting minutes; stockholders' certificates and meeting minutes; correspondence; ledgers, cashbooks, price lists, and product catalogs; auditor's reports, annual operating statements and tax reports and returns; job surveys, reports, plans, and a wage study; payroll ledgers, lists of employees, employees' census sheets and factory notices; production schedules; records that document labor relations including negotiations, unemployment cases, and union communications and greivances; and machinery specifications, plot and sewer plans, a scrapbook, photographs, and samples.
This collection is organized into seventeen series:
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[Series 1. Stockholders and Board of Directors](bf1)
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[Series 2. Legal and Property](bf2)
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[Series 3. Executive](bf3)
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[Series 4. Financial](bf4)
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[Series 5. Sales](bf5)
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[Series 6. Personnel](bf6)
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[Series 7. Labor Relations](bf7)
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[Series 8. Production](bf8)
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[Series 9. Miscellaneous](bf9)
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[Series 1. Stockholders and Board Directors (Accretion)](bf1a)
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[Series 2. Legal and Property (Accretion)](bf2a)
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[Series 3. Executive (Accretion)](bf3a)
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[Series 4. Financial (Accretion)](bf4a)
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[Series 5. Sales (Accretion)](bf5a)
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[Series 6. Personnel (Accretion)](bf6a)
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[Series 7. Labor Relations (Accretion)](bf7a)
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[Series 8. Production (Accretion)](bf8a)
The collection is open for research.
Cite as: Northampton Cutlery Company Records (MS 58). Special Collections and University Archives, University of Massachusetts Amherst Libraries.
Acquired from Harvey Finison, 1985-1986. Accretion acquired from Mrs. Harvey Finison, 03/96, accession # 96-016.
Innovation and entrepreneurship
Manufacturing
Massachusetts (West)
Processed by Ken Fones-Wolf (December 1987) and and Mike Milewski (summer 1996).
Northampton Cutlery Company.
Cutlery trade--Massachusetts.
Northampton (Mass.)--Economic conditions.
Series 1. Stockholders and Board of Directors
1
1
Company History
1951, 1975
1
2
By-Laws
1960
1
3-5
Stockholders' Ledger (volumes)
1874-1960
1
6
Stock Ledger Balance
1909
2
7
Stockholders' Certificates (volume)
1871-1942
3
8-10
Stockholders' Meeting Minutes (volumes)
1871-1970
3
11-12
Stockholders' Meeting Minutes (volumes)
1964-1966, 1971-1983
4
13-32
Stockholders' Meetings, Proxies and Votes
1942-1966
4
33
Profit-Sharing Trust
1952-1961
5
34-37
Board of Directors Minutes (volumes)
1887-1969
6
38-41
Board of Directors Minutes (volumes)
1964-1983
Series 2. Legal and Property
7
42
Clement Co. Purchase
1947-1963
7
43
Clinton Foods Inc.
1954-1955
7
44
Deed (copy, 1871)
1951
7
45
Dahlke, A.J.
1946-1956
7
46
Eyre, Albert
1955-1963
7
47
Feiker, Elizabeth
1967
7
48
Increase of Capital
1949-1950
7
49
License
1950
7
50
Merger Proposal with John Russell
1925-1927
7
51
Notes
1963
7
52
Voting Trust
1960-1963
7
53
Watrous, Jerome
1955-1963
8
54-55
Appraisal, U.S. Appraisal Co.
1906
8
56-58
Appraisal, T.L. Alborell & Assoc.
1926-1935
9
59-60
Appraisal, Standard Appraisal Co.
1949
9
61
Appraisals, Internal
1968, 1973
Series 3. Executive
Subseries A. Accounting
10
62
Balance Sheet
1919-1926
10
63
Annual Operating Statements
1945-1950
10
64-66
Operating Statements & Ratios
1957-1966
11
67
Auditor's Reports
1922-1944
11
68
I.R.S. Reports
1915-1930
11
69
Request for Funds
1930
11
70-80
Tax Returns
1910-1933
Subseries B. Surveys and Reports
12
81
Preliminary Survey, George S. May Co.
1934
12
82
Industrial Survey, T.L. Alborell & Assoc.
1935
12
83
Survey Report, Douglas T. Sterling
1946
12
84
Incentive Plan, Ekholm Assoc.
1946
12
85
Incentive Rate Study
1947
12
86-87
Job Evaluation Plan, L.J. Brooks
1949
12
88
Revised Bonus Plan, L.J. Brooks
1951
12
89
Analytical Report, Dun & Bradstreet
1965
12
90
Job Rating Survey, NMTA
1966
12
91
Wage Study
1975
Subseries C. Correspondence
13
92-94
Letter Copy Books (volumes)
1899-1902
14
95-100
Correspondence
1940
15
101-105
Correspondence
1940
16
106-108
Correspondence
1940
17
109-113
Correspondence R-S
1941
18
114-119
Correspondence T-Z
1941
19
120-127
Correspondence A-H
1942
20
128-133
Correspondence I-O
1942
21
134-138
Correspondence P-S
1942
22
139-143
Correspondence T-Z
1942
23
144-150
Correspondence A-H
1944
24
151-156
Correspondence I-P
1944
25
157-161
Correspondence Q-V
1944
26
162-165
Correspondence W-Z
1944
27
166-173
Correspondence A-K
1945
28
174-179
Correspondence L-S
1945
29
180-185
Correspondence S-Z
1945
30
186-194
Correspondence A-G
1946
31
195-201
Correspondence H-Q
1946
32
202-207
Correspondence R-Z
1946
33
208-213
Correspondence A-G
1947
34
214-220
Correspondence H-S
1947
35
221-229
Correspondence A-F
1959-1960
36
230-238
Correspondence G-M
1959-1960
37
239-248
Correspondence M-S
1959-1960
38
249-257
Correspondence T-Z
1959-1960
38
258
Jerome Watrous Correspondence
1948-1955
39
259-275
Harvey Finison Correspondence, A-I
1968-1986
40
276-284
Harvey Finison Correspondence, I-M
1968-1986
41
285-293
Harvey Finison Correspondence, M-P
1968-1986
42
294-304
Harvey Finison Correspondence, P-Z
1968-1986
Series 4. Financial
43
305-309
Trial Balances
1887-1964
44
310-317
General Ledger
1958-1965
45
318-321
General Ledger
1966-1974
46
322-325
General Ledger
1970-1979
47
326-328
Journals (volumes)
1915-1926
48
329-330
Journals (volumes)
1926-1933
Volumes 1-7
Journals 1934-1957
49
331-336
Journals (volumes)
1959-1974
50
337-339
Journals (volumes)
1975-1977
51
340-342
Journals (volumes)
1978-1980
52
343-345
Cash Books (volumes)
1888-1894, 1901-1904
53
346-348
Cash Books (volumes)
1917-1925
Volumes 8-15
Cash Books 1926-1958
54
349
Cash Books (volume)
1962-1966
55
350
Cash Books (volume)
1970-1979
56
351-352
Petty Cash Books (volumes)
1906-1912
57
353-354
Accounts Receivable (volumes)
1919-1923, 1928-1931
58
355-358
Accounts Receivable
1960-1979
59
359-360
Bills Receivable (volumes)
1907-1922
60
361-363
Accounts Payable (volumes)
1894-1922
61-62
364-365
Accounts Payable (volumes)
1922-1955
63
366
Accounts Payable (volumes)
1959-1967
64
367-368
Accounts Payable (volumes)
1970-1977
65
369-374
Order Books (volumes)
1903-1924
66
375-381
General Inventory (volumes)
1910-1919, 1935-1948
67
382
Inventory, Carpenter Shop
1903-1943
67
383
Inventory, Forge Room
1898-1940
67
384
Inventory, Grinding Dept.
1907-1927
67
385-386
Inventory, Machine Room
1897-1928
68
387
Inventory, Machine Room
1929-1941
68
388
Inventory, Round Tang Dept.
1897-1914
68
389
Inventory, Solid Steel Knife Dept.
1911-1939
68
390
Inventory, Stainless Steel
1935-1941
68
391
Inventory, Stamping & Etching
1905-1910
69
392
Inventory, Motor Book
n.d.
69
393
Inventory, Miscellaneous Inventory Sheets
n.d.
Series 5. Sales
Vols. 16-24
Sales Books 1889-1897
Vols. 25-31
Sales Books 1902-1931
Vols. 32-40
Sales Books 1934-1958
70
394-400
Sales Books
1960-1967
Vol. 41
Sales Books 1970-1978
71
401
Sales Journal
1980-1982
72
402-412
Sales Correspondence, A-C
1962-1985
73
413-419
Sales Correspondence, D-G
1962-1985
74
420-430
Sales Correspondence, H-K
1962-1985
75
431-439
Sales Correspondence, L-O
1962-1985
76
440-447
Sales Correspondence, P-S
1962-1985
77
448-455
Sales Correspondence, S-W
1962-1985
78
456-458
Sales Correspondence, W-Z
1962-1985
79
459-466
Price Lists
1899-1984
79
467-468
Product Catalogs
1899-1960s
Series 6. Personnel
Subseries A. Employees
80
469-477
Employees, A-Ber.
1940-1985
81
478-485
Employees, Bes-Bz
1940-1985
82
486-493
Employees, C-Dez
1940-1985
83
494-503
Employees, Di-Gy
1940-1985
84
504-512
Employees, H-Ly
1940-1985
85
513-523
Employees, M-Pi
1940-1985
86
524-532
Employees, Po-Tz
1940-1985
87
533-536
Employees, U-Z
1940-1985
87
537
Employees Census Sheet
1920
87
538
Factory Notices
1947-1951
Subseries B. Labor Accounts
88
539
Grinding
1869-1872
88
540
Hafting & Wheel Dept.
1902
88
541
Piecework
1887
88
542
Piecework
1897-1898
88
543
Piecework
1909-1910
88
544
Teamster
1887
89
545
Workmen's Cash Book
1887-1893
89
546
Seniority List
1970-1985
89
547
Wages
1972-1979
90
548-549
Payroll Ledgers (volumes)
1886-1898
91
550
Payroll Ledgers (volumes)
1910-1913
92
551-552
Payroll Ledgers (volumes)
1935-1936
93
553-555
Payroll Ledgers (volumes)
1937-1939
94
556-557
Payroll Ledgers (volumes)
1940-1941
95
558-559
Payroll Ledgers (volumes)
1954-1955
96
560-562
Payroll Ledgers (volumes)
1956-1958
97
563-565
Payroll Ledgers (volumes)
1960-1962
98
566-569
Payroll Ledgers (volumes)
1963-1966
99
570
Payroll Ledgers (volumes)
1974-1980
Subseries C. Accident Reports
100
571-577
Reports
1942-1950
101
578-589
Reports
1950-1961
102
590-600
Reports
1962-1986
Series 7. Labor Relations
103
601-612
Negotiations
1965
104
613-624
Negotiations
1967-1976
105
625-631
Negotiations
1977-1984
105
632
Tuperkizsis v. Cutlery
1970-1973
105
633-634
Unemployment Cases
1947-1950, 1966-1968
105
635
Union Communications
1972-1985
105
636
Union Grievances
1969-1985
Series 8. Production
106
637-641
Customer Job Specifications
1949-1976
106
642
Grinding Specifications
n.d.
106
643-649
Job Specifications, R1F-R199F
n.d.
107
650-657
Job Specifications, R202F-R341F
n.d.
107
658
Steel Weights and Sizes
n.d.
107
659
Weekly Production Schedules
1949-1950
108
660-665
Piece Rates
1966-1976
108
666-667
Process Sheets
n.d.
Series 9. Miscellaneous
109
668-670
Machinery Specifications
n.d.
109
671
Plot Plan
n.d.
109
672
Sewer Plan
n.d.
109
673
Scrapbook
1960-1983
110
674-676
Photos and Samples
circa 1900-1985
Series 1. Stockholders and Board of Directors
111
1
Annual Meeting--Agenda, Correspondence, Reports, etc.
1977-1986
111
2
Articles of Amendment
1966
111
3
Board of Directors, List of
1985, n.d.
111
4
Board of Directors--Meetings, Minutes, etc.
1965-1968
111
5
Board of Directors--Meetings, Minutes, etc.
1970-1979
111
6
Board of Directors--Meetings, Minutes, etc.
1980-1986
111
7
By-Laws and Amendments
1960
111
8
Company History
1974, n.d.
111
9
Company History--Newsclips
1978-1986, n.d.
111
10
Correspondence on Stock Certificates
1958, 1969-1970
111
11
Director's Correspondence, etc.
1969
111
12
Director's Meeting Agenda
1969
111
13
Director's Meeting Proxies
1949
111
14
Stockholders, List of
n.d.
111
15
Stockholder's Meetings
1966
111
16
Stockholder's Meetings
1968
111
17
Stockholder's Meeting Agenda
1969
111
18
Stockholder's Meetings, Proxies and Votes
1969-1970
111
19
Stockholder's Meetings, Proxies and Votes
1971-1974
111
20
Stockholder's Meetings, Proxies and Votes
1975-1978
111
21
Stockholder's Meetings, Proxies and Votes
1979-1982
111
22
Stockholder's Meetings, Proxies and Votes
1982-1986
Series 2. Legal and Property
111
23
Appraisal--American Industries Appraisers
1981
111
24
Appraisal Report--Robert A. Borawski
1974
111
25
Appraised Valuation, Notice of
1978
111
26
Articles of Amendment for Adjusting Capitalization
1965
111
27
Attorney--Settlements, etc.
1986-1987
111
28
Automobile--Insurance, Invoice, etc.
1960
111
29
Contract Correspondence
1955
111
30
Contract, Machinery
1947
111
31
Foreclosure Deed
1951
111
32
Goodwin, Proctor & Hoar--Counselors at Law
1978
111
33
Insurance Policy, Hartford Steam Boiler
1985
111
34
Land Purchase from D.E. White
1969
111
35
Letterhead, Blank
---
111
36
Mortgage to Northampton Bank
1963
111
37
Notes (Loan Balances)
1975
111
38
Quitclaim Deed--Jona H. Lyman (1951 copy)
1871
111
39
Retired Loans
1958, 1963-1968
111
40
Safe Deposit Box
1986
111
41
Surrender of Lease
1951
111
42
Warranty Deed - Doris L. White
1969
111
43
Warranty Deed - Ellery C. Clapp
1950
111
44
Watrous, Jerome - Promissory Note and Corr.
1974-1984
Series 3. Executive
Subseries A. Accounting
111
45
Annual Operating Statements
1969-1971
111
46
Annual Statistics of Manufacturers
1971-1979
111
47
Audit
1985-1986
111
48
Auditor's Report
1971
111
49
Balance Sheet
1974
111
50
Balance Sheet
1978
111
51
Bank Reconciliation
1985
111
52
Depreciation Schedule
1965-1976
111
53
Don and Bradstreet, Inc.
1986
111
54
Employer's Quarterly Report of Wages Paid
1986
111
55
Estimated Tax Rate
1968
111
56
Financial Statements
1982-1984
111
57
Income Statements, Estimated & Forecast
1967-1968
111
58
Job Insurance
1981-1985
111
59
Operating Results, Ten Years
1961-1971
111
60
Real Estate Taxes
1979-1982
111
61
Tax Declaration
1985
111
62
Tax Return--Employer's Annual Federal Unemployment
1981-1985
111
63
Tax Return - Employers Quarterly Federal
1983-1986
111
64
Tax Return - Massachusetts
1970-1981
111
65
Tax Return - Massachusetts
1982-1986
111
66
Tax Return - U.S.
1965
111
67
Tax Return - U.S.
1969-1981
111
68
Tax Return - U.S.
1982-1986
111
69
Tax Return - U.S. and Mass.
1986
111
70
Ten Year Record
1961-1971
112
71
Year End Audit
1975
112
72
Year End Audit
1976-1977
112
73
Year End Audit
1977
112
74
Year End Audit
1978
Subseries B. Surveys and Reports
112
75
Financial History and Current Projections
1977
Series 4. Financial
113
76
Cash Book (oversize)
1985-1986
112
77
Chart of Accounts
1986
112
78
Check Book
1958
112
79
Deposit Book
1958-1962
113
80
Expense Journal (oversize)
1985-1986
113
81
General Ledger (oversize)
1984
113
82
General Ledger (oversize)
1985-1986
112
83
Income Statement
1979
112
84
Income Statement
1975
112
85
Income Statement
1983
112
86
Income Statement
1985
112
87
Income Statement
1986
112
88
Inventory
1974
112
89
Inventory Valuation
1974
112
90
Monthly Journal Entries, Listing of
1986
113
91
Purchase Journal (oversize)
1985-1986
113
92
Purchases - Accounts Payable
1970-1986
112
93
Summary Inventory
1975-1976
112
94
Transactions
1985
112
95
Trial Balance
1967-1968
112
96
Trial Balance
1970
112
97/98
Trial Balance 1971
112
99
Trial Balance
1972
112
100
Trial Balance
1973
112
101
Trial Balance
1974
112
102
Trial Balance
1975
112
103
Trial Balance
1976
112
104
Trial Balance
1977
112
105
Trial Balance
1978
112
106
Trial Balance
1984
112
107
Trial Balance
1985
112
108
Trial Balance
1986
Series 5. Sales
112
109
Advertisement for Bottle Screw
n.d.
112
110
Product Catalog
n.d.
112
111
Product Catalog
#404, #5-53n.d.
112
112
Product Catalog
1955, n.d.
112
113
Sales History
1961-1972
113
114
Sales Journal (oversize)
1970-1986
113
115
Sales Journal - Retail (oversize)
1986
112
116
(number not used)
Series 6. Personnel
Subseries A. Personnel - Employees
112
117
Position Offers--Chief Engineer
1964
Subseries B. Labor Accounts
112
118
Payroll Accounts
1963-1966
112
119
Payroll, Factory
1986
113
120
Payroll Register (oversize)
1983
113
121
Payroll Register (oversize)
1984
113
122
Payroll Register (oversize)
1985
113
123
Payroll Withholdings (oversize)
1985-1986
Series 7. Labor Relations
112
124
Agreement Between - N.C.C. & U.E. Local 259
1967
112
125
Agreement Between - N.C.C. & U.E.
1977, 1979
Series 8. Production
112
126
Invention Disclosure
1976
112
127
Product Cost
1974-1977