17 Forgotten Jobs That Used to Be Common
Explore these once-common professions that have vanished due to technological advancements and societal changes.
- Daisy Montero
- 3 min read
Many jobs that used to be part of everyday life no longer exist today. This list looks at 17 forgotten roles that were once common. These jobs disappeared as new technology and modern life took over. It shows how much work has changed over time.
1. Knocker-Up
SiGarb assumed (based on copyright claims) on Wikimedia Commons
Before alarm clocks became widespread, knocker-ups were employed to wake people by tapping on their windows. This profession was essential in industrial cities where punctuality was crucial for factory workers.
2. Switchboard Operator
Joseph A. Carr on Wikimedia Commons
Switchboard operators manually connected telephone calls by plugging wires into a switchboard. The advent of automated systems rendered this once-vital job obsolete.
3. Lamplighter
Gunnar Lanz on Wikimedia Commons
Lamplighters lit and extinguished street lamps each day. With the introduction of electric street lighting, this role became redundant.
4. Human Computer
NASA on Wikimedia Commons
Before electronic computers, human computers performed complex calculations by hand. Their work was crucial in fields like astronomy and engineering.
5. Iceman
Russell Lee on Wikimedia Commons
Iceman delivered blocks of ice to homes for refrigeration. The invention of electric refrigerators eliminated the need for this service.
6. Milkman
Geoff Charles on Wikimedia Commons
Milkmen delivered fresh milk daily to households. Changes in shopping habits and refrigeration led to the decline of this profession.
7. Elevator Operator
Subway Rat on Wikimedia Commons
Elevator operators manually controlled elevators and assisted passengers. Modern automated elevators have made this role largely unnecessary.
8. Bowling Pin Setter
Jeff Inglis on Wikimedia Commons
Before automatic pinsetters, individuals manually reset bowling pins. This job was often held by teenagers seeking part-time work.
9. Town Crier
Thomas, John, on Wikimedia Commons
Town criers announced news and proclamations in public spaces. The rise of newspapers and digital media has rendered this role ceremonial.
10. Rat Catcher
Bain News Service, publisher on Wikimedia Commons
Rat catchers controlled rodent populations in urban areas. Modern pest control methods have replaced this hazardous occupation.
11. Chimney Sweep
Thunk on Wikimedia Commons
Chimney sweeps cleaned soot from chimneys to prevent fires. Central heating systems have significantly reduced the need for this profession.
12. Typist Pool
Ministry of Information Photo Division Photographer on Wikimedia Commons
Typist pools consisted of groups of typists handling company correspondence. Personal computers and word processing software have made this setup obsolete.
13. Lector
Javier Pérez Montes on Wikimedia Commons
Lectors read newspapers and literature to factory workers to entertain and inform them. This practice declined with the advent of radio and other personal entertainment options.
14. Resurrectionist
Hablot Knight Browne on Wikimedia Commons
Resurrectionists, or body snatchers, exhumed corpses to supply medical schools with cadavers for dissection. This job became common in the 18th and 19th centuries but ended after laws were changed to provide legal ways for schools to get bodies.
15. Leech Collector
Jim Griffin on Wikimedia Commons
Leech collectors waded into marshes to gather leeches for medical bloodletting practices. This risky job declined with the advent of modern medicine and the discrediting of bloodletting as a treatment.
16. Manuscript Illuminator
Yair-haklai on Wikimedia Commons
Before the printing press, manuscript illuminators hand-decorated texts with intricate designs and gold leaf. The printing revolution rendered this meticulous art form largely obsolete.
17. Groom of the Stool
Unknown author on Wikimedia Commons
In royal courts, the Groom of the Stool assisted monarchs with personal hygiene, a role signifying immense trust. As societal norms and plumbing advanced, this intimate position faded into history.