Dumb Waiter

The Rathskeller bartenders may be smart, but we do have one dumb waiter.

Our 75-year-old ‘dumbwaiter’ is actually pretty clever and provided a great service at a time when the Hermann Sons Home Association operated kitchens and bars on three different floors.

As the bowling alley addition was getting underway in spring 1948 this little food elevator, or ‘dumbwaiter,’ was part of the specs. Initially the plans were to connect the Rathskeller’s basement kitchen and bowling alley cafe. The Home Association Board meeting minutes from August 11, 1948 state that the decision to extend the dumbwaiter to the rooftop bar was “cussed, discussed, kicked around and thrown back and forth.” In the end it was decided that extending the dumbwaiter to the top would be the “best plan.”

Though variations of the device have existed for hundreds of years, the first patent for a mechanical dumbwaiter operated by pulleys and weights was filed in 1887 by George W. Cannon. His design featured a counterbalanced weight to move the platform vertically. Dumbwaiters were most popular in the late 19th century when it was common for kitchens and pantries to occupy different floors, and they became fashionable in the multi-story homes of wealthy families.

Although the term ‘dumbwaiter’ likely came from the gadget’s ability to act as a silent servant, typical dumbwaiters required the users to shout their orders down the shaft. Our Home Association Building Committee opted for an intercom system.

May 2025 Update: A dumb waiter was discovered in the original 1911 blue prints, located in a different part of the building, extending from the basement to the top floor.