Automat Collection

Horn & Hardart Automat, New York City, USA
Horn & Hardart Automat, 57th Street and 6th Avenue, New York City, USA, one of a large chain of cafes and restaurants serving over half a million people per day. Date: circa 1930

Automat Dining Room - Broadway, New York, USA
Automat Dining Room - 1557 Broadway, New York, USA. Horn & Hardart was a food services company of the USA noted for operating the first food service automats in Philadelphia and New York City

Exterior - Automat Dining Room, Times Square, New York, USA
The exterior of the Automat Dining Room - Times Square branch, New York, USA. Horn & Hardart was a food services company of the USA noted for operating the first food service automats in Philadelphia

American barrel organ with inside mechanism, wood engravings, published 1888
American barrel organ with punched tape technique - Automatic musical instrument from the 19th century. Right side: The inside mechanism. Wood engravings, published in 1888

Plate III, Uber den Schachspieler des Herrn von Kempelen und dessen Nachbildung
HMB306170 Plate III, Uber den Schachspieler des Herrn von Kempelen und dessen Nachbildung, Leipzig und Dresden: Joh. Gottl

The Silver Swan, 1773 (silver)
BWM8912 The Silver Swan, 1773 (silver) by Cox, James (c.1723-1800); The Bowes Museum, Barnard Castle, County Durham, UK; (add.info)

Plate II from Uber den Schachspieler des Herrn von Kempelen und dessen
HMB306169 Plate II from Uber den Schachspieler des Herrn von Kempelen und dessen Nachbildung, Leipzig und Dresden: Joh. Gottl

Plate I from, Uber den Schachspieler des Herrn von Kempelen und dessen
HMB306168 Plate I from, Uber den Schachspieler des Herrn von Kempelen und dessen Nachbildung, Leipzig und Dresden: Joh. Gottl

View of Broadway, New York, 1936 (photo)
3959714 View of Broadway, New York, 1936 (photo) by American Photographer, (20th century); Private Collection; Prismatic Pictures; American, out of copyright

Photographies
Massimo Della Latta

NEW YORK: TIMES SQUARE. A rainy day in Times Square, New York City. Photograph by John Vachon, 1943

Auto-Novum self-service restaurant, Rotterdam, Netherlands
Auto-Novum self-service (automat) restaurant, Korte Hoogstraat, Rotterdam, Netherlands, in art nouveau style. Date: circa 1910

Eating by machinery. The first automat restaurant built in New York City. Drawing by Charles Grunwald from an American
AUTOMAT RESTAURANT, 1903. Eating by machinery. The first automat restaurant built in New York City. Drawing by Charles Grunwald from an American newspaper of 1903

AMERICA: AUTOMAT, c1925. A young woman getting a beverage from an automatic dispensing machine at an automat restaurant. Oil over a photograph, c1925

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The Automat, a beloved institution in New York City, was a revolutionary concept that combined self-service dining with convenience and efficiency. Originating from the iconic Horn & Hardart Automat on Broadway, this unique dining experience quickly became synonymous with the bustling streets of Times Square. Step inside the Automat Dining Room and you would be greeted by an array of tantalizing dishes displayed behind glass doors. Customers could simply insert coins into slots to unlock their desired meal or snack, making it a popular choice for busy New Yorkers on the go. Dating back to 1888, an American barrel organ with intricate wood engravings showcased the mechanical wonders of its time. This fascinating piece evoked memories of an era when technology was just beginning to captivate imaginations. Speaking of marvels from yesteryears, "Uber den Schachspieler des Herrn von Kempelen und dessen Nachbildung" revealed Plate III - a captivating illustration depicting an automated chess player created by Mr. Von Kempelen himself. The ingenuity behind such inventions never ceased to amaze. Intriguingly enough, another masterpiece known as "The Silver Swan, " crafted in 1773 entirely out of silver, mesmerized audiences with its graceful movements and enchanting melodies. It served as a testament to mankind's ability to create beauty through automation even centuries ago. Meanwhile, Plate II from "Uber den Schachspieler des Herrn von Kempelen und dessen" offered further insights into the world of automata – intricate mechanisms brought to life through gears and pulleys. These illustrations captured both the fascination and curiosity surrounding these mechanical marvels. Fast forward to 1936; a photograph showcasing Times Square during a rainy day transported viewers back in time. Amidst towering buildings adorned with vibrant advertisements stood the exterior view Dining Room –a symbol representing progress and modernity within one frame.