Alarm Clocks Are Shit And People In The Past Had A Much Better Idea

I remember the days before everyone had mobile phones. In those halcyon days I had a clock radio to wake me up for school. Remembering this makes me feel ancient, because, I think I take for granted what a new(ish) invention the mobile phone actually is and that before that we had to rely on good ol' wind up alarm clocks or your trusty FM clock radio to get you up on time.

But if we go back even further, say to 1900, when alarm clocks weren't even a thing, what did they do? If this question keeps you awake at night, then you're in luck, because we have the answer.

Credit: PastPix

For a few pennies a week you could have the kind of personal service you'd have to pay top dollar for today. A knocker-up would walk around the streets and tap on people's bedroom windows to wake them up, according to Mashable. And he'd keep knocking until he was sure who ever lived in the house was definitely awake - no snooze option.

Who woke the knocker up, though? That I do not have the answer for.

If you want this service today, then I'm sorry to disappoint you but the profession died out in the 1920s and you'll have to make do with your shitty phone alarm, which has a snooze button that's too close to the off button meaning you'll definitely turn your alarm off by mistake at least once a week and end up losing your job because you're always fucking late.

Featured image credit: PastPix

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Claire Reid

Claire is a journalist at LADbible who, after dossing around for a few years, went to Liverpool John Moores University. She graduated with a degree in Journalism and a whole load of debt. When not writing words in exchange for money she is usually at home watching serial killer documentaries surrounded by cats. You can contact Claire at [email protected]

@ClaireReid19