Links to some pics on Shorpy with knives in them

[pertinux]

Very rewarding gallery indeed which does show the connexion between everyday activities and knife-use in the past. Something which is fast vanishing/vanished in our contemporary world. Some are sobering though, the pictures of small children already working long hours for a pittance might put some nostalgia into perspective.

Very much taken by the picture of those men and a woman standing around with bundles of bank-notes as part of the Destruction Committee at the Mint/Treasury.

My thoughts as well; whether the subjects in the various images (culled for us by the OP) were prompted by a photographer to make sure their knives were visible (if not proudly displayed), or the subjects themselves chose to feature them, it's clear that the knives were important to someone.

Detail from The Money Killers: 1912:

(From The Money Killers: 1912, on Shorpy.com)

~ P.

 

[knarfeng]

I think this photo also serves as a reminder that before the invention of stainless, the cleaning and polishing of table cutlery would have been an important daily chore.

I have my grandparents silverware set, which dates from the turn of the last century or so. The table knives have non-stainless blades. After use, they must be the first things washed and must be immediately carefully dried and put away.

 

[Will Power]

There were these weird looking contraptions for polishing non stainless kitchen-knives, a kind of drum like thing with a cranking handle. They may have sharpened as well.

 

[Jack Black]

I have my grandparents silverware set, which dates from the turn of the last century or so. The table knives have non-stainless blades. After use, they must be the first things washed and must be immediately carefully dried and put away.

Yes, when you see how easily they stain, it really makes you appreciate the amount of care and effort that went into keeping them spotless :thumbup:

There were these weird looking contraptions for polishing non stainless kitchen-knives, a kind of drum like thing with a cranking handle. They may have sharpened as well.

Sounds interesting :thumbup:

 

[Will Power]

Along these lines

 

[Jack Black]

Excellent Will, thanks for the pic. I think I might even have seen one of those in one of the York museums :thumbup: