In 1884, Harrington introduced the "Dexter" trade name—named after his son—for a line of fine kitchen and table cutlery. This brand quickly became synonymous with quality across American restaurants and homes.
Key innovations of this period:
The story begins in 1818 with the founding of the in Southbridge. It was one of the earliest cutlery firms in the United States. In the late 19th century, the company underwent a significant transformation. In 1884, the business was reorganized as the Dexter File Company , named after the prominent Dexter family who had taken leadership. dexter knives southbridge ma
Southbridge became a cutlery cluster, with firms like and Russell Cutlery (later Russell Harrington) operating nearby. Dexter distinguished itself by focusing on professional use, not household brands. The company’s catalog from 1885 lists over 200 patterns, including: It was one of the earliest cutlery firms