Zinnte Pfund
Many of the Volga German families in Portland were in the garbage hauling business, but there were also specialists in collecting scrap metals. One such specialist was a Jewish man who regularly came through the Albina neighborhood with a horse and wagon. This man was known for bargaining with the residents over the price of scrap metals in what was probably a combination of Volga German dialect and Yiddish. He was known by the nickname of Zinnte Pfund, which roughly translates to "tin by the pound."
It is likely that this man was Sam Schnitzer, a Russian immigrant who started a one-man scrap business in 1906 called Alaska Junk Company. This company would later become Schnitzer Steel Industries, a global leader in metals recycling. The Schnitzer family is well known in Portland for their philanthropy.
It is likely that this man was Sam Schnitzer, a Russian immigrant who started a one-man scrap business in 1906 called Alaska Junk Company. This company would later become Schnitzer Steel Industries, a global leader in metals recycling. The Schnitzer family is well known in Portland for their philanthropy.
Source
Story told by Harold Kammerzell (December 2015).
Last updated November 12, 2016.