A video of a replica of a Newcomen steam engine, together with the braindead, repetitive job of the operator: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yyLXEK5YwUY

Imagine doing that all day long, every day.

And here's a version which has been automated with some strings: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ca0Ea_oPto8 and apparently got its inventor immediately fired.