*Radio Diaries*

New York Works is an audio portrait of a vanishing city. From a knife sharpener who still makes house calls to one of Brooklyn's last commercial fisherman, New York Works tells the stories of those who keep the city's past alive. New York Works is co-produced by Radio Diaries and Emily Botein of WNYC's The Next Big Thing, with help from Ben Shapiro. New York Works originally aired on WNYC's The Next Big Thing and NPR's All Things Considered in January 2002.

The series was rebroadcast as an hour-long special over Labor Day weekend. It was hosted by Dean Olsher of The Next Big Thing and distributed by American Radio Works, the documentary project of Minnesota Public Radio and NPR News.

Walter Backerman, Seltzer Man

Back in 1919, Walter Backerman's grandfather delivered seltzer by horse and wagon on Manhattan's Lower East Side. Today, Walter continues to deliver seltzer around the streets of New York. Some customers, like Mildred Blitz, have been on the family route for more than 50 years. When Walter's grandfather drove his cart there were thousands of seltzer men in the city; today Walter is one of the last.

Selma Koch, Bra Saleswoman

94-year old Selma Koch runs the Town Shop, one of New York's last old-style bra fitting shop. The Town Shop is a fourth-generation family business that emphasizes personal service and custom fitting. Selma still works every day alongside her son and grandson. Their motto: "We know your size."

Frank Schubert, Lighthouse Keeper

Frank Schubert became a lighthouse keeper in 1937. Today at 85, Frank works at the Coney Island lighthouse. He is the last civilian lighthouse keeper in the United States.

Frank Sabatino, Fisherman

Frank Sabatino went on his first overnight fishing trip when he was 8 years old. Since then, Frank has spent nearly 40 years on lobster boats, clam boats, and larger fishing vessels. Today, he operates his own 27-year-old wooden trawler, the Tammy Gale, with his son Mike. Frank Sabatino is one of the last fishermen left in Brooklyn.

Charlie Zimmerman, Water Tower Builder

Look up from nearly any street in Manhattan and you'll see the rooftop wooden water tanks that Charlie Zimmerman has been installing for 23 years. Charlie works for Rosenwach Tanks, a century-old firm that is the last in New York to build the tanks.
See an illustrated story about water tank builders

Cali Rivera, Cowbell Maker

Cali Rivera makes cowbells, timbales and other percussion instruments in his small shop in the Bronx. Forty-five years ago he started out with a dream to make the perfect cowbell. These days, almost all cowbells are made by machine. Cali is the last in New York to make the bells by hand, and musicians come from around the world to buy his instruments.
You can get more information about Cali's cowbells by contacting JCR Percussion in the Bronx: 718-293-6589

Pasquale Spensieri, Grinder

Pasquale Spensieri spends his days driving around Brooklyn looking for dull blades. When he rings the bell on his truck, the owners of upholstery shops, restaurants and pizza parlors come out with knives and scissors to sharpen. Pasquale's father first started sharpening knives during the Depression, with a pedal-operated grinding machine strapped to his back. At that time, there were hundreds of door-to-door grinders in New York. Today, at the age of 71, Pasquale is one of the last.

New York Works Credits
Producers: Joe Richman (Radio Diaries) and Emily Botein (WNYC's The Next Big Thing)
Consulting Producer: Ben Shapiro
Editor: Deborah George
Host: Dean Olsher Photos: Nina Berman/Aurora (Bra Saleswoman), Sue Johnson/Picture Projects (Seltzer Man, Lighthouse Keeper, Farmer), Ben Shapiro (Watertower Builder), and Joe Richman (Fisherman).
Thanks: WNYC, Steve Zeitlin and City Lore, Dean Olsher, Mikel Ellcessor, Allison Lichter, Sue Johnson and Picture Projects, Gabriel Graff, and the New York State Council on the Arts.

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