1. Knocker-Uppers
Before alarm clocks became affordable, some people made their living as human alarm clocks, called knocker-uppers. They would walk the streets at dawn, tapping on windows with long sticks or even pea-shooters to wake their clients. It sounds almost comical now, but for shift workers in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, this job was taken very seriously. Imagine trusting a stranger to make sure you didn’t sleep through work.
The gig didn’t last long once alarm clocks were mass-produced and reliable. But in its short heyday, it was an essential service, especially in industrial towns. Some knocker-uppers even had entire neighborhoods that relied on them every morning. The idea that people paid weekly fees for someone to knock on their window is a strange snapshot of how society adapted before modern technology.
2. Pinsetters
Bowling alleys used to employ young boys to set pins back up by hand after each frame, long before the invention of the automatic pinsetter. These workers had to be quick, careful, and ready to dodge flying bowling balls. It wasn’t exactly a safe job, but it was common enough in the early 1900s.
The work was repetitive and exhausting, yet it provided pocket money for many kids. When machines came along in the 1940s, the job vanished almost overnight. Looking back, it’s hard to believe that entire games of bowling once depended on children running around the end of the lane.
3. Resurrectionists
In the 18th and 19th centuries, medical schools needed cadavers to teach anatomy, but there weren’t enough legally available bodies. That shortage gave rise to resurrectionists, people who were paid to dig up fresh graves and sell the bodies to doctors. It was gruesome work, often done under the cover of night.
The practice didn’t last long, thanks to public outrage and changes in the law. But for a short window of time, it was a booming, if dangerous, business. Grave robbing was risky—not only because of the law but also because angry families sometimes guarded graves with traps or armed watches.
4. Ice Cutters
Before refrigeration, people relied on natural ice harvested from frozen lakes and rivers. Ice cutters braved the winter cold to saw huge blocks of ice, which were then transported and stored in ice houses. These blocks would eventually make their way into kitchens and iceboxes.
It was grueling work, often done in dangerous conditions. The industry faded quickly in the early 20th century when electric refrigeration became widely available. Still, for a brief period, it was one of the most important jobs in keeping food fresh.
5. Leech Collectors
When leeches were in demand for bloodletting treatments, someone had to gather them. Leech collectors often waded into swamps and ponds, letting the parasites latch onto their bare legs so they could be harvested. It was messy, painful, and not exactly glamorous.
The job existed mainly in the 18th and 19th centuries but faded as medical practices advanced. Doctors eventually moved away from leeches for most treatments, and the demand collapsed. For a few years, though, this odd job was considered valuable in the world of medicine.
6. Rat Catchers
Cities in the 19th century were overrun with rodents, and rat catchers were hired to control the problem. Armed with traps, dogs, or even their bare hands, these workers helped prevent the spread of disease. It wasn’t unusual to see them carrying cages full of squirming rats through the streets.
The profession faded as sanitation improved and better pest control methods were developed. Some rat catchers even displayed their catches in public, turning it into a bit of a sideshow. For the few decades it thrived, it was both a necessary service and a source of morbid curiosity.
7. Lamp Lighters
Before electricity, gas lamps lined the streets of cities and towns, and someone had to light them every evening. Lamplighters walked their routes with long poles, igniting each lamp by hand, then returning at dawn to snuff them out. The job required reliability and attention to detail, since the safety of entire neighborhoods depended on proper lighting.
The work was steady but disappeared quickly in the early 20th century as electric streetlights took over. Some lamplighters transitioned into maintaining the new electrical systems, but the role itself faded into history. For a brief era, though, these workers were an essential part of city life.
8. Lectors
In cigar factories in the early 20th century, workers hired lectors to read to them as they rolled cigars. These readers entertained the room with news articles, literature, and sometimes political speeches. It made the repetitive work less monotonous and even helped spread new ideas among laborers.
The role only lasted a few decades before radios and other entertainment replaced the need. Factory owners sometimes opposed the practice because it stirred up labor movements, but workers fought to keep it. Today, it feels almost charming to imagine a room full of cigar rollers listening to a live reader.
9. Gong Farmers
Back in Tudor England, someone had to clean out cesspits and outhouses, and that job fell to gong farmers. They worked at night, shoveling human waste out of pits and hauling it away for disposal. The work was filthy and dangerous, but it paid surprisingly well for the time.
The role only lasted until better sewage systems were developed. While it might seem shocking today, for a few centuries it was a respected, if unpleasant, profession. These workers kept towns livable, even if their jobs were short-lived in the long scope of history.
10. Switchboard Operators
When telephones first became widespread, calls had to be manually connected by switchboard operators. These workers, often women, plugged wires into boards to route conversations. It was a fast-paced job that required quick thinking and excellent manners.
The role was short-lived once automated systems arrived. By the mid-20th century, machines had replaced most human operators. Still, for a few decades, they were the human backbone of communication networks around the world.
11. Milk Monitors
In schools across the mid-20th century, children were sometimes assigned the role of milk monitor. Their job was to distribute cartons of milk at snack time and make sure everyone got theirs. It wasn’t a paid job, but it was still an official duty that gave kids a sense of responsibility.
The practice faded as school milk programs were cut back and nutrition policies changed. For the short time it existed, being a milk monitor was a strange little role that many kids remember fondly. It’s one of those small, quirky jobs that only made sense in its time.
12. Knitting Machine Minders
During World War I, textile factories rushed to produce socks and uniforms for soldiers. Knitting machines needed constant supervision, and workers called machine minders were hired to keep them running smoothly. They had to quickly fix jams or errors to avoid delays.
The role didn’t last long after the war, as demand dropped sharply and machinery improved. For those few years, though, it was an essential part of the war effort. It’s a reminder of how temporary jobs can emerge in response to sudden world events, then disappear just as quickly.