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Belknap and Blue Grass hardware brand names, labels, and logos were used to identify the products of the Belknap Hardware and Manufacturing Company of Louisville Kentucky which, after 140 years manufacturing and selling hardware, was sold in 1986. The products were advertised in a large catalog order book used for both wholesale and retail sales. The products bearing the brands described and illustrated in the catalog were sold both in the Louisville showrooms and in local hardware stores throughout the United States. ^{[1] [2]} The Belknap catalog grew from 100 to over 75,000 of items. Blue Grass was one of the brand labels and along with many other items Belknap Hardware created its own line of industrial crayons under that name. ^[3] A former sales manager described the distribution process via catalogues and sales representatives.

Development of the Bluegrass Brand

The company sometimes contracted with various manufacturers to put its own name and logo on products sold both in the showrooms in Louisvile and, through hundreds of salesmen throughout the United States, as merchandise distributed for retail hardware stores. ^[4] Among these durable, now highly collectible, products were John Primble knives. "Some of Belknap’s trademarks have been purchased by a company called Blue Grass Cutlery Inc., the same firm that produces the popular Winchester knives. Thus, the trademarks still live and the legend continues. In the years since Belknap’s demise, all their knives, including the later Belknap Hdw. & Mft. Co. and Belknap Inc. marked items, have become ever more sought after by collectors." ^[5] Among the featured products for catalog sales were fishing tackle ^[6], hammers ^[7] tin ceilings, ^[8], baseball bats including Louisville Slugger baseball bats, ^[9] padlocks, ^[10] straight razors ^[11]

Catalog sales 1932 and 1934 Belknap catalogues are archived in the Stone Historic Book & Catalog Collection at the W. K. GORDON CENTER FOR INDUSTRIAL HISTORY OF TEXAS � www.wkgordoncenter.org 1 | P a g e [

Distribution of the brand products

Some products were rebranded or subjected to a change of product naming.

Finding Aid Belknap Hardware & Mfg. Company. Belknap Hardware & Mfg. Co., no. 86. Louisville, Ky.: Belknap Hardware & Manufacturing Co., 1932. Belknap Hardware & Mfg. Company. Belknap Hardware & Mfg. Co., no. 87. Louisville, Ky.: Belknap Hardware & Manufacturing Co., 1934. ^[12] Bicycles rebranded Axes ^[13] GunsBLUEGRASS ARMS CO. Crescent Fire Arms Co. for Belknap Hardware Co. BLUE GRASS Crescent Fire Arms Co. and Baker Gun & Forging Co. on doubles made for Belknap Hardware Co. ^[14] CRESCENT ARMS TRADE NAMES COMPILED BY JOE VORISEK ^[15] A reference guide for the manufacturers of Belknap guns shows that they were made by several companies. ^[16] Crayons ^[17] "

By the time Belknap celebrated its 100th anniversary in 1940, the enterprise had grown to a complex of 37 buildings, covering 37 acres of floor space under one roof. It had underground passageways and covered bridges. Belknap Hardware and Manufacturing was among the nation's largest wholesale enterprises with nationally recognized quality brands." ^[18] " W. B. Belknap, also known as William Burke Belknap (the elder) (1811–1889) established the Belknap Hardware & Mfg Co. back in 1840 along the banks of the Ohio River on a piece of property that is now part of the University of Louisville. They began by producing iron products, such as horse and mule shoes, nails, spikes and other forged items in a small shop. They started with only three employees in a 3-story brick building. By the time Belknap celebrated its 100th anniversary in 1940, they had grown to a complex of 37 buildings, covering 37 acres of floor space under one roof. It had underground passageways and covered bridges. Belknap Hardware and Manufacturing was among the nation's largest wholesale enterprises with nationally recognized quality brands." Waffle irons, dutch ovens, skillets, and other cast iron products sold by Belknap were more likely to have been manufactured by other makers such as Lodge, Belmont, or Griswold. ^[19]

"Their catalog of items grew from 100 to over 75,000 over the years. Blue Grass was one of the brand labels and along with many other items they created their own line of industrial crayons under that name." ^[20] A former sales manager described the distribution process via catalogues and sales representatives. ^[21]

'Over the years, the company grew steadily into a wholesale company selling everything imaginable from hammers and guns to bells, bikes, and baseball bats. ^[22] By the 1950s, the company offered over 110,000 different products and its catalogue spanned some 4,000 pages.' ^[23]

"He built on this, providing quality, affordable tools, with brand names such as 'Belknap, King of the Bluegrass' and Thoroughbred, reflecting Kentucky's own pride in its unique topography and its love of fine horseflesh. Some of Belknap trademarks are John Primble (1931), Cyclone (1952), Crusader (1935), Belmont, Old Kentucky Home, Pride of Kentucky and Pine Knot. Nap (1909) Blue Ribbon (1949). Spotless Town (1951) Homemaker (1958) Slumber Deep (1959) Speedmore (1962-83) Cap’N Nap (1964) Knap (1982) ^[24] Mr. Belknap's savvy business acumen was quite an asset. And he would need every asset he could muster, seeing as he favored the Union during the Civil War while living deep in Dixie. Being president of a bank in Louisville and married to the daughter of its former president would also prove to be another asset. This gave him the solid financial base necessary to support the health and growth of his business. ^[25]

Legal case about the failure carbon content of a hammer ^[26] The Belknap, Inc. Records, 1847-1985 (bulk 1880-1970) are in the Louisville Business History Manuscript Collections of the University of Louisville. ^[27]

21st century collectibles

A different non-aligned American Belknap industry is the Van F. Belknap Co, also known as Belknap Tools. Founded in 1936 by Van F. Belknap, the company focused on tool and die making. Mr. Belknap was a close family friend of the Ford family, and was often called upon to help the Ford Motor Company with many tasks, ranging from simple tool and die work, to research and development of certain parts, even producing job-specific tools when the need arose. at the height of the Detroit automotive business, Belknap has been a part of the manufacturing industry. In 1971, Hank Thorn bought the Van F. Belknap Co. assist assembly plants and manufacturers with not only torque wrenches, but also with the development, testing, and production of specially designed tooling. ^[28] In other venues, the sale of vintage Blue Grass brand products from Belknap Hardware and Manufacturing Company of Louisville, Kentucky continues. ^{[29] [30] [31] [32]}

References

External links

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