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01
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A factory lector was person hired to read newspapers, novels, and political texts out loud to factory workers to keep them entertained and informed during long shifts.
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02
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Before electric streetlights, lamplighters walked the streets each evening to ignite gas lamps and returned at dawn to extinguish them. You might be familiar with these guys if you've ever read The Little Prince.
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03
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Before automated machines, pinsetters manually reset bowling pins and cleared fallen ones between rounds.
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04
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These men and women performed complex mathematical calculations by hand long before electronic computers existed. Kinda like the Mentats from Dune.
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05
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Before we had modern sewage systems, cities hired workers who were responsible for collecting human waste from outdoor privies and then transporting it away for disposal.
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06
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These guys delivered large blocks of ice to homes and businesses to keep food cool in iceboxes before electric refrigerators.
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07
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This was the person who manually connected phone calls by plugging cables into jacks on a switchboard. So, basically you had to go through phone menu every time you wanted to make a call – at least it wasn't automated!
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08
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Before we all had alarm clocks on our phones (or even the now-obsolete machines that used to sit on everyone's nightstands), humans were hired to tap on workers' windows with a long stick to wake them up!
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09
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Now, you'll still see some of these guys around at fancy hotels, but there was a time where every elevator needed an attendant who manually controlled the whole thing.
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10
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Milkmen fresh milk and dairy products door-to-door in glass bottles and collected empties for reuse.
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11
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Yes, there are bakers. And maybe some of them still exclusively bake muffins. But when was the last time you saw this?
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12
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A typist was a clerical worker employed to type letters, documents, and reports on a typewriter before word processors. You had to have a pretty high RPM to get this gig.
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13
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These guys were all about making and repairing wooden wheels.
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14
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I'm an introvert, so I don't always appreciate that people are able to reach my in an instant through text. Somtimes, I wish the only way to communicate with me were through telelgram boy.
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15
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Streets are still swept all around the world, but most of the time, this job is does with machines now.