Popular Science Monthly 



695 



Serving Food on the Run 



THE war has done many unexpected 

 things in this country. It has 

 touched the every-day facts of life in a 

 degree unimagined prior to August i, 

 1 9 14. It has even affected the manner 

 in which food is served. Since the war 

 began, the Remington Arms and Ammu- 

 nition Company has erected a plant at 

 Bridgeport, Conn., which is more than a 

 third of a mile long. This plant, with a 

 capacity for eighteen thousand men, is 

 working throughout the twenty-four 

 hours in eight-hour shifts. As soon as a 

 man leaves his machine, another takes 

 his place. Men working for only eight 

 hours a day, do not require, and, if they 

 are working on piece, do not desire, a full 

 hour for meals. A half-hour is long 



enough for most of them. 

 . » f But a man cannot devote 



much time to eating if he 



must walk a third of a mile in search of 

 food and then return to his place. So a 

 "cafemobile" has been invented to meet 

 his requirements. This, in fact, is a lunch 

 counter on wheels. It is supplied with 

 metal compartments fordifferent kinds of 

 food which should be warm when served, 

 as well as for fruit, sandwiches, pies, etc. 

 At different points throughout the 

 factory provision has been made for 

 attaching it to an electric circuit. By 

 this means the soups, hash, potatoes, 

 coffee, and meat can be heated readily. 

 Just before the lunch hour the squad- 

 ron of "cafemobiles" sets out from the 

 restaurant, each loaded with a supply of 

 food. These are pushed by men in 

 white caps, blouses and aprons. Each 

 is trundled to a different place in the 

 factory, previously assigned, and takes 

 up a position near the electric connection. 

 The folding counter is turned back and 

 the oranges, apples, pies, sandwiches and 

 milk set out in tempting array. 



In turning out high-priced munitions every minute is precious for the men in the factories. 



So, a Bridgeport firm uses the "cafemobile" — a lunch-counter on wheels which saves 



the machinist on piece-work the time required to walk a third of a mile from his lathe to 



his food. By means of electric connections, foods are served hot 



