Ice-Cutter. Rat-Catcher. Lamp-Lighter. Bowling-Alley-Pinsetter. Switch-Board-Operator. Knocker-Upper. Jobs From Yesteryear.

This Article is taken from, and can be read in full at, SHARENATOR

Ice Cutters: These were men who cut the ice from frozen lakes. Once cut up, they would transfer their product to the ice delivery men. These ice cutters worked in extreme conditions. Most of them were happy when more people started using the refrigerator for keeping their food safe.

Rat-Catchers: Keeping the rat population under 

control was practised in Europe to prevent the spread of diseases to man, most notoriously the Black Plague, and to prevent damage to food supplies.

Lamplighter: Was a person who would go around the City, at night, and light all the Lamps by hand. They usually held out a long Pole, with a Wick on the end, to light the Street Lamps.

Bowling Alley Pinsetter: Before Bowling Alleys had 

machines to reset their Pins, there were people who did it, called “Pinsetters”. It was typically a Teenagers job 

and paid very little.

Illustration: THE VINTAGE NEWS

Telephone operators, Seattle, Washington, U.S., 1952. According to a City archivist, these were probably Seattle City Light employees.

Item 24092, City Light Photographic Negatives 

(Record Series 1204-01), Seattle Municipal Archives.

Date: 18 July 2008.

Source: Telephone operators, 1952

This image comes from the Seattle Municipal Archives, via Flickr. Seattle Municipal Archives

Author: Seattle Municipal Archives, Seattle, 

Washington State, United States of America.

(Wikimedia Commons)

Switchboard Operator: Up until three decades ago, Switchboard Operators were important players in the Telecommunications industry. They were needed to make Long Distance Calls and to manage Busy Circuits. But, with the advent of Digitised Telecommunications, Switchboard Operators had to find new jobs. These days, making Long Distance Calls can be done on your Mobile Phone.

Knocker-Upper: A Knocker-Upper's job was to rouse 

sleeping people, so they could get to work on time. The Knocker-Upper used a Truncheon, or short, heavy Stick, to knock on the clients' doors, or a long, and light, Stick, often made of Bamboo, to reach windows on higher floors. At least one of them used a Pea-Shooter. In return, the Knocker-Upper would be paid a few Pence (Cents) a week. The Knocker-Upper would not leave a client's window until they were sure that the client was awake.

“Time to get up !!!”.

Making sure that the Client gets up in time for work.

Ice-Cutter. Rat-Catcher. Lamp-Lighter. Bowling-Alley-Pinsetter. Switch-Board-Operator. Knocker-Upper. Jobs From Yesteryear.

This Article is taken from, and can be read in full at, SHARENATOR

Ice Cutters: These were men who cut the ice from frozen lakes. Once cut up, they would transfer their product to the ice delivery men. These ice cutters worked in extreme conditions. Most of them were happy when more people started using the refrigerator for keeping their food safe.

Rat-Catchers: Keeping the rat population under 

control was practised in Europe to prevent the spread of diseases to man, most notoriously the Black Plague, and to prevent damage to food supplies.

Lamplighter: Was a person who would go around the City, at night, and light all the Lamps by hand. They usually held out a long Pole, with a Wick on the end, to light the Street Lamps.

Bowling Alley Pinsetter: Before Bowling Alleys had 

machines to reset their Pins, there were people who did it, called “Pinsetters”. It was typically a Teenagers job 

and paid very little.

Illustration: THE VINTAGE NEWS

Telephone operators, Seattle, Washington, U.S., 1952. According to a City archivist, these were probably Seattle City Light employees.

Item 24092, City Light Photographic Negatives 

(Record Series 1204-01), Seattle Municipal Archives.

Date: 18 July 2008.

Source: Telephone operators, 1952

This image comes from the Seattle Municipal Archives, via Flickr. Seattle Municipal Archives

Author: Seattle Municipal Archives, Seattle, 

Washington State, United States of America.

(Wikimedia Commons)

Switchboard Operator: Up until three decades ago, Switchboard Operators were important players in the Telecommunications industry. They were needed to make Long Distance Calls and to manage Busy Circuits. But, with the advent of Digitised Telecommunications, Switchboard Operators had to find new jobs. These days, making Long Distance Calls can be done on your Mobile Phone.

Knocker-Upper: A Knocker-Upper's job was to rouse 

sleeping people, so they could get to work on time. The Knocker-Upper used a Truncheon, or short, heavy Stick, to knock on the clients' doors, or a long, and light, Stick, often made of Bamboo, to reach windows on higher floors. At least one of them used a Pea-Shooter. In return, the Knocker-Upper would be paid a few Pence (Cents) a week. The Knocker-Upper would not leave a client's window until they were sure that the client was awake.

“Time to get up !!!”.

Making sure that the Client gets up in time for work.

Ice-Cutter. Rat-Catcher. Lamp-Lighter. Bowling-Alley-Pinsetter. Switch-Board-Operator. Knocker-Upper. Jobs From Yesteryear.

This Article is taken from, and can be read in full at, SHARENATOR

Ice Cutters: These were men who cut the ice from frozen lakes. Once cut up, they would transfer their product to the ice delivery men. These ice cutters worked in extreme conditions. Most of them were happy when more people started using the refrigerator for keeping their food safe.

Rat-Catchers: Keeping the rat population under control was practised in Europe to prevent the spread of diseases to man, most notoriously

The Black Plague, and to prevent damage to food supplies.

Lamplighter: Was a person who would go around the City, at night,

and light all the Lamps by hand. They usually held out a long Pole,

with a Wick on the end, to light the Street Lamps.

Bowling Alley Pinsetter: Before Bowling Alleys had machines to reset their Pins, there were people who did it, called “Pinsetters”. It was typically

a Teenagers job and paid very little.

Illustration: THE VINTAGE NEWS

Telephone operators, Seattle, Washington, U.S., 1952.

According to a City archivist, these were probably Seattle City Light employees.Item 24092, City Light Photographic Negatives

(Record Series 1204-01), Seattle Municipal Archives.

Date: 18 July 2008.

Source: Telephone operators, 1952

This image comes from the Seattle Municipal Archives, via Flickr.

Seattle Municipal Archives

Author: Seattle Municipal Archives,

Seattle, Washington State, United States of America.

(Wikimedia Commons)

Switchboard Operator: Up until three decades ago, Switchboard Operators were important players in the Telecommunications industry. They were needed to make Long Distance Calls and to manage Busy Circuits. But, with the advent of Digitised Telecommunications, Switchboard Operators had to find new jobs. These days, making Long Distance Calls can be done on your Mobile Phone.

Knocker-Upper: A Knocker-Upper's job was to rouse sleeping people,

so they could get to work on time. The Knocker-Upper used a Truncheon, or short, heavy Stick, to knock on the clients' doors, or a long, and light, Stick, often made of Bamboo, to reach windows on higher floors. At least one of them used a Pea-Shooter. In return, the Knocker-Upper would be paid a few Pence (Cents) a week. The Knocker-Upper would not leave a client's window

until they were sure that the client was awake.

“Time to get up !!!”.

Making sure that the Client gets up in time for work.

Ice-Cutter. Rat-Catcher. Lamp-Lighter. Bowling-Alley-Pinsetter. Switch-Board-Operator. Knocker-Upper. These Are Jobs From Yesteryear.

This Article is taken from, and can be read in full at, SHARENATOR

Ice Cutters: These were men who cut the ice from frozen lakes. Once cut up, they would transfer their product to the ice delivery men. These ice cutters worked in extreme conditions. Most of them were happy when more people started using the refrigerator for keeping their food safe.

Rat-Catchers: Keeping the rat population under control was practised in Europe to prevent the spread of diseases to man, most notoriously

The Black Plague, and to prevent damage to food supplies.

Lamplighter: Was a person who would go around the City, at night,

and light all the Lamps by hand. They usually held out a long Pole,

with a Wick on the end, to light the Street Lamps.

Bowling Alley Pinsetter: Before Bowling Alleys had machines to reset their Pins, there were people who did it, called “Pinsetters”. It was typically a Teenager’s job and paid very little.

Illustration: THE VINTAGE NEWS

Telephone operators, Seattle, Washington, U.S., 1952.

According to a City archivist, these were probably Seattle City Light employees.Item 24092, City Light Photographic Negatives

(Record Series 1204-01), Seattle Municipal Archives.

Date: 18 July 2008.

Source: Telephone operators, 1952

This image comes from the Seattle Municipal Archives, via Flickr.

Seattle Municipal Archives

Author: Seattle Municipal Archives,

Seattle, Washington State, United States of America.

(Wikimedia Commons)

Switchboard Operator: Up until three decades ago, Switchboard Operators were important players in the Telecommunications industry. They were needed to make Long Distance Calls and to manage Busy Circuits. But, with the advent of Digitised Telecommunications, Switchboard Operators had to find new jobs. These days, making Long Distance Calls can be done on your Mobile Phone.

Knocker-Upper: A Knocker-Upper's job was to rouse sleeping people,

so they could get to work on time. The Knocker-Upper used a Truncheon, or short, heavy Stick, to knock on the clients' doors, or a long, and light, Stick, often made of Bamboo, to reach windows on higher floors. At least one of them used a Pea-Shooter. In return, the Knocker-Upper would be paid a few Pence (Cents) a week. The Knocker-Upper would not leave a client's window

until they were sure that the client was awake.

“Time to get up !!!”.

Making sure that the Client gets up in time for work.