The true northerner. [volume] (Paw Paw, Mich.) 1855-1920, 1885-12-24
AN ELECTRIC TABLE.



dom.
The vocation OF the waiter is i'm
periled. that which threatens his live
lihood in the lower ranks of waiterdom
being an invention styled the electric
dining-table. The invention of this
machine, for it Ia as much a machine
as table, is German, and, having
put up one of his contrivances. he has
invited all those who are interested in
such matters to come and see it. On
entering the room in which the electric
dining-table has been erected there is
seen a double row of small, fiat, desk
like tables, set back to back, and di-
vided one from another by brass
railing The tables, or compartments.
do not touch each other at the back.
being separated by raised shelf about
three feet wide. On sitting down each
diner finds himself given a space of
about three feet square, with portion
of the raises shelf on which to place
his empty dishes, bottles, etc. On sit
ting down, too, the customer will no.
tice bill of fare and punch like those
used by railroad conductors. The bill
of fare is divided into three columns
the first containing the dish, the second
the price, and the third series of
blank spaces, across which are printed
the directions to please punch in this
space whatever you want to order.
Giving punches for plate of soup, a
steak, and glass OF wine, the customer
next "turns over" the bill of fare, ac-
cording to foot-note, and finds fur
Their directions to put it, when punched,
in front of him and push the button to
his right. He does so, an electric bell
is heard tinkling in the kitchen, and
then, as if by magic, the table in front
of him slips noiselessly away, glides
under the raised shelf, and runs kitch-
onward. The time for filling the order
elapses, and then, slipping out from un-
der the shelf, comes the table once more,
laden now with the soup, steak, and wine,
and settles itself in front of the Gus
toner. The bill of fare is there also,
and, as the customer knows exactly
what he has punched and what he has
eaten, lie takes the bill of fare to the
counter as check and pays the amount
due.
If the customer were allowed into
the kitchen he would find boy seated
on bench, having in front of him O
spoked wheel like that of a rudder.
Over the wheel is placed a series OF
sixteen numbers covered with black
shades, while beside it are two handles
like levers. Another customer is heard
entering the restaurant; he seats him.
self at table, punches out what he
wants, and presses the electric button
at his side. Down falls the shade from
over No. 2 of the wheel. The boy pulls
out connecting switch marked No. 2
gives haul at one of the levers, and
turns the wheel. The haul at the lever
pulls the No. table under the sheli
and places it on well-oiled tramway,
and the turn of the wheel brings the
table along the tramway until it reache:
the kitchen. On the table the cook
places the order. the boy reverses the
wheel, this time keeping his eye on {
pliable flat which runs around the hui
of the wheel and which is marked will
numbers up to sixteen. AS soon as
No. 2, marked on this band, reaches al
index, the wheel is stopped, the Lever
reversed, and the customer is served
| All the tables can be moved at once by
the transfer of the switches, or as man,
as orders come from.
What is claimed by the inventor il
economy of time for the customer, ex
pense to the proprietor, the avoidanc,
of complaints, the absence of noise, anC
strict check on the kitchen. Severa
restaurant-keepers have been to see tn
machine, but all hesitate to use it TO
fear it might prove failure and of tn
boycotting by the discharged walters
A physician of the French hospital
however, who has no such fear befor
his eyes, has given his approval to tn
continuance and will recommend it
adoption at that institution. Sal
! Francisco Chronicle.