Neat online exhibit about the history of Lunch, including Automat

[KurtNYC]

http://exhibitions.nypl.org/lunchhour/exhibits/show/lunchhour

[amerikat]

1. Ate at the Automat a few times as a kid.

It's where I discovered cream cheese and walnuts on raisin bread. Still
make one on occasion. Can't remember if it was Chock Full O Nuts or Horn and Hardart.

[csziggy]

4. When my parents took us to the NY World's Fair we ate there

Dad insisted we should experience the Automat at least once. Besides, none of the people at the cafeteria or the restaurants could understand us little Southern kids, so it was a constant hassle ordering food anywhere else.

[Graybeard]

7. Self-service. Very efficient.

In effect the whole place was one big vending machine. Coins in the slots unlocked the little windows with your food item. They were filled and reloaded from behind.

[Brother Buzz]

2. Somebody's gotta go back and get a shit-load of dimes!

[kath]

9. Heh. It's about time for me to watch that movie again!

[LiveNudePolitics]

3. I wish we had this still, I feel cheated!

Thanks for posting!

[DearHeart]

5. OMG! I love Automats!! Never been to one, a little before my time

But, I've always wanted to find one (if any still exist). I've seen them in classic movies on TCM and just love them! Thanks for posting You've brightened a very dark day!

[Graybeard]

6. A handful of change bought a meal.

Coffee was a nickel. Sandwich was four nickels. A piece of pie two nickels. As time went on the machines were retooled to take quarters.

The steam table offered hot meals and breakfasts such as pancakes and bacon and eggs, made right in front of you by cooks dressed all in white with little white caps.

Many fond memories.

[MiddleFingerMom]

8. Horn & Hardart several times in Philly while visiting as a kid. Food was just BETTER...

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... when presented like that.
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I was actually in a bar/club in Cairo, IL that had an Automat-style bar as an option -- put money into one
dispenser and get alcohol, another for mixers. I think ice was free. Cool and handy as it was a busy bar.
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[theKed]

10. Time is an illusion

Lunch time doubly so.

[almazz]

11. Automat magic and Coffee

I grew up eating at the Automats in Philly and New York. As a kid it was a magical place. With windows full of food that automatically refilled themselves and the Dolphin heads that dispensed Coffee and Hot Chocolate, you could spend an entire afternoon there and not be bored.

Like many people, I was sad to see them disappear. After the last one closed, in 1991 in New York, there were a few of the cafeteria style restaurants still open in Philly, but they didn't have the style and excitement of the Automats.

The exhibit at the NY Library runs until February 17th, 2013 and is a first class piece of work. And the Library Gift Shop sells Horn & Hardart coffee by the bag. It's also available on their web site.

Al Mazzone
www.HornAndHardartCoffee.com
[link:http://www.HornAndHardartCoffee.com|

[Graybeard]

12. Welcome to DU.

The Automat was all of that. Kids loved it and I remember seeing the same lonely people, with just a cup of coffee, sitting at a table, alone, for hours and hours.