- Olfa
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Olfa cutter
Olfa is a Japanese manufacturer of utility knives, founded in 1956. The name is derived from the Japanese words oru (折る, bend and break) and ha (刃, blade).
Contents
Snap-off blade
Founder Yoshio Okada and his younger brother Saburo worked for printing companies where they cut paper with razor blades, but the blades quickly became unusable as their edges wore out. The brothers invented blades with scored lines which could be snapped to reveal sharp unused sections of blade. This idea came to them when they recalled how a chocolate bar given to them by GHQ (Supreme Commander of the Allied Powers) soldier in childhood had also broken off in sections.[1]
These snap-off blades and their associated handles are now made by many manufacturers in two standard sizes (9 and 18mm).
Other products
Their products include heavy-duty and specialty cutting tools for the building industry, safety tools for industrial applications, rotary cutters, self-healing mats, art knives and rulers for the crafting industry.
The company's products are frequently recommended for use in crafts such as book repair,[2] calligraphy,[3] quilt making,[4] modelling,[5] sewing,[6] picture framing[7] and appliqué.[8]
References
- ^ Birth of OLFA cutter
- ^ Schechter, Abraham A. (1999). Basic Book Repair Methods. Libraries Unlimited. p. 36. ISBN 1563087006. http://books.google.com/books?id=lj2pERMVdqEC&pg=PA36&dq=Olfa+%2Bknife&sig=zDGY7e8lN4sD_uFgbKg1o9UTygo#PPA36,M1.
- ^ Wong, Frederick (1999). The Complete Calligrapher. Courier Dover Publications. p. 149. ISBN 048640711X. http://books.google.com/books?id=A6mBuEy5T0oC&pg=PA149&dq=Olfa+%2Bknife&num=100&sig=gqEAYGTrCyRuPVXGMvCV2DB953s.
- ^ Shedletsky, Andrea L. (1986). Making a Traditional Applique Sampler Quilt. Courier Dover Publications. p. 3. ISBN 0486249999. http://books.google.com/books?id=whKISPen4M4C&pg=PA3&dq=Olfa+%2Bknife&num=100&sig=a0oIK1B76ItBdk7tw3r_N2yNC5Q.
- ^ Schmidt, Norman (2005). Great Paper Fighter Planes. Sterling Publishing Company, Inc.. p. 5. ISBN 189556977X. http://books.google.com/books?id=dcuJ0tB-_6EC&pg=PA5&dq=Olfa+%2Bknife&num=100&sig=6IxmreAk6wy8bM7e-dZGM56YSTs.
- ^ Coffin, David Page (1998). Shirtmaking: Developing Skills for Fine Sewing. Taunton Press. p. 15. ISBN 1561582646. http://books.google.com/books?id=xp4WBM3Zp7sC&pg=PA15&dq=Olfa+%2Bknife&num=100&sig=GR4zYE-Zu8JjNaBGdmIRa64v8CM.
- ^ Welden, Dan; Muir, Pauline (2001). Printmaking in the Sun. Watson-Guptill Publications. p. 20. ISBN 0823042928. http://books.google.com/books?id=wT5QAAAAMAAJ&q=Olfa+%2Bknife&dq=Olfa+%2Bknife&num=100&pgis=1.
- ^ Delaney, Kathy (2003). A Heartland Album: More Techniques in Hand Appliqué. Kansas City Star Books. p. 35. ISBN 0972273972. http://books.google.com/books?id=cYKH7_GPSg4C&printsec=frontcover&dq=Olfa+%2Bknife&num=100&sig=3oiDc0kl0f3EhTD0mchQMDi6wJ0#PPA35,M1.
External links
Categories:- Tool manufacturers
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