Jobs That No Longer Exist Today- #6

Tweet

Continuing my series on interesting/strange occupations gone due to societal and technological changes. "Lamplighter" Yes, someone had to fire up those lamps each evening. In the late 19th century the towns and cities of Europe and North America were full of candle, or later, gas type lamps. When electricity became the norm in the 20th Century, these workers were no longer needed. The job entailed using a wick on a long pole to light the lamp. At dawn they would return to put them out using a small hook on the same pole. Another lamplighter duty was to carry a ladder and replace the candles, oil, or gas mantles. Seems like a pretty easy job to master as long as you have no fear of falling off the ladders used in their work. A steady hand would also be needed to hold the pole used for the lighting. The job is Kind of like lighting candles on a birthday cake This job is extremely rare today but there are a small team employed in London, which boasts 1,500 lamps and five part-time lamplighters. In Waikiki, Hawaii, lamplighters in traditional Hawaiian costumes run along the shore and light gas torches in the evening. How's that for dinner by candlelight! How about you? Is this a job you would enjoy doing and could handle? Would the climbing up the ladder bother you? . For me, I'll pass on this job. Although the street lamps do not appear too high, I don't like heights and have a fear of falling. Source- www.lovemoney.com & Wikipedia.org Photo- pinterest.com