Posted 6 years ago
Curiouspryde
(1 item)
E. C. Simmons, keen kutter, shears, scissors, snips, fully metal
Looking for some input on the history and also perhaps some tips on how to care for it.
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I can help a bit. I have a pair of these my dad gave me back in the early 1960's. Dad owned a perennial and tree nursery. The pair he gave me was made in late 40's or early 50's. There should have been a flip lock at the end of the handles so you could lock them in the closed position. They last forever if taken care of. They are a single cut pruning shear but someone has tried to sharpen the lower jaw of this pair. Only the top jaw its intended to cut.
made before 1940. These are fabric shears that would have been used in embroidery or sewing. You can clean them with Ketchup (Weird but it works!)
Worthpoint article. Also shows the flip latch I spoke of.
https://www.worthpoint.com/worthopedia/vintage-keen-kutter-pruning-shears-75438721
fhrjr2 is correct. If they don't cut small twigs (pencil size) cleanly it will be a big job to get the jaws to align properly due to the damage done to the lower jaw. Actually, they are not particularly valuable. You can find them in almost every flea market for a couple dollars.
My mistake lol. In the catalog archives these are listed as pruning shears. The sewing ones i saw didn't have the mechanism between the handles
They are no later than 1940 though because E.C.Simmons sold the trademark name to Shapleigh's, their biggest competitor at the time. If this was shapleigh's it would say in the top of the arch on the logo, where it says E.C.Simmons.