P. F. HASSAM Richard’s Patent Eating Set
P. F. HASSAM Richard’s Patent Eating Set - Inventory Number: PER 452
Richard’s Patent eating set with P. F. HASSAM Cutler Boston marking warranted cast steel soldier’s name is engraved into the handle.
These nesting utensils were a soldier’s favorite. The knife, fork and spoon conveniently nest together and for a sturdy compact trio. It was one of the more popular knife, fork and spoon combinations of the period. Richard’s patent of July 23, 1861. The other piece has a spoon on one end and a fork on the opposite with a crimped section between the two. When not in use the fork slides into the crimped knife handle while the knife slides into the crimped area on the spoon and fork section.
Manufactured cutlery in a building on Washington Street in downtown Boston, almost next door to the historic Old South Meetinghouse. As firemen frantically worked to save Old South. Hassam Brothers became one of the last buildings lost to the inferno. the business had l a contract for eating sets, razors and supplying the U.S. Army with bayonets.
Frederick Fitch Hassam was the founding member. He was a cutler from 1853 - 1856 then formed a partnership: Kingman & Hassam, 1856 - 1860 and then formed Hassam Brothers with his brother Roswell H Hassam , opening for business in Washington Street in 1861. The company made edged instruments like bowies, knives, razors, bayonets, etc and were official federal contractors for these items, muskets, etc. Interestingly, not all the marks are 'Hassam Bros, Boston' - there are a fair many 'Hassam, Boston' indicating a split of some sort or maybe just work by Frederick on his own in the early years.
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