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Cutlery Firm Celebrates 125 Years

A northwestern Pennsylvania cutlery firm is celebrating its 125th anniversary, along with $10 million in renovations to its plant.

BRADFORD, Pa. (AP) -- A northwestern Pennsylvania cutlery firm is celebrating its 125th anniversary, along with $10 million in renovations to its plant.

W.R. Case & Sons Cutlery Co. was formed by four brothers in 1889 in upstate New York. The company moved to Bradford, Pennsylvania — its current location about 130 miles northeast of Pittsburgh — in 1905.

The company is now owned by Zippo Manufacturing Co., which makes the iconic cigarette lighters best known for their distinctive metal cases.

As part of Wednesday's anniversary celebration, Zippo is spending nearly $10 million to renovate the Case Cutlery factory, which was built in 1975. That plant is the third built by case since it relocated to Bradford.

More than 2,000 U.S. stores are authorized Case dealers, including Cabela's, Bass Pro, Field & Stream and Dick's Sporting Goods.

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