From all around the globe
These were the men who developed the first photographic images in the mid 1800s, known as daguerreotypes.
This was the name given to those who ran an haberdashery store. In Great Britain you'd find mostly sewing, knitting, and other supplies, and in the US haberdashers would sell men's clothing (pictured).
No, the job has nothing to do with breakdancing. In the 1920s, breaker boys would assisting coal breakers in the mines.
This was quite a popular job, especially among the younger crowd in the 1950s. It involved handling soda fountains and serving ice cream.
In a world where we needed to communicate but had no phones in everyone's pockets, the telegraph operator had quite an important role.
These professionals would wind up and maintain clocks.
Without plumbing, some people made a living of carrying water from one place to another.
One can argue that this occupation still exists, to a certain degree, but of course it's nowhere near as popular as it was many decades ago.
The world was a much smellier place centuries ago. The job of the herb strewer was to spread nice fragrant herbs in important buildings and royal residences, including castles and palaces.
This was a tough manual job that involved tasks such as splitting off and moving blocks of stone.
No, we're not talking about Rocky. Up to the 90s, video companies would hire people to maintain, store, and send film canisters to wherever they needed to be sent.
Technology has made this job obsolete in most places (though there are still some around). The job was about operating the levers and ensuring the trains operated safely.
Sources: (My Health Gazette)
You're probably familiar with door-to-door salesmen. In the 19th century, these peddlers did so exclusively with books.
Also known as redsmiths, these workers used copper like the blacksmith used iron. It's still present in some cultures, but has mostly died out.
Originally, fulling was a step in woollen cloth making that would essentially eliminate any dirt. It was also a way to wash clothes in bulk. And, of course, someone had to do it.
Phrenology was based on the belief that bumps on the skull could predict mental traits. A number of measurements were used.
This was the name given to the boys who would go to war alongside sailors. They were responsible for handling gunpowder, including filling up the cannons.
The logging industry used to be a bit different back in the day, so transporting logs usually involved "driving" them through rivers.
Badgers were essentially the middlemen between farmers and consumers. They'd buy from the farmers and sell the products in the markets. It's a model that still exists to this day, though under different names.
Hobblers would work in harbors during the 1800s, towing ships and other vessels.
This occupation involved scavenging through the mud to try and find something valuable.
This is the French name for women who would support troops by working as sutlers (selling provisions) and canteen keepers.
This was the name given to women who would sell eggs in bulk at markets.
Operating a typewriter was indeed a skill in demand, and one that many women sought to have.
Also known as "Gandy Dancers," these were the railroad workers responsible for maintaining the railroad tracks in the US before machines took over.
Before refrigerators, someone had to deliver ice, right? This was the job of the iceman.
Can you imagine a career as a professional alley pinsetter? Some people did have this job.
These workers were brought to places such as factories (a cigar factory is pictured here) to entertain workers. They would do so by reading the news and fiction to them.
In a pre-radar world, troop used this apparatus to detect approaching enemy aircraft.
The everyday jobs of the previous century seem way more challenging than what they are today. Here's a look at the in-demand professions of the bygone era.
Bizarre jobs that no longer exist
From log driver to listener of enemies
LIFESTYLE Occupations
Years pass, technology evolves, and jobs become obsolete. It's inevitable and will continue to be so for years to come. And while not every job has been replaced by technology, the truth is that many of them have. How would an iceman make a living in a world with refrigerators, right? Indeed, there are many odd jobs that were popular in the past that many of us haven't even heard of.
Browse through the following gallery and check out the bizarre jobs that no longer exist.