Gerber Legendary Blades

[Mr. Whippy]

I'm at my Mom's house.  Looking around the kitchen, I realized she's had Gerber knives for over 50 years.  I asked her about her blades and she showed me a SERIES of boxes of steak knives and and a serving fork.  I thought you all would enjoy some pictures.

The right side cupboard by the sink:


The left side:


These were given to my parents by my Grandparents as birthday and Christmas presents after they were married (circa 1956).

Here are the blades laid out:


Each knife was stamped with the name of the blades:



The Gerber logo:


Then we pulled out all the boxes of steak knives:


Fifty years of wear:


Literature from that period (late 50's and early 60's):






It is really a shame that Gerber no longer makes a kitchen knife line.  These still hold an excellent edge.

[tosh]

Let me guess...
 
Your mom's now got a shiny new set and you've told her you'll take those "old things away" - lol. 

Nice..very nice set. I'd be very proud to have those in my kitchen. I bet the quality is unreal.

[Gareth]

Fantastic looking knives mate, cheers for sharing the shots.   I especially like the fact they've still got all the old promotional material.

[AimlessWanderer]

Indeed, some great stuff there  Although it makes perfect sense I never considered Gerber as making kitchen knives. These days it's obviously different, in fact my (modern) kitchen knives are made by Kitchen Devils, which is actually another arm of Gerber's parent company Fiskars

[Dunc]

Very nice thanks for sharing

[nuphoria]

What a marvellous old set

I didn't realise Gerber had been in the market back then with kitchen type knives. Great pics

[Grant Lamontagne]

Actually, Gerber started with kitchen knives.

Sit down kiddies and let Uncle Def tell you a story about old Joe Gerber...

Joe made his living selling advertising for a local newspaper, and one year he decided to thank his best customers buy giving out some hand made kitchen knives that a knifemaker he knew made for him.  They were so popular that he decided to go into business and founded Gerber Legendary Blades and eventually started buying knives from other makers to expand his line.  The result is the Gerber company we know today.

The big question is, how far removed are these knives from the ones Joe was selling and/or handing out? 

They are beautiful Nate!  Your grand kids will probably get use out of those two some day!

Def

[tosh]

Just been looking at those pics again - I'm actually more smitten by the promotional stuff.
It so reminds me of LIFE magazine.

Boy, do I love old LIFE magazines.
I've got a stash up in the loft probably 35-40 copies. Some are in fantatastic condtion considering they are well over 60yrs old now.
That era of photojournalism must have been incredible to have witnessed firsthand - as even today I marvel at the stories and the sheer raw talent shown by the photographers back in the day.

Apologies - didn't intend to hijack the thread.

[Mr. Whippy]

Just been looking at those pics again - I'm actually more smitten by the promotional stuff.
It so reminds me of LIFE magazine.

Boy, do I love old LIFE magazines.
I've got a stash up in the loft probably 35-40 copies. Some are in fantatastic condtion considering they are well over 60yrs old now.
That era of photojournalism must have been incredible to have witnessed firsthand - as even today I marvel at the stories and the sheer raw talent shown by the photographers back in the day.

Apologies - didn't intend to hijack the thread.

Hijack away!  It is a time honored MTO tradition.