Knocker Uppers
In a bygone era before alarm clocks and smartphones, the job of a “knocker-upper” was a crucial but now obsolete profession. Knocker uppers were individuals tasked with waking people up from their slumber in the early morning hours, ensuring they made it to work or other appointments on time. Armed with long sticks, pea shooters, or even pebbles, these dedicated human alarm clocks would tap on windows, rousing them from their sleep.
This occupation was especially prevalent in industrialized cities during the 19th and early 20th centuries when punctuality was essential for factory workers and other early risers. However, as modern alarm clocks and technology took over this role, the profession of knocker-upper gradually faded into obscurity, becoming a nostalgic relic of a bygone era.