Saturday, December 1, 2007

"Guy on the bike"

how about another thing i only seen in Verdun...
 
Infamous "guy on the bike".. The guy who used to deliver beer on the bike with the basket in the front and the kick stand that flopped down when he got off it. I remember seeing those guys delivering from Curries on the corner of manning and bannantyne. They used to pile 6-7 cases in that thing and could hardled see over the top... Cold beer delivered right to your house...
 
gotta love it..

12 comments:

wendythepool MSN said...

Yeah, I know. I've never seen anything like that since I left Verdun in 87. That was great. I remember when I was living in Lasalle in the early 80's, and working at the La Deligance (sp)off Cote de Neige ,the restaurant near my home near Lasalle Gen. Hosp. was open till about 6am and they would deliver grand mariners to my house. Can't beat that. Wendy

habsrule241 MSN said...

hey wendy..   can't believe how once you start to think back to the 60's and '70's all these things come rushing into your head at once..   i need an aspirin!! :)   jd  

wendythepool MSN said...

The heck with the aspirin, I'd like a Labatte Blue, haven't when since I left.

habsrule241 MSN said...

yeah or how a bout a coke in a little green bottle..   jd  

claroleca2 MSN said...

My brother Brian used to deliver for Anne's Groceries on Beurling.  He did faily well with that bike delivery job. 

the lad MSN said...

Hi   You should try riding that bike..first time is interesting....   Lad

victah12 MSN said...

I can well remember my weekend job at Mogul's Grocery store on the corner of  Verdun Ave and First Ave, 1948 (summer) Rippin' down the streets with a large carrier on my bike, 2-3 boxes high, all the way out to Manning and Beatty. (Friday after school and all day Saturday) Saturday after closing loading Mr. Mogul's station wagon and then delivering more boxes in the dark. He'd pay me 2-3 dollars and I'd rake in the tips. (He and his wife, a Jewish couple,  said the tips belonged to them, but strangely enough I reported none!) I lived on First Ave and dropped the tips at home, then showed them my empty pockets. Hey, we had to be swift in those days. sez Victah

shirleyb-h MSN said...

Victah - I can not believe that that old Mogul guy tried to shake you down for your tips - for shame.   Those bikes were not exclusive to Verdun - the West End grocery stores and the ones in Griffintown all had them.  We had 4 grocery stores between Guy and Aqueduct either on St Antoine or St James and the guys all delivered groceries and cases of beer - I think you could get 2 cases of 12 quarts side by side in that basket.

les__f MSN said...

Well I have to think that Noone Ever carried more Beer at one time on his delivery bike,.than Harvey................I have seen some incredible amounts of piled up cases,with Harvey riding the bike,.and using one hand on top of the cases to balance them ,.while he rode through the streets of Verdun ,.and to see him weaving through the traffic on Wellington,.was a sight to see alright........................... big Harvey,.......quite a character.......                                                                                                                      hf&rv

johnmelinvin2 MSN said...

always interesting reading these messages from Verdun sites..Brings back good memories..Makes me proud of being a Verdunite.We were ever so lucky in those days.The woman that owned the 5th ave theather ,lived in Crawfordpark, and when i shovelled her house sidewalk  in the winter, she never paid me..She gave me a pass to get in 5th ave theather free..

oshayne MSN said...

harvey was quite a character....   and your right les, nobody could put as many 24's on a bike like harvey

biking2006 MSN said...

Hey Victah I worked there in the early 50s stacking products until I was caught stealing a stack of bananas on a dare. That old man chased me down 2nd Avenue lane until I finally let them drop off my 12 year old shoulders. What was your address on 1st?
Bill