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24 Dexter-Russell But before he could begin operations in earnest, Russell had to find an appropriate location with room to expand and a ready power source. In 1836, John and his brother Francis Russell found a property that bordered the Green River and purchased the buildings and land for $2,500. e two men launched the business soon after, but a fire in the forging shop forced a temporary halt to the manufacturing operations. To further delay the resumption of business, Mother Nature dowsed the area with the Great Flood of 1836. Natural disasters were not the only roadblock that prevented Russell from pursuing his ambitions. He faced another challenge in winning over American customers who preferred tableware from Sheffield, England; the longevity and reputation of the European cutlers led potential customers to believe that domestic goods were inferior. Undaunted by these setbacks and driven by his goal of rivaling the Sheffield Knife Company in England and becoming a dominant force in the U.S. cutlery industry, Russell pressed on. He found a source of capital in Henry W. Clapp, a successful businessman, who played a key role in fulfilling Russell's dream by providing much- needed financing. Clapp invested $10,000 and, together with John and his brother Francis, formed the John Russell Manufacturing Company. Clapp served as an advisor, while the Russell brothers managed the company. In 1837, the John Russell Manufacturing Company opened for business on the Green River in Greenfield, Massachusetts, and began mass-producing knives using innovative mechanical forging and assembly line techniques. ey also powered their grinding wheels with a small steam engine and developed other labor saving devices. Russell's was the first American owned and operated factory to utilize this type of machinery. Russell's cutlery company soon earned an excellent reputation due to its impressive products made of top quality steel and crafted with precision. Furthermore, his manufacturing methods enabled the company to produce large quantities of knives in a relatively short period of time. He used power hammers to forge the blades, eliminating hand-swaging, which was labor intensive. In England, cutlers continued to fasten the blade to the handle by hand, producing only 150 pieces a day; the steam hammer enabled American cutlers to turn out 3,000 pieces per day. Historians speculate that Russell borrowed the idea of using "trip hammers powered by steam engine to stamp out chisel and knife blanks," from his brother Nathaniel, who had connections to the Ames Manufacturing Company, a sword manufacturer. ese more efficient manufacturing methods translated to higher production numbers and a greater variety of products. At that time, Russell made not only functional knives but a wide range of table cutlery with patterned handles of ivory, pearl, cocobolo, ebony and horn. Some of this tableware was manufactured specifically for "…hotels, restaurants, steamboats, and other hard service…" In addition to tableware, Russell continued to produce "…superior pocket knives…" and other types of knives. Russell's dream of staking his place in the cutlery industry was becoming reality as his reputation extended beyond the United States borders and attracted craftsmen who had previously worked for Sheffield cutlers. As they emigrated from England, the men brought their technical skills and joined the existing workforce at the John Russell Manufacturing Company.