Pushcart for Sharpening Knives and Scissors Joseph Antonucci, an Italian immigrant, used this cart to sharpen knives and scissors on Chicago’s West Side in 1900. Sometimes he pushed his cart for miles to ply his trade outside the city in nearby towns. For poor immigrants who could not afford to rent a store, pushcarts provided a cheap means of livelihood. Street peddlers and vendors like Antonucci added to the bustle of urban streets. © Chicago History Museum, USA/ The Bridgeman Art Library.