Results: Yellow Bellies: Knife Grinders of France
In the early 1900's, craftspeople in a town in the center of France called Thier lay on their stomachs in an effort to avoid hunching and straining their backs while grinding knife blades.
1.
1.
Thier lacked iron ore for blades, and sandstone to create grinding wheels, but it had the gushing Durolle River that offered energy for running cutlery machines. More importantly, it had people willing to do hard work in terrible conditions. Which of these conditions would concern you the most?
The cold and dampness
16%
•
307 votes
The punishing noise of the machines
10%
•
183 votes
Lying on my stomach pressing a knife on a grinding wheel
24%
•
448 votes
N/A
23%
•
440 votes
Possibility of injury from flying particles or the grinding wheel exploding.
27%
•
522 votes
2.
2.
The nickname, "Yellow Bellies" evolved from the cutlers getting the fine yellow dust from the grinding wheels on their clothes and skin. Have you ever had a job that always left you noticeably dirty after your work was done?
Yes, and I hated that
18%
•
335 votes
Yes, but I didn't mind
16%
•
299 votes
No
37%
•
702 votes
N/A
24%
•
451 votes
Yes, maintaining my home.
8%
•
154 votes
3.
3.
The people worked in the fields in the summer, and crafted blades in the winter. For this stage of the knife-making process, the workers who lay on there stomachs often had a loyal dog on their legs to provide warmth and emotional comfort. How do you feel about that?
Seems silly to me
13%
•
253 votes
I'm indifferent.
13%
•
242 votes
Very practical
19%
•
359 votes
How adorable!
11%
•
215 votes
Best part of the job!
18%
•
334 votes
N/A
26%
•
497 votes
4.
4.
Now machines are powered by electricity, and blade-grinders work sitting. But Thier is still considered by some to be the Knife-making capital of France, and the area produces up to 80% of the blade tools in the country. They even have a Cutlery Museum (pictured). Had you ever heard of the Yellow Bellies knife grinders?
No
63%
•
1205 votes
Unsure
8%
•
159 votes
Yes
4%
•
79 votes
Yes, and I've been to Thier, France.
2%
•
43 votes
N/A
22%
•
414 votes
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