Horn & Hardart Automats

Near and dear to my heart but never modeled one.  They tended to be in large cities which I don't model.

My grandfather was hired right off the boat as a dishwasher and worked for them for 57 years.  He was the manager of the busiest one in Manhattan, but I don't recall which one.  My sister still has the stock he left her. Ha.

I worked for Horn and Hardart in downtown philly when I got out of high school In 1965. Made $1.25 per hour. No other job was available because of the war and me being of draft age. I did get to eat for free Though. 

RichO wrote,

"My grandfather was hired right off the boat as a dishwasher and worked for them for 57 years.  He was the manager of the busiest one in Manhattan, but I don't recall which one.  My sister still has the stock he left her. Ha."

I'd guess the one in Times Square or the one on 42nd and Lexington.  I loved going to Horn & Hardart, so much fun for a kid and a real bargain when I was older.

I worked right around the corner at Nicholas Smith hobbies after school and eat at the old H&H, miss it like many other things. I buy a kit or prebuilt in a heartbeat.

     MTH did an "Automat" building in 2008. It does not use the Horn & Hardart name, but the "Automat" lettering is done in Art Deco style to look the part of a 1930's-40's restaurant. The interior shows a gentleman looking at the wall of drawers where coffee and eats were presented. A sign on the "Automat" says "Coffee 5 Cents."

     The MTH product number is 30-90281 and it was in the 2008 RTR catalog. Go to the MTH Product Locator on their web site and using the product number you can see what it looked like.

John Knapp

Erie, not Eerie

Thanks John, I will look it up.

 I found the "look", and idea of a coin-op restaurant, both fascinating.

Oh, wow, talk about shaking the bushes of the ol' memory!?.....

I ate at an H&H only once that I can remember.  It was a junior high science class trip from D.C. (hometown) to Philadelphia.  Eating at the automat was an experience, for sure!....never went to anything like that in D.C. or anywhere else up to then.  I remember that Miss Hill, our science teacher had prepped us (and parents) on this dining experience on the day's schedule.  But, until you stood before 'the monster' of doors, it couldn't be appreciated!

The other experience of that same trip was riding the Pennsy from D.C. to Philly.  We were in the first car behind the GG1, and my aisle seat near the front had me staring through the door directly at the rear headlight of the GG1.  It was hypnotic, seeing that light bob about as we rocketed up the corridor line.  It's so vivid in my mind, I must have developed a fixation on it!!  My family often travelled by rail in the late 40's, 50's, but we had no 'business'...relatives, vacation, etc....which took us northward, so that may have been my ONLY ride on the Pennsy.  Most of our travels were westward (B&O, C&O) to Chicago, Detroit, Wisconsin.

Forgot all about the MTH building!  A Miller Horn & Hardart sign would be very cool!

I ate many a "cheap" meal in the Phila H&H while attending the Philadelphia College of Art at Broad and Pine, 1960-64. My wife and I spent our honeymoon in NYC 2/67. When our money ran out, our last meal was in a H&H before returning home.

When my friends and I back in the 50's would walk over the 59th street bridge we always stopped at the H&H. For my 25 cents I would get a frank and beans hot out of the automat then head over to the Lionel showroom. Thanks for this post. It brings back a lot of great memories.

You can still get their coffee Tee Shirts and a mug.

http://www.hornandhardartcoffee.com/

There is a section of a Philadelphia H&H installed as a permanent exhibit in the Smithsonian’s National Museum of American History in DC.  No food, though. 

Way back when I sued to deliver coin to a Horn and Hardart on 57th street in Manhatten  from an armored car. I was on the truck, tripped and a big bag of loose nickles ,(usually they were boxed)  went out into the street, the seal broke, and a zillion people went scrambling for the nickels. Arghhh!!! They always used to let the armored car crews eat for free and my favorite was the hot dog in the baked beans. Mmmmmmmm.

Looked up the MTH Automat. Cool!

I recall having a few meals at the NYC location.  Don't remember which address it was at, though.  Always thought it was a cool place.  

Here is my MTH Automat. Not Horn & Hardart but it will do just fine.

I remember the Horn & Hardart on Fulton Street in downtown Brooklyn.  I live in Florida now but I was there on a work assignment a few years ago and took a walk on Fulton Street.  The link below will explain in better detail what I found.

http://www.brownstoner.com/blo...rdart-fulton-street/

Fun article to read. Like may things I'd like to experience or see, these came before my time. I wonder if they could make a comeback given the somewhat anti-fast food climate at the moment?

Were it not for the H&H's in Manhattan back in the day, I do believe all those starving budding actors and such probably would have actually starved !!!!!  You can go a long way on a bowl of soup for a dime !!!!

Ed

Hello guys ---

I long ago modeled a Horn & Hardart Automat along my O-Scale NYC EL Line - and I have attached some photos.  Its totally scratch-built.  And lighted. I have recently added a new roof sign --- will take a photo of same and attach photo a bit later.

I ate in the H&H Automat at 3rd Ave & E.42nd St, Manhattan,  next to and when the 3rd Ave EL was running until Mid 1955 -- and later Automats in Manhattan.  Also ate at the one in downtown Philly (Broad Street & Market St locations) and the one in Lansdowne, PA.  Was very sad to see them close down.  The fast food chains among other things, made them old fashioned, I presume.

Regards - Joe F

On the West Coast we had Clifton's Cafeterias, but nothing like this!

Thank you for the link provided,I love urban history,it was amazing to read and see the pictures.

John

There used to be a working example at the Smithsonian. We were there this Spring and couldn't find it. There's a lot of renovation at the Museum of American History and Technology so we thought it may be in storage until the space opens again. I still remember the sound it used to make when the coins were accepted and the door opened.

My brother and I used to get a treat and we could buy a piece of pie. After taking our slices out and the door closed we had great fun waiting to see how long it took for them to slip another slice back into the empty door.  It's been almost 60 years but I seem to remember it didn't take very long especially if the place was busy.  

As as you can see, it didn't take much to amuse my brother and I in those days, And come to think of it, it still doesn't take much to amuse us these days.

Ed