Dumbwaiters, that is, small industrial forklifts, are an almost ubiquitous sight in hotels, bars and restaurants today. Often used to reduce travel and simplify the daily tasks of kitchen and hotel staff, these devices are extremely popular for their compact size, versatility, ease of use, and relative robustness.

However, while many people are familiar with the concept of a dumbwaiter, it is likely that very few have ever thought about where that name came from and why it was adopted for that specific implement in the first place. Apart from being common in hotel and restaurant kitchen areas, what other link is there between an industrial elevator and a waiter? Where does the ‘silly’ part originate from? Are you referring to lack of intelligence or lack of ability to speak? All of these questions and more will be addressed in the following lines.

The employee who does not speak

The exact origin of the term dumbwaiter is difficult to pin down, but its etymology is relatively uncontroversial. The expression derives from the fact that the small forklifts of the same name were often used as an inanimate substitute for an actual member of staff; Thus ‘dumbwaiter’ referred to the way these devices performed some of the tasks that aid would normally take care of, while at the same time being invisible and unheard, that is, ‘dumb’.

The term is believed to have been used for the first time in the mid-19th century, on wealthy homes and estates in the United States. It seems consensual, however, that the term rose to prominence in the public consciousness when it was used in a play, “The Dumb Waiter,” by Harold Pinter. First performed in 1957, the piece quickly rose to international fame and renown, and with it, the term ‘dumbwaiter’ as synonymous with a small-scale industrial forklift. It is thanks to this work that it is thought that the expression has entered the public consciousness once and for all and, therefore, it can be considered its true creator, or at least responsible for its diffusion in Western society.

Campaign for change

Perhaps more surprising than the origin or meaning of the term dumbwaiter is the fact that, in recent years, various parties have been pushing for it to be changed. Today, the expression is considered mildly derogatory, and a series of replacement terms have slowly but surely taken its place over the past decades. Alternative names for these types of devices include microlift, lazy susan, and serving tray, all of which are considered more acceptable and politically correct than the term defined in the previous lines.

Regardless of these efforts, however, it seems unlikely that the term dumbwaiter will escape the public consciousness any time soon. Even if these alternative names are caught on by an increasingly socially conscious general public, the transition will not happen overnight; The process will likely take several years, and until then these useful little implements will continue to be known by their current name.

However, whatever name they are known by, one thing seems clear: Dumbwaiters should continue to play as important a role in the hospitality and catering industry for decades to come as they do now. The versatile and easy-to-use nature of these elevators makes them an essential asset in any large, industrial-style kitchen or laundry room, and this status does not seem to change for the foreseeable future. Whether they are known as dumbwaiters, micro-elevators, lazy susans, serving trays, or any other name, these elevators should remain the best friends of hotel and hospital staff as long as they remain in production.