P. C. Herwig Co. Square Knotting Supplies

P. C. Herwig & Co
49 Sands St.
Brooklyn 3, NYC

Click on ANY picture
for a larger version!

The P.C. Herwig Company was the "one-stop-shopping centre" for squareknotting from 1922 through the early 1970's (I think).
Exactly when it ceased operation is a conjecture on my part, as is most other information about it, but I do know that Mr. Herwig
was a Chief Electrician's Mate during WW-I and either retired out of the Navy or was forced out due to the post-war personnel
level reductions that our Governments always seem to go through after a war. (To their later great distress, but elected officials
have no hindsight...) At any rate he bought out a company already supplying Naval personnel with uniforms, insignia and the like,
F. A. Toombs Inc, and continued in the same vein, adding square-knotting supplies and instruction booklets. Square-knotting
was, in the mid-to-late Twenties, a very popular pastime in the US and the UK, and Herwig was in the right place at the right time
to capacitive on the "craze". The company continued successful, even through the depression years and into WW-II. (see
BELFAST CORD page)

This is a catalogue that they published in 1933, listing all of their square-knotting items available, but I am informed that there
were five other catalogs with uniform items, surplus items, boating supplies and general cordage as well. I've not yet been able
to come up with any of those catalogues, and if any of you happen to be in possession of any of them, let's talk. (Note: NOT the
"Square-Knotting" books... I've enough of those!)

Interesting are the prices for things in 1933... a spool of Belfast Cord was $0.75 then, but considering that an average weekly
salary ran around $35.00, it was fairly expensive! Consider that a pound of coffee ran appx. $.75 then, and is about$6.00 now,
and you'll be able to make some sort of informed comparison between the prices in the catalogue and what they might be today
(2006). It's an interesting exercise.

NOTE: PC Herwig published three booklets on squareknotting which are being reproduced and sold on Ebay as of 10/2006. While there is nothing
wrong with this and although the copies are quite crisp, the same information is contained in any edition of "The Encyclopedia of Knots and Fancy
Ropework" by Raoul Graumont and John Hensel (Cornell Maritime Press 1943 and subs. editions) and by buying that volume you'll also get a wealth
of knotting lore and expertise as well. Better value! Find it on Amazon.com., Half.com or any used book search Average price is $24.00, while the
three reprints will total appx. $22.00!