Boker
USA
A
giant chestnut tree, shading the small Boeker
tool factory in Remscheid in the 17th century,
is the oldest traceable symbol connected with
the Boeker name. Apparently, Boeker tools were
very successful, since they were among the leading
products in Germany and neighboring countries
100 years later. |
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Due
to the increasing demand in a restless political era,
Hermann and Robert Boeker decided in 1829 to begin
with the production of sabers. As early as September
1830, the accounting records indicate a weekly production
of 2,000 items, made by 64 smiths, 47 grinders and
a large number of unskilled laborers. In view of the
constantly
increasing
variety of tools and cutting instruments and the good
opportunities for worldwide sales, the family realized
that the individual steps in the manufacturing process
had to be spread out for optimal realization of its
interests. As a result, Hermann Boeker emigrated and
founded H. Boeker & Co. in New York. Young Robert
developed his enterprise in Canada, founding a branch
in Mexico later in 1865. This branch is still a market
leader in its country under the name of Casa Boeker.
Heinrich
crossed the nearby Wupper river and went to Solingen,
where the German industry of cutting tools was growing
by leaps and bounds at that time. In 1869, he founded
Heinr. Boeker & Co. with Hermann Heuser, a well-known
specialist in the field of cutting tools. The Boeker
family in Remscheid and their overseas cousins had
a lot of interest in and a great demand for shaving
blades, scissors and pocket knives from Heinrich's
new enterprise. They had to identify their products
for the overseas markets in a simple way, since many
customers and consumers had problems with the German
name Boeker ? not considering the fact that illiteracy
was widely spread. In Heinrich's opinion, the chestnut
tree near the Remscheid facility represented an ideal,
easy-to-remember symbol. This brand symbol was owned
by the Remscheid company, together with a second logo,
the arrow. One of the few valuable documents that
survived the total destruction of WWII is an ad by
Boeker, Remscheid, from the year 1874, showing both
logos.
The
relationship between the two Boeker companies had
always been extremely friendly. Therefore, Heinrich
was allowed to take the tree symbol across the river
with him ? without any big fight or cost. Since then,
not a single Boeker article has left the Solingen
factory without being identified by the tree symbol.
After more than 100 years of existence the old chestnut
tree was the victim of lightening. In 1925 a talented
artist carved a copy of the majestic tree on a piece
of the trunk. This original piece of art decorates
the boss' office in the Boeker plant.
As
early as 1900, the majority of articles produced by
Boeker were distributed in the US market. H. Boker
& Co. in New York concentrated primarily on cutting
tools from Solingen. Soon pocket knives became more
important than scissors, shaving blades and eating
utensils. The demand increased even more rapidly than
Solingen was able to supply, so that the Americans
in New York began their own production of pocket knives.
A little later, pliers were included as well. Since
the tree symbol had become well known by then and
the various branches of the international Boeker family
enjoyed an excellent relationship among each other,
it was not difficult to receive permission from the
Solingen relatives to use the tree symbol also for
the American products. Since that time, two different
lines of Boeker knives have been on the American market
with the same brand symbol, sometimes even with the
same article numbers, but one line was made in the
USA and the other in Solingen. Only the declaration
of marketability clarified that one line was from
Boker USA and the other from H. Boker Improved Cutlery
Solingen. The relationship was interrupted during
WWII. The Solingen factory burned down completely.
None of the equipment, tools, catalog materials or
samples was spared. Those few originals from the past
we have today survived the war in private homes and
were made available to the company. The firm lost
one of its most valuable assets: the registration
of the tree symbol for the American market was confiscated
pursuant to American law. John Boker Jr. acquired
it in New York, in order to secure it for the distribution
of the American and German products. Soon after the
war, the destroyed factory was rebuilt. Those loyal
skilled workers who had survived the war, returned
and helped with the reconstruction of the building
as well as the production, gradually regaining the
previous high standard of quality.
The
American cousins renewed their business contact with
Solingen and started to place orders. Within a few
years Boker, New York, had again become the principal
customer. Models like the 7588 and 7474 and the most
expensive item, the sports knife "Flagship Model
182" could not cross the ocean fast enough to
reach Böker friends all over the country.
In
the early 60s, Boker USA was sold and eventually acquired
by the well-known scissors manufacturer Wiss &
Sons. Wiss retained the manufacture of Boeker knives
and sold them together with Solingen products. Of
course, this meant that the Boeker scissors ceased
to be competitors of the Wiss line in the American
market. In the early 70s, Wiss sold to Cooper Industries,
a multinational company. This new change in America
proved to be advantageous for Boker.
A
very close business, as well as personal relationship
developed with this industrial giant. Due to its strength
on the market, Cooper was able to restore the original
magnitude of the Boeker name. Thanks to the very lively
business activities with Cooper for eight years, the
Solingen facility could streamline its production
and develop new, modern products. Without exaggeration,
Boker manufactures the largest assortment of high-quality
knives for sportsmen and collectors with an unsurpassed
variety of materials for blades and handles. Today,
Boeker knives range from 320-layer Damascus steel
to very modern ceramics, with handles ranging from
high-quality mother-of-pearl to Thuya root wood and
state-of-the-art synthetics...
In
1983 Cooper discontinued its own knife production.
Models still in demand are being manufactured in Solingen
today. As a result of friendly negotiations, Cooper
restored the American trademark rights three years
later, providing Solingen with the opportunity to
become self-reliant in the huge American market. Thus,
in 1986, Boker USA, Inc. was created in Denver, Colorado.
Chuck Hoffman, the man who was involved with the company
then, is still active as CEO today, working with a
young, energetic team.
The
great importance of Boeker in the South American markets
(Argentina and Chile) and in Mexico is due to the
efficient men of the Boeker family, who were active
for us in these countries in the 19th and 20th centuries.
Today's trademark includes the terms TREEBRAND and
ARBOLITO. Since the Argentinian market in particular
is subject to extreme economic and political fluctuations,
the good name ARBOLITO was in danger of being forgotten.
In 1983, Boeker Arbolito S. A. was founded jointly
with the Salzmann family primarily to manufacture
household and work knives in Argentina. Thanks to
the constant modernization and expansion of product
lines the company in Buenos Aires is able to compete
worldwide with selected products today.
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