Belknap Hardware & Mfg. Co.
111 E. Main St., Louisville, Kentucky

Belknap was a dealer in iron and heavy hardware, horse shoes, nails and spikes, etc. They also sold radio receivers (known for 1937 but possibly earlier and later).

Belknap's first catalog counted about 16 pages; their inventory in 1880 was about 100 items, by 1940 the catalog had grown to 3000 pages and 75,000 items. By the mid 1950s the catalogs had reached over 4000 pages and more than 110,000 items. Belknap’s business was always Wholesale, never Retail.

They also had their own tube brand Blue Grass brand in the mid 1930s.

In 1840 William Burke Belknap moved with his family to Louisville, Kentucky, and developed a business for iron and heavy hardware, horse shoes, nails and spikes, under the name of W. B. Belknap. His inventory was expanded with additionial items whenever his clients needed them.

The company was known as W. B. Belknap from 1840 to 1860; W. B. Belknap & Co. from 1860 to 1880; W. B. Belknap and Co., Inc. from 1880 to 1907 and Belknap Hardware & Mfg. Co. from 1907 to 1986.

Their first building was a three story brick construction situated at 3rd and Main where three employees worked. By 1940 the business had grown to 37 buildings, with the main building having about 12 floors, with 37 acres of floor space under one roof. They had many underground passage ways and covered bridges between buildings.

In 1986 the company went to bankruptcy.