Service Industry Collection

Galley, Zeppelin LZ 127 Graf Zeppelin, 1933. The Graf Zeppelin was the most successful airship ever built. Between its first flight in 1928 and retirement in 1937

Revelling with Harlots, plate III of A Rakes Progress, 1735. Tom Rakewell and a companion consorting with harlots in a tavern

Sloppy Joes Bar, Havana, Cuba, 1951. The world famous Sloppy Joes welcomed tourists for over four decades, and offered over 80 cocktails in addition to the bars own brand of 12 year old rum

Scenes in a laundry, 1884. The manageress and female workers are assisted by children

Shirt pressing at a commercial laundry in Scunthorpe, Lincolnshire, 1965. Artist
Shirt pressing at a commercial laundry in Scunthorpe, Lincolnshire, 1965. Female workers using large industrial shirt presses

A 1961 Austin Westminster in a car wash, Grimsby, 1965. Artist: Michael Walters
A 1961 Austin Westminster in a car wash, Grimsby, Lincolnshire, 1965. An Austin A110 model Westminster in a car wash in Grimsby in 1965

The Duval Restaurant on the Quai de Billy, Paris, 1889. A print from Figaro Exposition, Simpkin, Marshall, Hamilton, Kent and Co, Limited, 4 Stationers Hall Court, London, 1889

Advertising for Cacao karstel, 1890 (lithograph)
2904168 Advertising for Cacao karstel, 1890 (lithograph) by Caspel, Johann Georg van (1870-1928); (add.info.: Cocoa advertising poster created by Johann Georg van Caspel); Buyenlarge Archive/UIG

The canteen (colour engraving)
1731034 The canteen (colour engraving) by French School; (add.info.: The canteen)

Advertizing for Quinquina Vouvray, 1900 (poster)
2904144 Advertizing for Quinquina Vouvray, 1900 (poster) by Biais, Maurice (1875-1926); (add.info.: A big waiter brow-beating his way to a hefty tip or the slight smoker at the table is about to be)

A gentleman and soldier flirting with an innkeeper at the bar. 1831 (engraving)
7234778 A gentleman and soldier flirting with an innkeeper at the bar.1831 (engraving) by Rowlandson, Thomas (1756-1827) (after); Private Collection; (add.info)

Austrain waitress at an inn in Innsbruck, Tyrol, 18th century. 1823 (engraving)
7234119 Austrain waitress at an inn in Innsbruck, Tyrol, 18th century. 1823 (engraving) by Alexander, William (1767-1816) (after); Private Collection; (add.info)

The language difficulty, Paris (chromolitho)
7184880 The language difficulty, Paris (chromolitho) by Thompson, George Henry (1853-1933); Private Collection; (add.info.: The language difficulty, Paris)

17th century peasants drinking in a tavern. 1803 (engraving)
7233112 17th century peasants drinking in a tavern. 1803 (engraving) by Deuchar, David (1743-1808); Private Collection; (add.info.: 17th century peasants drinking in a tavern)

Scottish woman pouring a bottle of ale into a bucket for a man, , 1803 (engraving)
7233087 Scottish woman pouring a bottle of ale into a bucket for a man, , 1803 (engraving) by Deuchar, David (1743-1808); Private Collection; (add.info)

The skeleton of Death brings the last bottle of wine to a drinker, 1827 (engraving)
7233008 The skeleton of Death brings the last bottle of wine to a drinker, 1827 (engraving) by Dagley, Richard (c.1761-1841); Private Collection; (add.info)

After Dinner, cigar label (chromolitho)
7154089 After Dinner, cigar label (chromolitho) by American School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: After Dinner, cigar label)

Le Vocabulaire Illustre: Banquet; Bankett (engraving)
7194832 Le Vocabulaire Illustre: Banquet; Bankett (engraving) by European School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Banquet; Bankett)

Woodpecker dressed as a waiter or butler, Christmas greetings card (chromolitho)
7153482 Woodpecker dressed as a waiter or butler, Christmas greetings card (chromolitho) by English School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Woodpecker dressed as a waiter or butler)

Puffins dining in a restaurant with penguin waiters (chromolitho)
7149296 Puffins dining in a restaurant with penguin waiters (chromolitho) by English School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Puffins dining in a restaurant with penguin waiters)

Le Vocabulaire Illustre: Cafe; Coffee-house; Kaffeehaus (engraving)
7195114 Le Vocabulaire Illustre: Cafe; Coffee-house; Kaffeehaus (engraving) by European School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Cafe; Coffee-house; Kaffeehaus)

Fashionable ice cream parlour, France (chromolitho)
7153486 Fashionable ice cream parlour, France (chromolitho) by French School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Fashionable ice cream parlour, France)

A Paris Cafe, 1890s (Oil on canvas)
7215297 A Paris Cafe, 1890s (Oil on canvas) by Korovin, Konstantin Alekseevich (1861-1939); Tretyakov Gallery, Moscow, Russia; (add.info)

Le Vocabulaire Illustre: Garcon (de brasserie); Pot-boy; Aufwarter (engraving)
7196118 Le Vocabulaire Illustre: Garcon (de brasserie); Pot-boy; Aufwarter (engraving) by European School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Garcon (de brasserie); Pot-boy; Aufwarter

David Copperfield and the Waiter at Yarmouth (colour litho)
7168990 David Copperfield and the Waiter at Yarmouth (colour litho) by Thomson, Hugh (1860-1920); Private Collection; (add.info.: David Copperfield and the Waiter at Yarmouth)

Exceptional patrons (colour litho)
2783861 Exceptional patrons (colour litho) by Beltrame, Achille (1871-1945); Private Collection; (add.info.: Exceptional patrons)

The dog festival (colour litho)
2783901 The dog festival (colour litho) by Beltrame, Achille (1871-1945); Private Collection; (add.info.: The dog party)

Three cheerful young ladies from Los Angeles, California, wanted to show originality and daring... (colour litho)
2778093 Three cheerful young ladies from Los Angeles, California, wanted to show originality and daring... (colour litho) by Beltrame

A forty-seven-story hotel is about to be completed in New York (colour litho)
2778042 A forty-seven-story hotel is about to be completed in New York (colour litho) by Beltrame, Achille (1871-1945); Private Collection; (add.info)

A challenge to jetting (colour litho)
2777826 A challenge to jetting (colour litho) by Beltrame, Achille (1871-1945); Private Collection; (add.info.: A jetting challenge)

The Extravagant Races (Colour Litho)
2777702 The Extravagant Races (Colour Litho) by Beltrame, Achille (1871-1945); Private Collection; (add.info.: The extravagant races)

Kitchen for an hotel (chromolitho)
976482 Kitchen for an hotel (chromolitho) by English School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Kitchen for an hotel)

Woman Vacuuming Under a Sofa

Chef Gesturing with a Utensil

Couple Dining at a Restaurant with a View

Woman Vacuuming

Chef Pointing to a Cruet

At the Cafe, c1877. Artist: Pierre-Auguste Renoir
At the Cafe, c1877. Located in the Rijksmuseum Kroller-Muller, Otterlo, Netherlands

The Great Dining Hall, Windsor Hotel, said to be the finest in the World, Montreal, Canada, 1894. The Windsor Hotel opened in 1878, and counted some famous names among its guests

Scene in a Coffee House, 1788, (1944). Creator: Thomas Rowlandson
Scene in a Coffee House, 1788, (1944). Diners in booths at a London coffee house, with dogs begging, and the clock showing 8.30. From " The English At Table", by John Hampson

Laid table at the Bell Inn in Edmonton, 1878, (c1918). Creator: Randolph Caldecott
Laid table at the Bell Inn in Edmonton, 1878, (c1918). John Gilpins dinner set out for him, but his bolting horse prevents him from stopping

Dance, Song and Supper in Underground Halls of Pleasure, c1935. Artist: Sport & General
Dance, Song and Supper in Underground Halls of Pleasure, c1935. From Our Wonderful World, Volume I, edited by J.A. Hammerton. [The Amalgamated Press, Ltd. London]

Student waiters, Westminster Technical Institute, London, 1914
A goup of young people dressed as waiters working in the service room, supervised by a teacher, Westminster Technical Institute, London, 1914. Collecting meals form the service room

The Devil Reproving Sin, 1804. Three gentlemen sit smoking and drinking in one of the boxes of a tea-garden (White Conduit House?). A waiter on the right draws a cork from a bottle

A Sunday ordinary at Highgate, 1784. A waiter serving a crowd of diners at a table, spilling gravy over one of them while his attention is distracted by a woman with her child on his other side;

A Chop House, 1781
Interior view of a chop house supposed to be Dollys Chop House, Paternoster Row, near the St Pauls Cathedral end of Ludgate Hill

The coffee room in the London Bridge Railway Terminus Hotel, Bermondsey, London, 1860
Interior view of the coffee room in the London Bridge Railway Terminus Hotel, Bermondsey, London, 1860. The hotel, on the south side of the station

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The service industry has a rich and diverse history, as depicted in various artworks throughout the centuries. In "Revelling with Harlots, plate III of A Rakes Progress" from 1735, we catch a glimpse of the lively atmosphere of an establishment where pleasure-seeking individuals indulge in their desires. Fast forward to 1933, and we witness the marvels of technology with the Galley Zeppelin LZ 127 Graf Zeppelin. This magnificent airship revolutionized travel and brought luxury service to new heights. In "Sloppy Joes Bar, Havana, Cuba" captured in 1951, we are transported to a vibrant watering hole where locals and tourists alike gather for drinks and good times. It serves as a reminder that bars have long been essential social hubs within the service industry. Moving on to more mundane yet crucial aspects of this sector, "Shirt pressing at a commercial laundry in Scunthorpe" portrays the meticulous work done by laundry professionals in 1965. Their attention to detail ensures that customers receive crisp and perfectly pressed garments. Similarly highlighting behind-the-scenes operations is "Scenes in a laundry, " an artwork from 1884 showcasing workers diligently tending to piles of linens. These unsung heroes play an integral role in maintaining cleanliness and orderliness within our communities. Meanwhile, car washes have become synonymous with convenience and efficiency over time. The image titled "A 1961 Austin Westminster in a car wash" captures this sentiment perfectly while reminding us how vehicle maintenance is also part of the vast service industry landscape. Stepping into another era entirely brings us to Paris' Quai de Billy circa 1889 when The Duval Restaurant stood proudly along its banks. This iconic eatery catered not only delicious food but also impeccable customer service—a testament to how restaurants have always played an important role within this dynamic field. Advertising has long been intertwined with services offered.