Photos Amazing photo of French knife grinders from 1902

[Petros]

This image popped up on FaceBook this morning, thought it was worth sharing.
the caption reads:
This photo from 1902 shows French knife grinders. They would work on their stomachs in order to save their backs from being hunched all day.

 

[tltt]

The knife grinders were encouraged to bring their dogs for company, and to help warm up the workers sometimes. Sadly much like the grinders themselves, they get sick from the grinding dust .

 

[eveled]

 

[Crag the Brewer]

Were they really worried about ergonomics.....
I don't think our necks like that position?

:0

 

[Shorttime]

I hear that the grinding dust covered the fronts of their clothing, turning it yellow. Probably inevitably, they came to be called "yellowbellies".

 

[shane45-1911]

Were they really worried about ergonomics.....
I don't think our necks like that position?

:0

Hahaha, I'm guessing you've never ridden a sport bike.

 

[Crag the Brewer]

Hahaha, I'm guessing you've never ridden a sport bike.

Will That give me Rusty Weiner, or whatever it's called??? Like the guys in the pics

 

[RayseM]

Looks pretty miserable to me.

 

[Petros]

Dickensian conditions continue today in the third world. Why, in 1970 I did 40 hours of heavy manual labour in a sawmill as a scrawny 15 year old for $18.20 per week.
Knife content, my dad was a saw sharpener and showed me how to make a knife from a file ;>)

 

[abcdef]

Wow, some crazy pictures. Those dogs knew where the stove was.

 

[eveled]

I think they just wanted to mount the bearings to the floor for the most strength. I’m wondering it there was a trough for water under them or if it was done dry?

Also notice the placement of the large windows for light. No electricity.

 

[AgentSteel]

Curious to know what blades they were grinding in the 3rd photo...

 

[Floatingby]

Look like awful working conditions, I get neck pain just from looking at the pictures. Was probably damp and cold too, with the water continuously running over those stones, not to mention they probably worked like this 12 to 16 hours days, 6 days a week, and for pennies.

 

[tltt]

Here are some similar but more modern videos of older Sheffield grinders and forgers doing similar -

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Most of those videos are 1950's - 70's, a couple 80's, 90's, but many of the old timers were still doing it closer to the old ways than not.

 

[tltt]

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Few more of note.

 

[Laurent57]

Here are additionnal pictures (postal cards).
I am not quite sure it was the same method in other place than Thiers (French city).

 

[eveled]

Must be strange to go home exhausted, but you don’t want to go to bed because you’ve been laying down all day!

 

[JC972]

It’s funny that In the picture of the women, the one facing the camera looks more or less happy but her coworker next to her looks madder’n a wet hornet

 

[I'mSoSharp]

As I understand it from what I've read, the position was just a way of being able to put maximum weight on the blade, for faster work.
The dogs were to keep the Grinder warm in unheated workshops.
It's said that if a grinding wheel broke the Grinder could hit the ceiling....... & not much chance of surviving.