Obsolescent Jobs of the Past: The Knocker-up and Other Vanished Occupations

Throughout the annals of human labor, many professions have come and gone like the tides of history itself. One such is the knocker-up, a unique occupation that emerged during the Industrial Revolution in Britain and Ireland. This profession, essential to the wake-up routines of the early industrial age, has now faded into the annals of history.

Introduction to the Knocker-up

Born at a time when alarm clocks were neither affordable nor reliable, the knocker-up was an essential cog in the gears of the burgeoning industrial machine. Their job was to rouse sleeping individuals so they could make it to work on time. This position, which lasted through several generations, saw its last days in the 1940s and 1950s, though pockets of this profession lingered on until the early 1970s in some parts of England.

The Role and Technique of a Knocker-up

The knocker-up's methodology was a blend of art and efficiency. They would use a stick—either a short, heavy baton or a light bamboo stick—to knock on the client's windows or doors. This ensured that the sleeping person would be sufficiently woken up. In return, the knocker-up was paid a small fee, often a few pennies a week. Some knocker-ups were as devoted to their task as they were to waking customers, staying at windows until they were sure their task was complete. Others simply performed a tap or two and moved on to the next address.

A Classic Example: Mary Smith

The picture to the left from 1931 shows a female knocker-up named Mary Smith, who charged 6d (pennies in the UK) a week. She would wake her customer using a peashooter, a testament to the ingenuity of those times. The image captures a moment in history, a snapshot of a barely functioning world where small conveniences and individual dedication were still necessary for the smooth operation of society.

The Nights Before and After for the Knocker-up

The dilemmas faced by the knocker-up were often comically depicted by tongue-twisters of the time. One such example goes:

"We had a knocker-up, and our knocker-up had a knocker-up, And our knocker-ups knocker-up didn't knock our knocker up, So our knocker-up didn't knock us up, Cos he's not up."

These humorous riddles speak to the complex ecosystem of early 20th-century society, where every task could depend on external factors and the dedication of individuals to their unique jobs.

Conclusion

The history of the knocker-up is a small window into the past, highlighting the intricate web of interconnected occupations that made early industrial society function. As technology advanced and efficiency grew, such professions became unnecessary, leading to the demise of the knocker-up. This story is not just one of a profession's end, but also a reflection on human ingenuity and adaptability in response to changing times.