This fascinating Conrad Poirier photo shows how Montreal actually had a knife sharpener who'd sharpen your knives right in the street downtown. This was very convenient for the knife-wielding criminal class and undoubtedly contributed massively to the sense of security of those wielding switchblades around town.
Now yes it is sometimes said that Habs' legend Maurice Richard was an overrated ankle skating draft-dodger (Huh!? - not it isn't -- Chimples). But deservedly or not, he has ascended to the pantheon of hockey gods and is decidedly upset at the lack of tribute to his shrine and has thus disempowered this year's edition with strife and heartbreak. If you get a chance please go to the Cote des Neiges cemetery and lay a rubber offering on his grave to give our team a chance in the playoffs. 
In the late 80s/early 90s there was a geezer up on the Plateau who had a grinding wheel hooked up to his bicycle. He'd ride around Mont-Royal sharpening knives and scissors for local residents and businesses.
ReplyDeleteOur Cote des Neiges and Snowdon neighbourhoods had a fellow in a small red truck. The truck looked very much like those old two-tone green POM bread delivery trucks, the ones that had a hood in front. He would ring a loud bell to let everyone know he was in the neighbourhood and ready for business. You would then see all the local housewives scurrying towards the truck with hands full of knives and scissors.
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ReplyDeleteFor those who may be unaware: hockey great Maurice Richard--a true legend in his own time--has an arena named after him and a larger-than-life statue at the northwest corner of Viau and Pierre-de-Coubertin.
ReplyDeleteOn the subject of mobile knife-sharpening services, there is a well-known Italian gentleman who drives his vintage "bread-box" type truck around the Cote des Neiges, NDG, and Hampstead districts (and probably elsewhere), clanging his bell and plying his trade.
I seem to remember there being a rule or even a law against such sharpening services honing any blades longer than six inches--although obviously any type of blade could seriously injure or kill--exacto-knives and box-cutters included.
Even as kids, many of us carried a folding pocket-knife. (I even inherited my father's old 1943 Army version). However, we never really considered them as "weapons" but for their handy usefulness not only for cutting or carving, but for their bottle-opener, hole-puncher, and screwdriver, etc. Oddly enough, I can't remember ever getting my pocket-knife blade sharpened.
Today, of course, the various Swiss Army Knives and Leatherman utility tools have pretty much superseded the standard pocket-knife, but unfortunately too many evil-intentioned people carry more lethal blades around with them, resulting in public vandalism, street crime violence, and night club confrontations.
From what Urban Legend writes, that knife sharpener and his truck sound like the same one I remember. Then again, it might be his son because my memories of that truck go back to the 1950s and very early 1960s.
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The next time I see that mobile sharpener's truck, I will try to catch up with him, flag him down and get his business card--assuming he has one.
ReplyDeleteI will also ask his permission to mention his services online, although I suppose it's possible he may already be listed somewhere. I haven't looked.