• Born: 27 Mar 1848, Brooklyn NY
• Died: 8 Jun 1918, Stratford CT

  General notes:

Inventor

  Events in his life were:

• He was issued patent number 51,285 on 5 Dec 1865
  
  FREDERICK C. BEACH, OF STRATFORD, CONNECTICUT. COMBINED FORK AND SHARPENER.
  
  Specification forming part of Letters Patent No. 51,285, dated December 5, 1865.
  
  To all whom it may concern:
  Be it known that I, Frederick C. Beach, of Stratford, Fairfield county, and State of Connecticut, have invented a new and useful Improvement in Cutlery; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full and exact description thereof, which will enable any person skilled in the art to make and use my invention.
  Reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification, in which the same letters indicate corresponding parts in all the figures.
  Figure 1 is a front elevation of an example of my invention. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the same.
  In the use of ordinary cutlery, especially of that kind known as "table "-cutlery, it is common to employ a handled bar of roughened steel, known as the "sharpening-steel," or "knife-sharpener," or "rifle," which steel forms a separate and distinct article of cutlery.
  The object of my invention is to dispense with the use of the said separate sharpening device, and also to increase the convenience and usefulness of the ordinary knives and forks and other cutlery.
  My improvement consists in combining with the knife or fork a suitable sharpening device or surface, so that knives can be conveniently sharpened on being applied to said surface or device.
  It will be readily understood that there are many forms of sharpening devices that may be employed in the combination above indicated. It will also be readily understood that there are many positions upon or in connection with the knife or fork in which the said sharpening device can be placed or arranged.
  I will proceed to illustrate and describe a few of these forms and positions, selecting a common carving-fork as the article to which my improvement is to be attached or applied, it being understood that my improvement is equally applicable to knives as well as forks, and to all kinds of cutlery, so that by bringing or placing the edge of any knife into contact with any article of cutlery (whether knife
  or fork) which has my improvement attached the said knife-edge may be quickly sharpened by moving the knife.
  One method of applying my invention is to place in the crotch of the fork a slitted or slotted block of steel, A, the central portion of which is beveled and slightly separated, so as to form a recess, a, the lower part of the sides or wall of which approach very near together, so that when a knife-blade is introduced therein, as shown in Fig. 2 in red, and the knife moved laterally in said recess, the edge of the knife will be quickly sharpened. This form of sharpening-recess is well understood among persons skilled in the art, and the selection of the best form for this particular purpose will be a matter of no difficulty.
  The sharpening block or crotch maybe made in a separate piece and attached, by welding, brazing, tongue and groove, shrinking, or in any other secure manner, to the article of cutlery, or it may be formed in one piece with the article of cutlery.
  The inner faces of the recess for sharpening may be roughened, fluted, corrugated or otherwise made or prepared, so as more quickly to bite or act upon the knife-edge, c indicates such flutes; or the said edges of the recess maybe left smooth.
  There are various positions in which the sharpening device may be placed upon the knife or fork. It may be located upon the shank B of the cutlery, if desired, the shoulder d of the said shank being enlarged, so that a sharpening device may be formed therein, as indicated at A'; or the sharpening device may be made separately and set into or attached in any suitably firm manner to the shank of the cutlery.
  In some cases the sharpening device may be attached to the handle of the cutlery or to the rear portion of the shank thereof, so as to project from the rear end of the handle of the cutlery, as indicated by A2.
  Instead of the particular form of sharpening device hereinbefore described, other suitable forms may be employed. The red lines in Fig. 1 illustrate the use of the pivoted wheels of steel put together in the common manner, so as to form a sharpening device of the well-known construction.
  The size, form, position, and method of attaching or forming my improvement upon the cutlery will be governed by the skill or desire of the manufacturer, having in view the economy of construction and the finish that is to be given to the cutlery.
  Having thus described my invention, I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent— A knife, fork, or analogous article of cutlery constructed or provided with a sharpening device, as herein specified.
  
  Frederick C. Beach
  
  Witnesses:
  A. E. Beach
  K. Nida