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