My dad was a linotype operator before WW2, his dad was blind and during the depression as the oldest he had to leave school at 15 to support the family (this was in NZ)<p>Skilled lino operators were the programmers of their days, in short supply, they were paid really well (for the time) and could quit, travel for a while and find a job almost anywhere.<p>When dad signed up for WW2 he was almost immediately seconded to a HQ company, men who could type were as scarce as hen's teeth, too valuable - he was shot at occasionally but they generally weren't sent right to the front line, mostly one row back - people had to be paid, orders had to be intelligible