1) Human Alarm Clock
With advances in technology, tons of jobs exist today that didnt exist 100, 50, or even 10 years ago. But with technology comes the elimination of certain jobs that were once considered necessary in some way, shape, or form such as these occupations that have gone the way of the dinosaur.
There was no hitting the snooze back in the day. Also called knocker-uppers (which takes on a much different meaning today) people were employed to make sure folks woke up on time, usually employing sticks, pebbles, or clubs to knock on the doors and windows. Nowadays they would be called “disturbing the peace.”
Via: Imgur
2) Lector
Are you bored? How about having a well-spoken gentleman read to you to keep you entertained? Lectors were employed to read to large rooms of factory workers, a distraction soon replaced by radios, iPods, and many other forms of technology.
Via: Ranker
3) Pre-Radar Listener for Enemy Aircraft
How good is your hearing? Before radar, troops used acoustic mirrors and listening devices like these to focus and detect the sound of engines from approaching aircraft. It seems like they could have used a lector to pass the time, although I guess that would defeat the purpose.
Via: Retronaut
4) Rat Catcher
Its pretty much just what it sounds like Rat catchers caught rats before traps and extermination techniques were introduced. They ran high risks of suffering bites and infections, but also helped prevent these from spreading to the public. Until, of course, they built a better mouse trap…
Via: Imgur
5) Bowling Pin Setter
After the bowling ball did its thing, employees (usually young boys) would have to set up the appropriate pins for the next frame. Obviously machines are cheaper to employ, and they look a little less creepy hanging out at the end of the lane.
Via: Wikipedia
6) Computer
Before it was a thing, it was a person (usually a young woman) who would you guessed it! do calculations and computations. No word on their Photoshop skills.
Via: Ranker
7) Chimney Sweep
Yes, there are still people who can come and clean out your chimney, but these men would climb up and clean out all the soot from a winter of burning fires to keep warm. Now there are fewer chimney sweeps and more mechanized cleaning options and space heaters.
Via: Wikipedia
8) Ice Cutter
People didnt always have a freezer to stuff their Ben & Jerrys in. Before modern refrigeration techniques were introduced, ice cutters would saw up ice on frozen lakes for people to use in their cellars and make-shift fridges. That’s a lot of work (and dangerous) but how else would you keep that Cherry Garcia cold?
Via: Imgur
9) Switchboard Operator
Remember landline telephones? And calling the operator for the time? Switchboard operators were integral parts of a telephone networks operation before modern technology, connecting long-distance calls and other things that are now done digitally. Can you hear me now?
Via: Wikipedia
10) Resurrectionist
While the name is creepy, its not half as creepy as body-snatcher, which is exactly what they were. Because obtaining cadavers through legal means were rare and difficult to obtain in the 19th century, universities had to resort to other means to procure cadavers for their students. Those other means were men who were hired to remove corpses from graves for those universities to use.
Via: Imgur
11) Daguerreotypist
In an age before selfies the good old days daguerreotypists were the earliest photographers who made images of polished silver. Along with becoming outdated and expensive, their name was also impossible for people to spell (purely speculation on that one).
Via: Wikipedia
12) Lamplighter
We take for granted the fact that streetlights automatically turn on at dusk, but before this innovation, lamplighters used long poles to light, extinguish and refuel street lamps. What a bright idea!
Via: Chili Blog
13) Gandy Dancer
This sounds like something exotic Gandy Dancing with the Stars! but in reality it was much more manual labor, as in laying down and maintaining the railroad tracks. The lining bar was called a gandy and the dancing referred to the movement of the workers.
Via: Wikipedia
14) Milkman
Got milk? Before modern refrigeration, you wouldnt have it until the milkman delivered it daily, a necessity seeing as it would spoil if not properly preserved. I wonder if you could request some cookies for him to bring along?
Via: Imgur
15) Log Driver
Logging is a difficult job even in modern times, but can you imagine doing it before the technology or infrastructure was available to transport logs by truck? Log drivers would float and guide them down rivers from logging sites to processing areas.
It kind of makes you wonder what will be the next job to go…
Via: Wikipedia
Read more: http://twentytwowords.com/jobs-we-just-dont-have-anymore/
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