Most Valuable Artisanal / Pre-industrial Trade

[Raellus]

I was thinking about Molotov cocktails, and how available glass bottles would be three or more years after the end of mass production, and that got me considering alternatives. I figure that small ceramic vessels could serve nearly just as well as glass bottles for making Molotovs. IIRC, at least one ancient/medieval civilization filled pots with venomous snakes and hurled them into besieged cities as a primitive bioweapon.

Anyway, that got me thinking about how many people there would be with the skill to produce pottery in the post-industrial era, and that got me thinking about other pre-industrial trades. I reckon most, if not all, of them would be very valuable during and after the apocalypse. Does any one jump out as being especially so? Did I miss any important ones?

What are your thoughts?

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[cawest]

distiller or making of wine and beer.

[ChalkLine]

A really good book if you can get it is "The Medieval Machine" 1976. Gimpel, Jean.

This is a good and readable overview of just how surprisingly mechanised the medieval world was. At this point you start to realise that not just carpenters and fabricators are vital but also the people who design, site and emplace this machinery are essential for survival.

As an aside, if you do historical or historical-fantasy games these things make great adventure locations.

[Desert Mariner]

Based on my eLibrary, you could potentially add the following to your list. Some would likely be secondary skills rather than primary occupations.

Apiarist
Basket maker
Bookbinder
Botanist/Herbalist
Brewing/Distilling
Chemist - includes manufacture of adhesives, inks, solvents
Engineer - boring, hydraulic/irrigation, mechanics, sanitation, etc.
Farrier
Horologist
Meteorologist - includes building and use of barometers
Printer - includes paper-making, engraving and woodcuts
Rope-maker
Wheelwright
Woodworking - cabinetmaking, carving, joinery, turning

[Bulldog1972]

I went with carpenter because everyone needs shelter. But potter & leatherworker right up there. Seamstress or tailor gets quite important come winter. Spinner/weaver are good additions to this list.

[pmulcahy11b]

How about the man or woman who has the knack to make old stuff work again?

[Raellus]

Originally Posted by pmulcahy11b

How about the man or woman who has the knack to make old stuff work again?

Definitely. Individuals that we here in the States call a "Mr. (or Ms.) Fix It", or handyman/woman, would be worth his/her weight in gold after the apocalypse.

People like me, who have very little practical knowledge, on the other hand...



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[Raellus]

It's not an artisanal trade, but I think storytellers and/or performing artists would see their value rise during and after the apocalypse. Deprived of modern electronic media (TV, movies, radio, etc.), people would be starving for entertainment and news. I think you'd see a return of the wandering minstrel (combining the roles of entertainer and news conveyer).

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[Matt W]

IMHO, one of the most useful skills in a (barely) post-apocalyptic situation is manufacturing prosthetics and "mobility aids". This could be anything from making false teeth to artificial limbs and wheelchairs.