My understanding is that Old British gun workers kept working, primarily because they needed the income. They never earned enough to save significant money, and the State Pension wasn't enough to live on.
My Grandfather hit mandatory retirement age as an electrician for the Council, and immediately went to work in an orchard until age 85. His Council pension wouldn't buy a good bottle of Scotch, in his last year's. My Aunt cared for him.
Things were pretty tough for the elderly, in the 60s and 70s in Britain. The situation is still tough for the working poor, with current inflation.
