In the ever-evolving landscape of employment, many occupations of the past have slowly faded into obscurity. Technological advancements, societal shifts, and changing economic landscapes have rendered several jobs obsolete.
Here, we will explore 20 jobs prevalent during the baby boomer generation but have virtually disappeared from the modern employment scene. These examples offer a fascinating look into how work has changed over the decades and hint at what the future might hold.
Elevator Operator
Elevator operators were once a common sight in buildings around the world. They would manually open and close the elevator doors and use a crank to lift the elevator car without the help of electricity or hydraulics for passengers to reach their desired floors. As technology improved, elevator operators were no longer needed, as automatic systems took over these tasks.
Typewriter Repairman
Before computers and digital printing technology, typewriters were a mainstay of office life. Typewriter repairers were in high demand, as typewriters frequently broke down or needed repairing. However, with computers and digital printing technology taking over the market, typewriters and the need for a repairman have become obsolete.
Milkman
Before the dawn of supermarkets and grocery stores, milkmen were a common sight in neighborhoods worldwide, delivering fresh milk and other dairy products directly to people’s homes. With more modern food delivery methods, like online grocery shopping becoming increasingly popular, this job is no longer necessary.
Radio Repairman
Before the days of modern electronics like TVs and smartphones, radios ruled the home entertainment scene, and people needed radio repairers. People would bring their broken radios to these skilled technicians to be fixed or replaced. As technology progressed, however, the need for radio repairs dwindled, and this job gradually vanished into thin air.
Telegraph Operator
Telegraph operators used to be in high demand, as this was the primary means of sending messages and information over long distances before telephone technology emerged. Using a telegraph machine and its keys, these operators would instantly relay Morse code messages to other operators worldwide.
As telephone technology gained traction, the use of telegraph declined, and so did the job of being its operator.
Switchboard Operator
Before the invention of the telephone, switchboard operators were responsible for connecting calls manually by plugging cords into a large board. They would connect callers to the desired line using a switchboard machine. This job declined in popularity with the introduction of telephone technology and direct dialing, making it possible for people to call each other without the help of an operator.
Ice Delivery Man
Back in the day, before fridges and freezers, people had to find other ways to keep their food fresh. One popular method was using large blocks of ice delivered directly to homes by an ice delivery man. But as technology advanced and refrigeration became commonplace, this job slowly faded as we now have easy access to chilled food items.
Telephone Sanitizer
In the past, telephone sanitizers had the task of keeping telephones and their wire lines clean. Using various tools and cleaning solvents, these workers would ensure that telephones were free from dirt or grime, which could lead to connection problems. With the widespread move from landline use and the adoption of cordless phones, this job became less necessary, leading it to phase out.
Film Projector Operator
Before streaming services and digital projectors, movie theaters relied on film projectors to show films. Film projector operators would be responsible for loading the reels into the machine, setting up the projector, and ensuring a smooth projection of each movie. Today, this job has lost its relevance.
Horse-Drawn Carriage Driver
Before cars and other forms of modern transportation, horse-drawn carriages were a common sight in cities worldwide. Drivers of these carriages had to ensure that their horses were well-fed and cared for while thoroughly knowing the roads and areas they drove in. But then cars became cheaper and easy to get, and well, you know the rest. The end of an era, my friend.
Lamplighter
Cities and towns hired lamplighters to light up the streets at night. They would go around town as night approached, lighting up street lamps one by one with a pole or torch. This job has become obsolete today due to electrical lighting systems that automatically turn on and off when needed.
Newspaper Delivery Boy
Newspapers were the primary news source for most people in the old times, and newspaper delivery boys would deliver these papers to homes all over town, sometimes by bicycle. As technology advanced and people began reading their news online, this job became less relevant and gradually phased out.
Telegram Messenger
Back in the day, telegram messengers would travel to people’s homes and workplaces to deliver printed messages decoded by telegraph operators. If there were responses from the recipients, the messengers would bring them back to the operator, who’d telegraph them to the original sender. However, with the rise of phones and electronic messaging, the need for these messengers faded away, becoming a thing of the past.
Carriage Maker
Carriages were a standard mode of transportation in the past. Skilled craftsmen known as carriage makers would assemble these carriages from scratch and ensure they were sturdy enough for use. This profession was lost to the invention of cars and other motorized vehicles.
Pin Setters
Before the invention of automatic pinsetters, bowling alleys used to employ pin setters. These workers were responsible for manually setting up the pins at each lane after a bowler achieved a strike or spare.
Knocker Uppers
Knocker uppers were people hired by the government or private individuals to wake people up early in the morning before the invention of alarm clocks. They would go around neighborhoods and use sticks or rapping devices to knock on windows and doors, alerting people that it was time to start their day.
Camera Film Developers
Back in the day, when digital cameras didn’t exist, people relied on film cameras to take pictures. After taking these photos, they would send them to camera film developers, who would process the films and develop photographs in darkrooms. Now visible, the developer would send the image back to the customer. Today, a digital camera can do all the work in less time.
Human Computers
Before computers, some people could perform calculations and analyses by themselves. These people, referred to as human computers, would solve complex mathematical problems using only paper and pencil. With the rise of technology, machines have taken over this job.
Aircraft Listener
Aircraft listeners were responsible for listening to aircraft and detecting their presence in the skies. They would use acoustic mirrors to track down these planes and pass this information to the appropriate authorities. This job was vital during times of war, as they could detect enemy planes before they arrived and give sufficient warning to prepare defense systems. Nowadays, satellites track aircraft.
VHS Repairman
Before streaming and digital media became commonplace, people relied on VHS tapes to watch movies at home. Any time a tape got stuck in a machine or had some other mechanical issue, they took them to a VHS repairman for repair. These repairmen were highly knowledgeable about how these machines worked and could quickly fix any problem. Today, we have no need for a repairman as VHS tapes are obsolete.
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