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Finance

12 Jobs You’ll Probably Never See Again

Last updated: July 3, 2025 5:59 pm
Oliver James
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5 Min Read
12 Jobs You’ll Probably Never See Again
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Before automation and technology took over, people held some pretty fascinating (and, let’s be honest, slightly bizarre) jobs.

Contents
1. Switchboard Operator2. Milkman3. Lamplighter4. Knocker-upper5. Bowling Alley Pinsetter6. Ice Cutter7. Rat Catcher8. Elevator Operator9. Computer (Human)10. Lector11. Gandy Dancer12. Soda JerkHere’s how else work has changed:

From switchboard operators plugging in calls to knocker-uppers rapping on windows to wake people up, these obsolete jobs were once essential — but have since vanished into history.

1. Switchboard Operator

A group of women in vintage clothing work at a telephone switchboard. They are seated in a row, smiling, with headsets on, and adjusting cables on the panel. The setting appears to be a busy communications center from the early to mid-20th century.A group of women in vintage clothing work at a telephone switchboard. They are seated in a row, smiling, with headsets on, and adjusting cables on the panel. The setting appears to be a busy communications center from the early to mid-20th century.
FPG/Archive Photos/Getty Images

Nowadays, you pick up your iPhone, click a contact, and connect within seconds. In the early days of phoning, however, switchboard operators piled into a room of buttons to connect calls for folks. “Operator, get me the Five and Dime!”

2. Milkman

A vintage black-and-white photo of a smiling milkman in a uniform, holding a metal carrier with glass milk bottles. He stands in front of a brick step and a door, suggesting a home delivery.A vintage black-and-white photo of a smiling milkman in a uniform, holding a metal carrier with glass milk bottles. He stands in front of a brick step and a door, suggesting a home delivery.
Camerique/Getty Images

Before refrigerators were a household staple, the milkman used to stop by and deliver milk to people — in smaller glass bottles instead of bulky plastic jugs. Daily deliveries helped people avoid spoiled milk.

3. Lamplighter

A man wearing a hat and holding a bicycle uses a long stick to light a streetlamp. He stands on a brick path in an urban area with tall buildings in the background. The image is in black and white.A man wearing a hat and holding a bicycle uses a long stick to light a streetlamp. He stands on a brick path in an urban area with tall buildings in the background. The image is in black and white.
Evening Standard/Hulton Archive/Getty Images

Before those summer nights when the street lights came on automatically, notifying us to high-tail it home on our bikes before Mom came looking for us, lamplighters manually lit street lanterns with flames.

4. Knocker-upper

A person wearing a hat and coat uses a long pole to work on the exterior of a two-story building. The building has large windows and an ornate door. A wrought iron fence is visible in the foreground.A person wearing a hat and coat uses a long pole to work on the exterior of a two-story building. The building has large windows and an ornate door. A wrought iron fence is visible in the foreground.
Nationaal Archief (flickr.com) / Wikipedia

“I slept through my alarm” is one of the most widespread excuses for being late to work, but what about the days before your cell phone could wake you up or that nightstand alarm clock could blare incessantly? Knocker-uppers (despite their provocative-sounding name) were tasked with using a long pole to tap on your bedroom window and wake you for work. My, how far we’ve come.

5. Bowling Alley Pinsetter

A woman in a white blouse is smiling while inspecting a futuristic automated bowling pinsetter machine. The device contains several bowling pins held in a metallic framework. The setting appears industrial, possibly in a factory.A woman in a white blouse is smiling while inspecting a futuristic automated bowling pinsetter machine. The device contains several bowling pins held in a metallic framework. The setting appears industrial, possibly in a factory.
Underwood Archives/Getty Images

It’s all automatic now, but in the earlier days of bowling alleys, pinsetters manually reset the pins after each turn.

6. Ice Cutter

A person wearing a long-sleeve shirt leans over and cuts a large block of ice indoors with a hand tool. The setting appears industrial, with a textured wall and a dimly lit atmosphere.A person wearing a long-sleeve shirt leans over and cuts a large block of ice indoors with a hand tool. The setting appears industrial, with a textured wall and a dimly lit atmosphere.
Victor De Palma/ FPG/Archive Photos/Getty Images

If you had told someone 100 years ago that one day there would be a refrigerator with a built-in freezer that churned out either crushed or cubed ice by the push of a button, they would’ve accused you of witchcraft and sent you to trial.

7. Rat Catcher

A black-and-white photo of a rat on the edge of a metal grate on a street. The street appears wet, and the image is grainy, suggesting it was taken in low light or at night.A black-and-white photo of a rat on the edge of a metal grate on a street. The street appears wet, and the image is grainy, suggesting it was taken in low light or at night.
Evening Standard/Getty Images

This might be the profession we’re most glad isn’t in high demand these days. Sure, there are still exterminators, but a rat-specific profession indicates a much more severe and widespread epidemic we’re glad we aren’t a part of.

8. Elevator Operator

Two women in military-style uniforms stand at the entrance of a clothing store. They wear long skirts and high boots. The store displays signs for alterations and sales. A mannequin wearing a blouse stands nearby. The setting appears vintage.Two women in military-style uniforms stand at the entrance of a clothing store. They wear long skirts and high boots. The store displays signs for alterations and sales. A mannequin wearing a blouse stands nearby. The setting appears vintage.
Hulton Archive/Getty Images

Which floor, sir? Now it’s just an ordinary, unfriendly button. Womp womp.

9. Computer (Human)

Black and white photo of an office with several people working at desks. A woman in the foreground is using a calculator. Others are writing or discussing papers. Walls decorated with photos and a staircase is visible in the background.Black and white photo of an office with several people working at desks. A woman in the foreground is using a calculator. Others are writing or discussing papers. Walls decorated with photos and a staircase is visible in the background.
Smith Collection/Gado/Getty Images

Today, “human computer” is just a colloquialism, but it used to be an actual profession before computers and calculators could handle the task of complex computations. Imagine the headache after a long day at that job.

10. Lector

A man stands on a platform reading from a piece of paper to a large group of factory workers in a spacious room. Workers, mostly seated, are wearing hats and casual attire. The space has wooden beams and large windows, suggesting an early 20th-century setting.A man stands on a platform reading from a piece of paper to a large group of factory workers in a spacious room. Workers, mostly seated, are wearing hats and casual attire. The space has wooden beams and large windows, suggesting an early 20th-century setting.
u/talude via Reddit.com

Lectors were today’s equivalent of having the radio on or listening to a podcast or audiobook while you work. They would stand in the middle of the warehouse and read while workers did their job, helping cut through the silence and provide a little entertainment during the workday’s monotony.

11. Gandy Dancer

A group of workers in hats and long-sleeved shirts are using tools to align a railroad track in a desert landscape under a clear sky. The men are positioned closely, working in unison.A group of workers in hats and long-sleeved shirts are using tools to align a railroad track in a desert landscape under a clear sky. The men are positioned closely, working in unison.
Jack Delano/lcok/Underwood Archives/Getty Images

No dancing was involved in this now obsolete job. Instead, gandy dancers were railroad workers who laid and repaired railroad tracks before mechanized equipment took over the task.

12. Soda Jerk

A young male soda jerk wearing a white uniform and bow tie smiles while leaning on the counter of an old-fashioned soda fountain. Behind him are vintage posters and a display case with pastries.A young male soda jerk wearing a white uniform and bow tie smiles while leaning on the counter of an old-fashioned soda fountain. Behind him are vintage posters and a display case with pastries.
Camerique/Getty Images

These were not Coca-Cola drinking twits, if that’s what you derived from the job title. Instead, soda jerks operated soda fountains and made various drinks with ice cream, flavored syrups, carbonation, and other ingredients. It’s all just a button now, like so many other bygone roles.

Here’s how else work has changed:

Take a look at 10 Photos That Capture the American Workplace in the 1970s and 19 Photos From the ‘Golden Age’ of Factory Work for a glimpse into another era. If you’re looking for more office content, you might find 17 Vintage Photos That Show What Office Life Used To Look Like interesting.

The post 12 Jobs You’ll Probably Never See Again appeared first on Wealth Gang.

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