Improvements in Plates, Dishes, and other Earthenware Utensils employed in the Service of Food in Eating-houses and the like.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 24th May, 1894
Complete Specification Left, 18th Feb., 1895-Accepted, 6th Apr., 1895
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improvements in Plates, Dishes, and other Earthenware Utensils
employed in the Service of Food in Eating-houses and the like.
1, JOHN DYSON WHITAKER, of 28 Newborough Scarborough in the County of
York, Eating-house Proprietor, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to
be as follows:-
The object of this invention is to protect both the customer and the proprietor
in eating-houses and the like, from fraud by attendants.
For this purpose plates and dishes are conspicuously lettered or marked by
printing, embossing, or engraving, with the price of the contents of such plate or
dish, also enumerating the various articles which should be contained thereon, or
accompany the same.
Cups and basins may be similarly marked.
By carrying out this invention, the customer is enabled to ascertain at a glance
that he is supplied with the proper portion of food, as intended by the proprietor,
for the amount paid, and no checks or tickets are required, as the assistant pays at
the counter the value marked upon each plate delivered to him.
Dated this 23rd day of May 1894.
WILLIAM J. BAKER,
Peasholme House, Scarborough, Agent for the Applicant.
Improvements in Plates, Dishes, and other Earthenware Utensils
employed in the Service of Food in Eating-houses and the like.
I, JOHN DYSON WHITAKER of 28 Newborough, Scarborough in the County
of York, Eating-house Proprietor, do hereby declare the nature of this invention
and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be particularly described and
ascertained in and by the following statement:-
This invention has for its object the protection, from fraud by attendants, of the
proprietors and the customers of refreshment houses, restaurants, and the like.
The frauds which it is intended to prevent or detect, consist in the substitution
by the attendants, of plates of food of lower prices than those for which the
customers pay.
In order to prevent this substitution, to the detriment of the customers, my
improved plates are employed which are lettered or marked, by printing, embossing,
or engraving, with a notice, calling attention to the fixed prices therein stated, of
the contents of the plates, and of other articles as enumerated, which should
accompany the plates, and which are included in the price named.
The accompanying drawing represents a plan view of such plates, with a notice,
of the nature referred to, printed thereon.
The notice when printed upon a plate or dish is by preference placed round the
rim, as shown in the drawing, but cups, or tureens, may have the notice printed
upon the outside, or in the most conspicuous position.

page_text: By the employment of plates and other utensils which are marked in the manner
described, the customer is enabled to see at a glance that he obtains for a certain
price the value in food which he is intended to receive by the proprietor, and no
tickets or other checking devices are required, if the attendant pays at the
serving-out counter the price marked upon each plate or utensil.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion, and in what manner the same is to be performed, I declare that what I
claim is
1. Plates which are lettered or marked by means of printing, engraving, or
embossing each, with a notice stating the fixed price of such plate of food, and of
other articles which should accompany each such plate, and which accompanying
articles are included in the charge or price named, substantially as and for the
purpose set forth and as represented.
2. Plates, cups, dishes, and other earthenware or metallic receptacles for food,
which have printed, painted, engraved or embossed thereon, a notice stating the
fixed price of the contents of each such receptacle, and of such other articles as
should accompany the same, without any further charge, substantially as and for
the purpose described.
Dated this 15th day of February 1895.
WILLIAM J. BAKER,
Peasholme House, Scarborough, Agent for the Applicant.