15 Massive Industries That Became Obsolete in the Past 100 Years

Over the past century, rapid technological advancements, evolving consumer preferences, and shifts in global economics have led to the decline or complete obsolescence of several once-thriving industries. The advent of digital technologies, automation, and changing societal needs have rendered many traditional sectors redundant. This article explores 15 significant industries that have disappeared or transformed beyond recognition in the last 100 years.

1. Telegraph Services

Once the backbone of global communication, telegraph services vanished as telephones, fax machines, and later email overtook instant messaging needs. Western Union, a leader for over a century, discontinued telegram delivery in 2006. Telegraphs are now mainly historical artifacts (wired.com).

2. Ice Delivery

Before refrigeration, an entire industry revolved around harvesting natural ice and delivering it to homes and businesses. The advent and affordability of electric refrigerators in the 20th century rendered ice delivery nearly extinct (bigthink.com).

3. Film Photography (Consumer Level)

Once dominated by companies like Kodak, consumer film photography rapidly declined with the rise of digital cameras and smartphone integration. Photo shops and mass film processing have all but disappeared, with film surviving mainly among enthusiasts. In 2012, Kodak filed for bankruptcy after struggling to adapt to the digital age (time.com).

4. Videotape Rental Stores

Rental chains like Blockbuster thrived on the home movie market, but online streaming quickly decimated demand for both VHS and DVD rentals. Physical movie rental outlets are now an extreme rarity in most parts of the world. In 2013, Blockbuster announced the closure of all its remaining U.S. stores and the discontinuation of its DVD mailing service (money.cnn.com).

5. Typewriter Manufacturing

Typewriters were once standard in offices and homes until personal computers and word processors replaced them. Major producers like Remington and Underwood faded, and typewriter repair shops disappeared. A few specialty companies survive for collectors. For instance, the Gramercy Typewriter Co. in Manhattan, established in 1932, continues to sell and repair typewriters, catering to enthusiasts and collectors. (abc7.com)

6. Switchboard Operations

Telephonists manually connecting calls—a familiar sight for much of the 20th century—vanished with the automation of telecommunications. Operator-assisted local calls and switchboard rooms are now part of telephone history. The introduction of automatic telephone exchanges, such as the Strowger switch in 1891, significantly reduced the need for manual switchboard operations. By the mid-20th century, electronic switching systems further automated the process, leading to the obsolescence of manual switchboard operations (history.com).

7. Print Encyclopedias

Multi-volume printed encyclopedias, like Encyclopedia Britannica, declined sharply as online resources became dominant. Wikipedia and digital databases revolutionized information access, making once-essential home encyclopedia sets almost obsolete. In 2012, Encyclopaedia Britannica announced the end of its print edition after 244 years, focusing on its digital presence. (nytimes.com)

8. Street Lamp-Lighters

Before widespread electrification, lamplighters lit and maintained street lights fueled by gas or oil. The electric streetlamp eliminated these jobs by the mid-20th century, remaining only in certain ceremonial settings. For example, in Bratenahl, Ohio, Colonel Aaron Williams served as the lamplighter from 1898 to 1922, lighting gas street lamps at dusk and extinguishing them at dawn (bratenahlhistorical.org).

9. Travel Agencies (Brick-and-Mortar)

Booking airline tickets, cruises, and vacations was once a face-to-face process through local agencies. The convenience of online booking services has caused many physical travel agents to close, surviving today mostly in niche or luxury markets (washingtonpost.com).

10. Horse-Drawn Carriage Manufacturing

In the early 20th century, horse-drawn vehicles were a dominant industry, but the rise of the automobile rendered most carriage manufacturers obsolete. For instance, the Durant-Dort Carriage Company, founded in 1886, ceased carriage production in 1917 and transitioned to automobile manufacturing. Today, carriage production continues primarily for tourism or ceremonial purposes (trainsandtoysoldiers.com).

11. Milk Delivery Services

Refrigeration and supermarket expansion diminished the need for daily home milk delivery. Once a morning staple with glass bottles left at the doorstep, this industry is now largely nostalgic, continuing only in select markets. For instance, during the COVID-19 pandemic, some dairies experienced a resurgence in demand for home delivery services (southmountaincreamery.com).

12. Floppy Disk Production

Floppy disks were the primary medium for computer data storage from the 1970s to the 1990s. The last major manufacturer, Sony, ceased production in 2011 due to declining demand (arstechnica.com). Today, they are mostly collector’s items.

13. Home Coal Delivery

In the early 20th century, coal was a primary heating source, delivered to homes individually. The rise of natural gas, electricity, and oil heating reduced demand drastically, erasing most coal delivery businesses. For example, in the UK, the number of coal merchants declined significantly as alternative heating methods became more prevalent (en.wikipedia.org). Today, home coal delivery is virtually nonexistent, with only a few specialized suppliers remaining.

14. Pager Services

Pagers, once essential for instant messaging before the widespread use of cell phones, have become largely obsolete. The advent of smartphones and mobile networks has rendered paging systems redundant, leading to the closure of most pager service providers. However, pagers continue to be utilized in specific sectors, notably healthcare and emergency services, due to their reliability and long battery life. In the UK’s National Health Service (NHS), pagers are commonly used by doctors and nurses to coordinate movements and communicate during emergencies (reuters.com). Similarly, in Japan, pagers have been used in hospitals and areas with poor cell reception, considered more reliable than smartphones in emergencies. Despite their decline, pagers remain a vital means of communication in these fields.

15. Drive-In Movie Theaters

Once numbering over 4,000 in the United States during their peak in the 1950s and 1960s, drive-in movie theaters have experienced a significant decline. By 2024, only approximately 283 drive-ins remained operational nationwide, down from about 305 in 2019 and 318 in 2021. (ktvz.com) This reduction is attributed to factors such as the rise of multiplex cinemas, the advent of home video, and changing consumer preferences. Despite this decline, some drive-ins have experienced a resurgence, particularly during the COVID-19 pandemic, as they offered a socially distanced entertainment option. Today, these remaining theaters often serve as nostalgic venues, providing a unique moviegoing experience that appeals to those seeking a retro form of entertainment.

Conclusion

Technological innovation and evolving consumer habits have profoundly transformed industries, rendering once-thriving sectors obsolete. The rise of e-commerce has led to the decline of traditional retail stores, a phenomenon often referred to as the “retail apocalypse” (en.wikipedia.org). Similarly, advancements in automation and artificial intelligence are reshaping the labor market, potentially displacing numerous jobs across various sectors. These shifts underscore the ongoing nature of industrial evolution, highlighting the necessity for adaptability in the face of progress.