Extraordinary Stories of Ordinary Life
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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.

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Walter Backerman, Seltzer Man

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Charlie Zimmerman, Watertower Builder

Charlie works for Rosenwach Tanks, building wooden water tanks.

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