Burrell Cutlery
Founded by Harold and Addie Burrell,
Ellicottville, New York
1940-2006
Addie Case started her 80-year career in cutlery at Case Brothers in Little Valley, a teenager in the office working with her father, uncles, brothers and sister. Later she followed her brother Dean Case to help found Kinfolks, and her husband Harold Burrell (who had worked for W.R. Case & Sons, among others) and Addie took advantage of the brewing hostilities in Europe to launch Burrell Cutlery in 1940, on Rockwell Avenue in Ellicottville. Supplying its patented “Top Flight” straight razors and surgical instruments during World War II, the company entered the household cutlery market in 1950, earning notoriety. Supermarket chains were one niche, its serrated tomato knife becoming incredibly popular, Burrell later specialized in producing for other major industry players, Cutco, Sog and W.R. Case & Sons included. Burrell Cutlery lasted three generations until John Burrell – the last Case cutler – retired in 2006.
Information and photo provided by Brad Lockwood and Dean E. Case.