The Dallas daily herald. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1873-1887, 1885-11-03
AN ELEC rRIC TABLE.
A Continuance ~ hich Threatens Waiter.
dom

dom.
The vocation OF the waiter is imper-
illed, that which threatens his lvsli-
hood in the lower ranks Of waiteIdom
bsiug an invention styled the electric
dinins.sable. The inventor OF this m t.
chiue, for IL 10 as much "a machine as Il
taols, Ia German, and, having out up
emo OF his contrivapces, he he's in
vlted al those who ar0 Interested in
such matters to como and 500 H..
On entering tho room in which the
electric d;niaG.taolo has been erect
Ell there ia s5ea s. doubie-row OF small,
nat, desk ike tables, sol back 10 back,
ana divided one from another by y
brass Satlinr.. The tables, or compsrt--
ments, DO not touch esch other at tho
| bdck, being aeparatad wv Il raised shelf
about three feet wide. On sitting down
each diner finds himself given space
OF abou three festtquare, with por
| ton OF the raised shelf on
which to place his empty dehe..
bottles, etc. On sitting down, too, the
customer will notice y bill OF fare aud
To- puch Ike those used by railroad CEN
duotors. The bill of fare 10 divided into
three columns--the first containing
the dlsh, the -ecoud ths price, az 1 the
third series of blank spaces, across
which are printed tho directions to
"please punch IN this space whatever
you Tant IN order" Giving punches
Tor ~ plate Of soup. ateak, aud glass
OF wine, the customer next "iurns
over" the pill OF fare, according
TO a foot-noic, and finds further d..
feollpna To put 1t when
punched, IN front OF him and pu. h
iho button 20 his right. He dces ~; an
electric bell ~ heard tiukling IN The
kitohon, and thaD, ~ II by magic, tn o
table IN front OF him alips noisslsssly
away, gliGes under tho raised shelf,
sud runs kitchenward. Tho time tor
h!linS the order elnpses, and then,
slipping out from under the shelf,
comes Tho table once moro laden noT
with tho SOUP, s.use and wins, and
settles itsslf IN front OF the customer.
The nlil o fare is there also, and ~ the
customer knows exactly what he
punched end what he bas oa'on, be
tHkas tho uill Of faro to the counter on
a check and pays tho amount duo.
|! the customer were allowed In the
Kitchen no would tiud boy seated on
ON o bench, hgvisg In front OF him q
apOEod wheel ike that " y III der.
Over tho wheel IL placed series OF ID
numbers covered with block shades,
while beside II are two handles like
levers. Another customer is heard Gu
tpTins tho restaurant; he seats bimselI
NJ $ table, punches out what no wauts,
and presses the electric button ut his
side. Down falls the shade from over
tho M. . wheel The boy pulls out -
connecting switch marked No. ., giyoV
n haul a. ono OF tho levers aud turn,
tho wheel. The haul ~ tho lover pulls
the No. . tablo under the shelf and
places IL or well-oiled trauway, and
tho turus OF tho wheel bring the tab {
along the iramway until IL reaches thC
Kitchen. On tho table the cook places
tho order, tho hoy rovefsas the wheel
THIS time Keeping his uy o on q plisblH
Hat wire which runs sround tho hui
VI The wheel aud which IL marked witt
J numbers up 10 sixteen. As soon IA
M. 2, marked on this band, reaches an
index, tho wheel Is stopped, tho lover
reverseo, and the customer liz served
J All tho tables can be moved at once by
the transfer OF the switches, or o.
many - orders csmo from. Whit 1,
claimed by the inventor 10 economy Of
time to tho customer, expensc to tn,
: proprietor, the avoidance of com
plants, the absence OF noise aud
strict check on tho Kitchen. Severn
restaurant keepers have been 10 80,
: he machine, but all hesitate 10 uss i
Tor fear IL might prove failure aud q
the boycetting by the discharged
Walters. A physician Of tho Frenrl
hospital, however. who his no src,
fear before sis eyes, han given his an
provsl to tho contrivapce and will RI
commend its adoption At that ius,itn
tion.-tSsn Frsnci. co Chronicle,