Before the technological advancements that we rely on today, a lot of everyday tasks required skilled workers to ensure society ran smoothly. These 20 jobs might be obsolete nowadays, but they were well-respected and essential parts of the workforce in their day.
Town Crier
Serving as the primary source of news before widespread literacy, town criers announced proclamations, news, and bylaws in public squares. According to the American Guild of Town Criers, “This announcement could be about a horse that was stolen, regulations limiting waste disposal in the local waterway, or a Royal Decree declaring certain persons to be outlaws.”
Log Driver
Before the development of the railways and logging trucks, log drivers were employed to transport logs by floating them down rivers to sawmills. This required skill in navigation and log management and was a fairly dangerous profession.
Bowling Alley Pinsetter
Employed to manually set up each of the pins after they had been knocked down, this job required speed and efficiency in order to keep the alley a fun and engaging environment for customers. They were eventually replaced, however, by automated machines.
Lamplighter
Responsible for lighting, extinguishing, and maintaining street lamps, a lamplighter was considered a prestigious job. How Stuff Works says, “Lowell, Massachusetts, was home to nearly 1,000 in 1888. Lowell’s lamplighters were paid about $2 per day to care for 70 to 80 lamps.”
Ice Cutter
Harvesting ice from frozen rivers and lakes was an essential part of society, as the ice was used for food preservation and cooling before the invention of modern refrigeration. The career became obsolete when electronic fridges and freezers started to become commonplace.
Horse Carriage Driver
An essential form of transportation in both urban and rural areas, horse carriage drivers required skills in navigation as well as care of the horses. While the decline was slow, the profession began to dwindle as motor cars and vehicles were invented.
Lector
Lectors were employed in large workplaces, such as cigar-rolling factories, to read literature and newspapers aloud to workers. As a form of education as well as entertainment for employees, the role declined after the introduction of radio and other popular media.
Switchboard Operator
According to the Science Museum, “The rapid expansion of the telephone network in the late 19th and early 20th centuries led to a booming workforce of ‘hello girls,’ who connected calls at central telephone exchanges.” This role included physically plugging in wires on a switchboard to connect callers, but was eventually replaced by automatic exchanges.
Telegraph Operator
Telegraph operators used Morse code to transmit messages over telegraph lines, playing a crucial role in long-distance communications at the time. The role was commonplace for over 100 years but became obsolete after the invention of telephone communication.
Typewriter Manufacturer
Highly skilled in their craft, manufacturers of typewriters were highly valued as they were able to create essential tools for use in businesses and for personal communication. This industry faded with the rise of computers and word-processing software.
Human Alarm Clock
Affectionately known as ‘knocker-uppers,’ this job involved waking workers up for their shifts. The BBC says, “Until the 1970s in some areas, many workers were woken by the sound of a tap at their bedroom window. On the street outside, walking to their next customer’s house, would be a figure wielding a long stick.”
Copy Boy
Copy boys assisted in newsrooms by delivering copy and messages between the desks of more senior employees, which was essential for the timely printing and distribution of newspapers. The role became redundant after the advent of other communication methods, such as automatic telephone connectivity and digital communication.
Soda Jerk
This role involved preparing and serving soda fountain drinks in restaurants and diners across America. This was a key symbol of the era and is recognized today as a part of American culture, but the rise of fast food and pre-packaged beverages saw the decline of the job role.
Video Store Clerk
Managing rentals and sales of VHS tapes and later DVDs in video rental stores was a common job role before the rise of online streaming services and smart TVs. The role involved managing the store’s inventory and providing customers with recommendations.
Elevator Operator
According to CNN, “Until the 1950s almost all elevators had operators who were required to guide the car on its journey, as they didn’t automatically stop level with the floors.” This was considered a prestigious job but became redundant when automatic elevators became commonplace.
Daguerreotypist
Widely used in the 1840s and 1850s, daguerreotypes were an early form of photography that required daguerreotypists to have an intricate knowledge of chemistry and photography. The role quickly became obsolete, however, with the invention of new photographic techniques.
Icebox Filler
This role involved delivering large blocks of ice for iceboxes in homes and businesses, which was essential for food preservation before electric refrigerators. This, however, became redundant when modern fridges started to become commonplace for consumers.
Linotype Operator
Bringing a new level of speed and efficiency to newspaper printing, linotype machines were used for around 100 years. The linotype operator would have operated the machine, setting the type for printing. This was a skilled and respected profession in the publishing industry but was eventually replaced by digital typesetting and printing technologies.
Film Projectionist
Film projectionists operated movie projectors in cinemas, working to ensure films were displayed correctly. This required knowledge of film mechanics and often involved editing and splicing film reels. The role diminished after the invention of digital cinema projection.
Stenographer
Specialists in shorthand, a stenographer’s role involved transcribing speeches and proceedings at high speeds. This was especially essential in courts and legislatures and for business documentation. Eventually, this was replaced by the accessibility of digital recording and transcription.