It was replaced by wireless smart waiter in a Beijing restaurant. Ordered food from a smart phone. Cooks are robots too.

Love some of the answers! Fred Griffin gave the literal answer!

  A chute with a chain hoist or rope to haul stuff from the first floor to the second, and back.

I actually knew this one, but still prefer Thomas J. Nelson, Realtor 's graphic.

I am laughing hysterically reading the answers but put ditto " " under Nina Hollander and Ryan Huggins - Thousand Oaks, CA 

Hi Tony & Suzanne - My grandparents had one of those when we were kids - my brother and I used to ride it when no one was looking.

I know what it is but didn't know how to describe it. Fred Griffin explained it perfectly.

I'm today's special.

Tony and Suzanne Marriott, Associate Brokers This one I knew. Looks like Fred Griffin beat me to the answer.

This one I actually know!  It's a shaft connecting an upper level eating area with a lower level kitchen.  Shaft contains a platform that is manually (although can be motorized in newer homes) raised and lowered to deliver and remove food & serving dishes.

Usable also in airplanes to get stuff from the cargo compartment... and for stewardesses to sneak on and take out hijackers (yes, that's from the movie "SWAT" and probably "Air Force One").

Design Schematics

Modern electric one:

Are you referring to the guy I had as a waiter last night or the one that transports food up and down to different levels in a home?

I've met a few who were clueless

an elevator type contraption that food is placed in and then hoisted up / down.  Have not see that variety of dumbwaiter in a long time. However the other variety seem to be many.

One who is so stupid that you feel sorry for him and leave a big tip!

One who works without expecting a tip?

not to code today.... not fire rated ...flames shoot right up with whatever route the dumbwaiter goes!!

The first home we lived in when we came to the US in 1952 had a dumbwaiter (built 19th century) and my mother's coop in NYC had one to send the trash down to the basement (also a building built in the 19th century). But I know these were also used to "transport" food from a basement kitchen to a dining room in old townhomes in NYC.

Architecturally, it is a little elevator for food.  In business, it is the buyer who thinks that by waiting something better is coming along. 

All you have to do is visit a few historical homes and you will know. It was very convenient in those days. Now it isn't so important the fast food arrives from the kitchen hot as it probably got cold on the way home.

Who I had thursday night for $1000 Tony and Suzanne Marriott, Associate Brokers but in another sense, i do see them in a lot of older large homes.

I know what a Dumwaitress is.  We went into a restaurant with Valet parking , to give you an idea of the restaurant.  The waitress dropped some fried chicken down Evelyn's back.  She then proceeded to not say a word and put it back on the plate and served it.  It was "Family Style".  She should have been put in the elevator with the dishes.

I was going to have a snide remark, but there are already too many of those. I know. I checked. 

I am sure when I used to wait tables back in the olden days many thought they had one serving them! 

lazy guy   lol.  no but it goes up and down in a building.

Funny you should ask; I just help rebuild on!

That is a straight line with too easy an answer.

If you go to Newport, Rhode Island and visit the kitchens of some of the mansions, you'll find out.

I know this one as well - I even rode in one , when I was but a wee little girl LOL

No idea

A guy who brings you the wrong food

These were replaced by helpful husbands.

We had one in the house I grew up in, circa 1898. Loved to play with it shuttling my stuffed animals up and down between the floors.

Tony and Suzanne Marriott, Associate Brokers - thanks again for one more architectural word...

The guy who brought me my meal tonight.