Knocker-ups used to wake people up before alarm clocks were invented
Do you ever wonder how people managed to get up in time before alarm clocks were invented? It turns out that that was the “knocker-up’s” job. These people went around cities knocking at the doors and windows of whoever hired their services. They would ensure that the house’s inhabitants were not late for work.
This man was a knocker-up in 1929 London, and you can see that he has a very long stick in his hand. He would use that to tap on windows to wake people up at the agreed time. We would like to know who woke up the knocker-up in time.