Tue 26 Sep 2006
The Gravy Train
Posted by anaglyph under Bizarre, Technology, Whimsy
[20] Comments
The Athanasius Kircher Society has a nice piece this morning on the Dinner Table Railroad of Gaston Menier. In 1887, the apparently eccentric French chocolate magnate devised a system for his dining room whereby meals could be bought to the table by a small electric train, evidently in an effort to obviate the need for servants to present the food. Personally I can see all kinds of possibilities for disaster here – I’m thinking that at this dinner party there’s much more than just the conversation that could get derailed.
Anyway, it seems to me that this meals-on-wheels situation is so choc-full of pun potential that I thought I’d open it up to the floor.
Fer one thing, I woont call it a dinnr party no more.
Id call it …
(*wait fer it*)
… a chew-chew.
Really, nothing can follow that.
true. agree. joey just ruined it.
it looks like fun tho.
Tonight’s entreetrainment… never mind.
“That’s the last time I let Wilfred invite me for boozing and then pulling a train on a servant girl.”
Get your food cooked by the Iron Chef and then served by the Iron Horse!
“Out on the edge of the table,
There rides the peas train. . . .”
And dessert and conversation with the Chat & Nougat Choo Choo…
Hey Casey, is your surname ‘Jones’?
Adds a whole new dimension to the concept of the Dining Car.
Also explains a lot about the Fat Controller…
If you wanted to serve fast food, you’d have to use an express train.
Rev, you’re on a roll. Jolliest of Japes indeed.
Surely there’s nothing to contribute after that. What is confusing me is… how do they get out from that side of the table? Limbo?
Anyone notice that th guys name was “Gaston”?
Anyone notice that th piece says hes … ummm … apparently eccentric?
There is a sushi restaurant downtown that employs this very contraption. It works great, and is actually very entertaining. Plus, no tipping! Woo!
I’m surprised you posted this, Reverend. Aren’t cows supposed to be afraid of trains, what with that cow pusher on the front and all?
I dont evn wanna kno what theyr transportin in th ol subway.
Testing… seems my ability to comment – from Home Sweet Home at least – has been derailed.
Ah! So it’s a Firefox Thing, since using IE works. Well. Back on track, then.