Job Titles That No Longer Exist

Not sure if the 'Saggar maker's bottom knocker' was regarded as a joke, but it was a real job. A saggar is a clay box used to protect delicate porcelain during the firing process. Making a saggar was a two stage process. The saggar maker was a craftsman who made the saggar case. The bottom was 'knocked' from clay and fitted to the case by the 'bottom knocker'. All true and part of the pottery industry in England.
 
Sizzle grinder. Someone who traveled house to house offering to sharpen your cutting implements for you.
 

I've lamented the ending of milkmen, but when I ante'd up for Walmart delivery while staying at a hotel, milk was part of my order, so I guess we've come full circle and can have milk delivered if we want.
 
Nathan said:
Really? I haven't seen gas station attendants since...maybe the early '70s when self-serve was becoming an option.
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This unkempt man approached the passenger side of the car where my son was. I thought it was a bum wanting money, even though we were in a very nice suburban area. DIL & son immediately knew and my son handed the guy his card for fill-up! They go to Jersey a lot. I remembered then that Jersey has a gas attendant law or custom maybe @OneEyedDiva or @Lewkat have more info.
 
Tommy said:
Paper boy.
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I think this is such a shame. In my opinion, it's an excellent way for young people to get a start in the working world. I had a paper route from the time I was 12 until I turned 16 and could get a more formal job, in a store. It taught me discipline, customer service, and how to handle money and a newspaper budget. I think a lot of today's kids could benefit from that.

In the last few states I have lived in, newspapers are delivered by adults in cars who simply throw the newspaper out the window (although, to be fair, I suppose a lot of paper boys tossed them while riding their bikes).
 
GoneFishin said:
Yes to an extent. But back in the day there was at least one in every town, but not any more, they are few and far between.


buffalo hunter
gun fighter
indian scout
soda jerk
elevator operator
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Soda jerks don't exist anymore? Who pours the sodas?
 
In this area we still have a lot of these old skills, and that reminds me that we should have our chimney swept before winter. We also have a 'Coal man' who delivers coal, logs and smokeless fuel. It was a weekly event at my parents house when the coalman would carry hundredweight sacks of coal on his back and empty them into a bunker at the back of the house. At one time he was caught driving while drunk and lost his license, so he took to delivering coal using a horse and cart. This was around 1960.
 
Sunny said:
Lamplighter
Washerwoman
Scullery maid
Footman
Seamstress
Haberdasher
Scribe
Door-to-door salesman
Pin boy in the bowling alley
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There are still "seamstresses" in British Columbia. I suppose it may be that the term has changed, but the skill/job exists. In large cities like Vancouver, they're employed within big clothing stores to do requested alterations. In smaller cities or towns, they may operate and locate as independents doing repairs & alterations.
 
hollydolly said:
Blacksmiths and Farriers are still in existence very much around here in Horse country....
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Yes, there are farriers in Canada. But as well, "blacksmith" is a trade or now an art, if one wants to call it that. In fact, scattered through much of North America are people (mostly men, but some women too) who do well-designed, artful things like railings, handles, fancy gates, and so on. They proudly wear the title blacksmith, and some make a very good living.

This sort of thing...
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Pepper said:
This unkempt man approached the passenger side of the car where my son was. I thought it was a bum wanting money, even though we were in a very nice suburban area. DIL & son immediately knew and my son handed the guy his card for fill-up! They go to Jersey a lot. I remembered then that Jersey has a gas attendant law or custom maybe @OneEyedDiva or @Lewkat have more info.
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Nathan said:
Really? I haven't seen gas station attendants since...maybe the early '70s when self-serve was becoming an option.
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You are right Pepper. Gas stations in Jersey have attendants at the pumps. I don't drive anymore, but when I did, I was so glad I didn't have to pump my own gas. N.J. has hundreds, if not thousands of of gas stations. So @CarolfromTX you can cross gas station attendants off your list of obsolete jobs.
 

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