Knife
Knife
Knife

Knife

Object number2005.127.5
Datec. 1930
MediumSteel/Wood
Credit LineGift of J. Dino DePaulo
DescriptionKnife used for cutting leather, plastic, foam, and other materials used in the shoe repair business. The knife has a wooden handle and a steel blade.Dimensions1 x 1 x 7.5 in. (2.5 x 2.5 x 19.1 cm)
Historical NotesGuy "Ton" DePaulo used this tool to repair shoes at his shop on Bessemer Avenue in East Pittsburgh. Born in Naples, Italy, DePaulo immigrated to the United States in 1920. After learning the trade from an uncle, DePaulo started his own shoe repair shop while also working at nearby Westinghouse in order to make ends meet. Ton's Shoe Shop was in existence for over seventy years, from the 1930s through 2005. It was more than a business. It was also an active social center of the neighborhood where people gathered to discuss politics, sports, and other news of the day.
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