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Whistory
The Regent Manufacturing Company’s history begins as the Regent Manufacturing Company in Bridgeport Connecticut. M.E. Trunk is listed as president and Anton Trunk the secretary and treasurer. Their line of work was Cutlery and Hardware.
Anton Trunk was awarded the first corkscrew U.S. design patent # D-16,799, April 5th 1886
1865 James D. Frary president of Landers Frary and Clark ( L.F. & C. )
1876 Frary Cutlery Co. forms
1881 Anton Trunk president of Frary Cutlery Co.
1881 Anton Trunk along with Bliss and Healy buy the Frary Cutlery Company change name to & Son
1883 Anton Trunk president Frary Cutlery & Co. ( New England Dir and Gazetteer )
1895 Anton Trunk secretary Bridgeport Manufacturing ( New England Dir and Gaz. )
1886 lists Anton Trunk as president of the Northhampton Cutlery Co. ( USCSS Vol 2336 )
1896 Regent Manufacturing Anton Trunk secretary, M.E. Trunk president ( Iron Age )
1896-7 lists an advertisement for Regent Mfg. Company ( The Iron Age )
No listing for closure of the Regent Manuf. Co.
Whistology
| Category | Gadget |
| Class | Regent |
| Type | Cutlery, Knife |
| Subclass | Model A |
Here is the advertisement from 1896 in the Iron Age Vol 58
Model A
Model B
Hardware Review displayed a model not found yet.
The Iron Age also placed the following advertisement 1897
Conclusions:
With Anton Trunks move from the Frary Cutlery Co. was the spin off company of Regent Manufacturing although apparently of short duration. Anton Trunk, although being president at Frary, was secretary and treasurer at Regent with M.E. Trunk as president. He did though bring the idea of a knife whistle of close design and also one quite different. The ornate metal whistle plates were also copied in concept.
TWG
Posted October 24, 2021
Bibliography:
http://vintagecorkscrews.com/antontrunkcorkscrews.htm
https://americanhistory.si.edu/collections/search/object/nmah_323919
New England Business directory and Gazetteer
United States Congressional Serial Set, Volume 2336 – 1886
Hardware: A Review of the American Hardware Market, Volume 15
