SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION WASHINGTON, DC 20549 SCHEDULE 13G Under the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 (Amendment No. )* Acme United Corporation ----------------------- Name of Issuer Class A Common -------------- (Title of class of securities) 004816104 --------- Cusip Number Check the following box if a fee is being paid with this statement _____ (A fee is not required only if the filing person: (1) has a previous statement on file reporting beneficial ownership of more than five percent of the class of securities described on Item 1; and, (2) has filed no amendment subsequent thereto reporting beneficial ownership of five percent or less of such class). (See Rule 13-d 7.) *The remainder of this cover page shall be filled out for a reporting person's initial filing on this form with respect to the subject class of securities, and for any subsequent amendment containing information which would alter the disclosures provided in a prior cover page. The information required in the remainder of this cover page shall not be deemed to be "filed" for the purpose of Section 18 of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934 ("Act") or otherwise subject to the liabilities of that section of the Act but shall be subject to all other provisions of the Act (however, see the Notes). (Continued on following page[s]) Page 1 of 4 pagesCUSIP NO. 004816104 13G Page 2 of 4 pages Name of Reporting Person 1. Social security or IRS Identification No. of above person Fleet Financial Group, Inc. 05-0341324 2. Check the appropriate box if a member of a group* (a) [ ] (b) [ ] 3. SEC Use Only 4. Citizenship of place of organization One Federal Street, Boston, Massachusetts 02110 5. Sole Voting Power Number 185,506 of Shares Beneficially 6. Shared Voting Power Owned by 0 Each Reporting 7. Sole Dispositive Power Person 81,366 with 8. Shared Dispositive Power 104,140 9. Aggregate amount beneficially owned by each reporting person 185,506 10. Check box if the aggregate amount in row (9) excludes certain shares* 11. Percent of class represented by amount in row (9). 5.56% 12. Type of reporting person* Holding company Page 3 of 4 pages Item1(a) Name of Issuer: Acme United Corporation Item 1(b) Address of Issuer's Principal Executive Offices: 75 Kings Highway Cutoff, Fairfield, CT 06430 Item 2(a) Name of Person Filing: Fleet Financial Group, Inc. Item 2(b) Address of Principal Business Office, or if none, Residence: One Federal Street, Boston, Massachusetts 02110 Item 2(c) Citizenship: Massachusetts Item 2(d) Title or Class of Securities: Common Item 2(e) CUSIP Number: 004816104 Item 3 If this statement is filed pursuant to Rules 13d-1(b), or 13d-2(b), check whether the person filing is a: (a) ( ) Broker or Dealer registered under Section 15 of the Act (b) ( ) Bank as defined in Section 3(a) (6) of the Act (c) ( ) Insurance Company as defined in Section 3(a) (19) of the Act (d) ( ) Investment Company registered under Section 8 of the Investment Company Act (e) ( ) Investment Adviser registered under Section 203 of the Investment Company Act (f) ( ) Employee Benefit Plan, Pension Fund which is subject to the provisions of the Employee Retirement Income Security Act of 1974 or Endowment or Endowment Fund; see 240.13d-1(b) (1) (ii) (F) (g) (X) Parent Holding Company, in accordance with 240.13d-1(b) (ii) (G) (Note: See Item 7) (h) ( ) Group, in accordance with 240.13d-1(b) (1) (ii) (H) Item 4. Ownership (a) Amount beneficially owned: 185,506 (b) Percent of Class: 5.56% (c) Number of Shares as to which such person has: (i) Sole power to vote or to direct the vote: 185,506 (ii) Shared power to vote or to direct the vote: 0 (iii) Sole power to dispose or to direct the disposition of: 81,366 (iv) Shared power to dispose or to direct the disposition of: 104,140 Page 4 of 4 pages Item 5. Ownership of Five Percent or Less of a Class. If this statement is being filed to report the fact that as of the date hereof, the reporting person has ceased to be the beneficial owner of more than five percent of the class of securities, check the following ( ____ ). Item 6. Ownership of More than Five Percent on Behalf of Another Person. N/A Item 7. Identification and Classification of the Subsidiary which Acquired the Security being reported on by the Parent Holding Company. Exhibit A attached. Item 8. Identification and Classification of Members of the Group. N/A Item 9. Notice of Dissolution of Group. Item 10. Certification By signing below I certify that, to the best of my knowledge and belief, the securities referred to above were acquired in the ordinary course of business and were not acquired for the purpose of and do not have the effect of changing or influencing the control of the issuer of such securities and were not acquired in connection with or as a participant in any transaction having such purpose or effect. Signature After reasonable inquiry and to the best of my knowledge and belief, I certify that the information set forth in this statement is true, complete and correct. Date February 13, 1997 Signature /s/ Gunnar S. Overstrom Name/Title Gunnar S. Overstrom, Vice Chairman Fleet Financial Group