10 Wacko Professions From The Past That No Longer Exist (16 Pics)

Imagine if you could “time traveled” and tell someone from the past that you are working as Web developer or Social Media Expert or App developer,  you’ll freak them out for sure, right?- Well, it’s kind of the same case with some professions from the past, that no longer exist. They surely sound strange to us now, but back then it was nothing odd about being human alarm or rat catcher.  Bellow you can check out some super weird jobs descriptions from our virtual museum of extinct professions.

Bowling Alley Pinsetter

While now bowling alleys use automatic and sophisticated mechanisms to collect the bowling pins, in the past the collectors were usually young boys.

Bowling  Pinsetter were young boys at the bowling alleys and their job was to set up the bowling pins for the clients.

Human Alarm Clock

The name basically describes this job profession, and we are just happy for time progress and digitization, because it would be awkward to punch a person with your fist, right?

Knocker-uppers or human alarm clocks were people whose job was to make sure their client would  wake up on time for their job ( we guess as odd as this one). They uses sticks, pebbles or clubs to knock on the clients windows or doors.

Ice Cutter

Ice cutters were required to create the freezing effect in the refrigerators. Before modern refrigerators started existing, the ice cutters saw up the ice from frozen lakes for people to use it in their cellars and refrigerators.

This was a dangerous job and ice cutters worked in extreme conditions.

Lamplighter

Before electric lamps were invented there were Lamplighters, people who used big poles to light, refuel and extinguish the street lamps.

Lector Who Entertained Factory Workers

This profession seems rather fun and interesting. Etymologically Lector means a person who reads. These lectors were hired to entertain the people in large rooms with manual laborers. Lector read left-leaning or union publications to the workers.

Log Driver

Now we have technology of infrastructure which transports logs by trucks, but in the past log drivers would  manually float and guide them down rivers from logging sites to processing areas.

Pre-radar Listener For Enemy Aircraft

Before radars were invented there were people who  used acoustic mirrors and listening devices to  detect the sound of engines from approaching aircraft.

Rat Catcher

We can’t think of a reason why this profession doesn’t exist anymore. This kick-ass guys were assigned to control the rat population in Europe. They often were exposed on high risks of suffering bites and infections.

Resurrectionist

Here is a creepy one. These guys were employed to dig out corpses from the graveyard for universities to use as cadavers.

Switchboard Operator

Switchboard operators were integral parts of a telephone network’s operation before modern technology force them to extinct. They  would connect long- distance calls and other thing that are now done digitally.