Automat
An automat (sometimes referred to colloquially as a wall) is a fast food restaurant where simple foods and drink are served by coin-operated and bill-operated vending machines.
Contents
1 Concept
2 Decline
3 Resurgence
4 Other versions
5 Netherlands
6 References
Concept
Originally, the machines took only nickels. In the original format, a cashier would sit in a change booth in the center of the restaurant, behind a wide marble counter with five to eight rounded depressions in it. The diner would insert the required number of coins in a machine and then lift a window, which was hinged at the top, to remove the meal, which was generally wrapped in waxed paper. The machines were filled from the kitchen behind. All or most New York automats also had a cafeteria-style steam table where patrons could slide a tray along rails and choose foods, which were ladled out of steaming tureens.
Inspired by the Quisiana Automat in Berlin, the first automat in the U.S. was opened June 12, 1902, at 818 Chestnut St. in Philadelphia by Horn & Hardart.[1] The automat was brought to New York City in 1912 and gradually became part of popular culture in northern industrial cities. Horn & Hardart was the most prominent automat chain.
In its heyday, recipes were kept in a safe, and described how to place the food on the plate as well as how to make it. The automats were popular with a wide variety of patrons, including Walter Winchell, Irving Berlin and other celebrities of the era. The New York automats were popular with out of work songwriters and actors. Playwright Neil Simon called automats "the Maxim's of the disenfranchised" in a 1987 article.[2]
Decline
The format was threatened by the growth of suburbs and the rise of fast food restaurants catering to motorists (with their drive-thru windows) in the 1950s; by the 1970s, their remaining appeal was strictly nostalgic. Another contributing factor to their demise was undoubtedly the inflation of the 1960s and 70s, making the food too expensive to be bought conveniently with coins, in a time before bill acceptors commonly appeared on vending equipment.
At one time there were 40 Horn & Hardart automats in New York City alone. The last one closed in 1991 after the company, which was exiting the restaurant business, failed to find a buyer for it. At the time, the quality of the food was described by some customers as on the decline.[2][3]
Resurgence
A modern automat in Manhattan's East VillageIn 2006, an automat, operated by the company Bamn, opened in New York City's East Village.[4] Bamn Automat is no longer in business.
Other versions
Another form of the automat was used on some passenger trains, the last United States example being an automat car on Amtrak's short-lived Lake Country Limited service to Janesville, Wisconsin, in 2001. These were limited by mechanical problems, since the machines were not necessarily intended for the bumpy ride on the rails, and state laws that prohibited alcoholic beverages from being sold by a machine.
Netherlands
The Dutch FEBO stores provide a variety of burgers, sandwiches, and croquettes in vending machines that are back-loaded from a kitchen. Their automat is called automatiek.
References
^ "Horn & Hardart Automat, 968 6th Ave. between 35th & 36th Sts. (1986)", 36th Street, New York City Signs -- 14th to 42nd Street.
^ a b Barron, James (April 11, 1991). "Last Automat Closes, Its Era Long Gone". The New York Times.
http://www.nytimes.com/1991/04/11/nyregion/last-automat-closes-its-era-long-gone.html. Retrieved 2009-07-16.
^ "New York's Last Automat Closes". Associated Press. April 11, 1991.
http://news.google.com/newspapers?id=iZwMAAAAIBAJ&sjid=XV8DAAAAIBAJ&pg=6820,42067&dq=automat+1991. Retrieved 2009-07-16.
^ Matthews, Karen (2006-08-28). "Updated Automat to open in New York City". Associated Press.
http://www.boston.com/news/educatio.../28/updated_automat_to_open_in_new_york_city/. Retrieved 2006-08-28.
^ Delfiner, Rita (2009-03-10). "LAST AUTOMAT EATERY BITES IT". Associated Press.
http://www.nypost.com/p/news/region...H;jsessionid=E7BAE606096C5D655C03395AE82F2C72. Retrieved 2010-04-12.
Retrieved from "http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Automat"
