It’s hard to realize that jobs that don’t exist anymore were someone’s bread and butter but have now been replaced by heartless machines powered by energy sources other than coffee. However, unlike rare animals going extinct, there’s no reason to grieve over more jobs becoming obsolete. Quite the contrary.
If we think about it, the growing list of obsolete jobs is a good indicator of human progress and technological improvement. It means that old jobs are replaced with new positions more adapted to human needs. Hence, if we look at all the jobs that don’t exist anymore due to technology, we’ll notice they’ve all been replaced by something much more beneficial to humans. All to make specific tasks easier and faster to accomplish and, hopefully, to have more time and energy to do things we genuinely enjoy.
However, the great paradox of our time is that the world is better than it has ever been, but it has also never been worse. Electronic devices are making our lives easier, but they are also the reason we waste so much of our time online. However, that topic deserves a separate post, so let’s leave it for another time.
Below, we’ve compiled a list of obsolete jobs you probably won’t be able to apply for because, well, they’re no longer hiring. Or exist. But you probably wouldn’t want to either way because the options we have today are so much better. Have you ever heard of any of these weird jobs before? Let us know in the comments.
#21 Physiognomist
In the 19th century, physiognomists used to evaluate a person's character or personality based on their outward appearance. They thought bodily characteristics were enough to recognize personality traits like sincerity and openness.
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#22 Telegram Messenger
Telegram messengers went to people's homes or places of employment to deliver printed messages sent through telegraph. They could have brought the reply with them when they returned to the telegraph office so that the answer could be telegraphed back to the original sender.
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#23 Telegraphist
A telegraphist, also known as a telegraph operator, was in charge of transmitting and receiving Morse code using telegraph equipment to communicate over landlines and radio.
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#24 Pinsetter
Pinsetters used to remove and replace pins between each round before bowling alleys had automated pin setup and retrieval machines. They waited at the end of the lanes and manually reset the pins.
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#25 Clock Keeper
In medieval times, clock keepers tracked time and maintained clocks and other timekeeping equipment. Since ensuring the accuracy of a clock required some basic mathematical skills before those were common, clock keepers often got large payments for their services.
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#26 Film Projectionist
Operating a movie projector in a theater fell to a film projectionist. With the introduction of digital projection, the use of film to display movies in theaters has become increasingly rare, making this job no longer in demand.
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#27 Tosher
During the Victorian era, toshers entered the sewage system of London in quest of valuables like coins, bone fragments, or metal scraps. After it was made illegal to enter sewers in 1840, sewer-hunting declined, and the job was rendered obsolete.
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#28 Typewriter Mechanic
A typewriter mechanic was a specialist who identified problems with and fixed mechanical typewriters, which were once used to print written texts by pressing a series of keys. Typewriters and related occupations became obsolete as more people shifted to computers and digital printers.
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#29 Gandy Dancer
A gandy dancer was a part of the railroad crew who handled any track-related job. Although the exact origins of the name are unknown, the term "gandy dancer" may refer to the workers' dance-like movements or waddling like ganders while running on railroad ties.
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#30 Ice Cutter
Before reliable cooling systems were introduced, ice cutters would gather surface ice from rivers and lakes. The ice could be used for cold food storage during the warmer winter months.
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#31 Food Taster
A food taster was responsible for testing the food prepared for an important figure to ensure it was poison-free. One such figure was the Führer. According to The Denver Post, about 15 young women were hired to taste Hitler's meals.
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#32 Nomenclator
In ancient Rome, a nomenclator was a person who whispered the names of people to the person who hired them. Politicians were often the ones who employed nomenclators. During political rallies, these nomenclators whispered the names of guests or bystanders as they drew near to make the politician seem more knowledgeable and approachable.
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#33 Lector
In the early 19th century, industries employed a lector to read books or newspapers aloud to keep workers entertained. The lector would often read the news while standing or sitting on a raised surface so the entire factory could hear.
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#34 Dispatch Rider
During World Wars I and II, a dispatch rider delivered important communications between forces. Motorcycle couriers were needed in these dire circumstances because radio transmissions were unreliable and prone to interception during the war.
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#35 Cavalry Soldier
Although they could also ride camels or elephants, cavalry soldiers generally relied on horses. The last significant conflicts that utilized cavalry were World Wars I and II.
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#36 Linkboy
In 17th-century London, before the advent of street lights, young boys were hired to carry torches to light the way and walk customers home from pubs or other locations at night. Sometimes, linkboys led customers into dark alleyways into the arms of robbers.
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#37 Sea Sponge Harvester
Beginning sometime in the 18th century, men of Kalymnos Island in Greece made a living by collecting sea sponges. This job was only suitable for the physically robust and daring because men had to dive deep (up to 30 meters) underwater with a heavy piece of marble strapped to them.
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#38 Leech Collector
In 19th-century Europe, there was a high demand for blood-sucking worms used for medicinal purposes. Because they were challenging for medical practitioners to obtain, leech collecting became a specialty. Leech collectors would use their own legs or the legs of other animals to lure leeches from creeks and rivers.
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#39 Alchemist
An alchemist was a philosopher who tried to transform substances into gold. Since they frequently tried to create unique elixirs to treat illnesses or bestow immortality, people often put them under the same umbrella as astrologers, conjurors, and other "magicians."
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#40 Phrenologist
Phrenologists specialized in analyzing the human brain. They used observation and mechanical devices to prove their theory, which held that a person's head shape was directly related to their level of intelligence. However, modern findings have disproved this theory.
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