We celebrate a time gone by and the food quality at the Automat.
Automat in Manhattan, New York City – 1939 Source: New York Public Library Digital Collection
Long gone now, the Horn and Hardart Automat debuted in Philadelphia in 1902 and Manhattan in 1912.
The last Automat closed in New York City in 1991. Quality was of the utmost importance.
“Automats enforced quality control. The leather-bound rule book every manager received listed the proper handling of the nearly 400 menu items, described precisely where to position the buffet-style food on the plates and stated the number of times employees were to wipe tabletops each day.”
“Horn & Hardart Automats had a strict fresh-food policy. No food could be left overnight in any of its restaurants”
“After closing time each day, Horn & Hardart trucks carried surplus food to "day-old" shops. New York and Philadelphia each had three, located in low-income neighborhoods, which sold these items at reduced prices.”
Want to progress further with your Six Sigma career?
Join ISSSP today and access the hundreds of interviews, webinars, whitepapers, case studies, and other resources available in our online library.
Leave A Comment