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Eating at the Automat
American Classic
We think of fast food as a recent invention, but railroad restaurants, hotdog stands and Automats have been around for longer than many people realize.
The first Automat was opened in Philadelphia in 1902. Joe Horn and Frank Hardart imported the food dispensers from Germany, which had pioneered the waiter-less restaurant that the men imported to the United States.
Self Service the Key for Quick Service
Everything cost at least 1 nickel and there were cashiers to change money into nickels. Between the kitchen and the dining room was a wall of windows. The food was placed behind the windows and customers would put nickels into the slots to unlock the door and the customer would take out their selection.
Seating was self-service, the menu offered a wide variety of classic American food such as meat loaf, Salisbury steak, fried chicken and other basic fare. Desserts were also available and the coffee was always fresh.
Doris Day at the Automat
End of the Automat
The restaurant was a big success and soon expanded to New York City and all along the East Coast. The Automat was the first successful fast food chain in the country. The food was produced under assembly line conditions and by just using nickels customers could get their food faster. The Horn & Hardart Automat chain didn’t survive the proliferation of fast food restaurants, but they were very popular for a time. I remember vividly going to an Automat as a child and thinking it was quite the thing. This was in the early 1970's so of course the prices were higher than a nickel by then but the food was pretty good.
Remembering the Automat
History Sites
- Chicago World's Fair Heinz Food Company
Heinz made a success of advertising at the Chicago World's Fair. One of the most popular souvenirs of the fair were heinz pickle pins. - Kodak's Brownie Camera First Portable Camera
history of the brownnie camera. - History of Advertising Trade Cards
Trade cards were used during the late 19th century to advertises business and products. - Advertising Icon Duncan Hines
Duncan Hines started out as a traveling salesman but late in life started a new career as a food critic.