A Sad Story About A Waiter
When I purchased the Cross House in 2014 I had no idea it originally had a dumbwaiter going from the kitchen to the basement.
Bit by bit though, clues revealed its former existence. I speculate that it was removed circa-1929 during the conversion of the house into apartments on the second-floor, and an owner’s suite on the first-floor.
There was zero question that I would recreate this way cool lost feature, with the added benefit of having the dumbwaiter extend to the second-floor.
Imagine, thus, my excitement earlier this year when the shaft was rebuilt.
Looking down from the second-floor to the basement.
With the shaft rebuilt, I planned to order the dumbwaiter itself but the company was backordered regarding essential components and was not accepting any new orders at the time. A global problem.
Poo.
Imagine, thus, my excitement in September when the company contacted me. “We have everything back in stock.”
SQUEE!!!!!!!!
We went back and forth regarding some details and measurement when the other shoe dropped.
They sent an invoice.
For a shocking $4800.
I had been quoted $2500 previously. Almost half.
They explained: “Even a year ago we could have honored the original quote. But not today.”
I fretted. I pondered. I played with numbers. Could I sell the cats for cash?
In the end though I just could not move ahead. $4800 for something I do not really need? What is needed are enough funds to finish the cat fence, and finish the flooring in the Round Bedroom, my bathroom, and the kitchen. With these projects completed I can move in.
So, while I lust after having a dumbwaiter, such lust…not for the first time in my life…will have to be quashed. For now.
Poo.
I will check back in about six months. The price, yes, might only increase. It might though go down, as gas has these past months.
But…poo.
Ross does not do well with being dashed.
Sigh.
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Ross, I appreciate the utility of a dumbwaiter. And it is super cool. But it is a pathway for smoke and fire and therefore has an inherent danger built in. I encourage you to install it, perhaps with salvaged parts? And to consider installing sprinker heads to protect the opening. In fact, it would be worthwhile to sprinkler the whole house. Yes, I know. It is costly.
Dear Michael,
I already have two enormous fire hazards:
1) A massive open stair in the center of the house.
2) A four-story servant’s stair.
As such, I’m not too concerned about the dumbwaiter!
I will be installing a fire-alarm system, directly connected to the fire department but two blocks way.
The house has already survived three fires in its 127-year history.
I’m sure someone has asked this in the past or else I read it wrong but why would a dumbwaiter just go from kitchen to basement? Why not 2nd floor? What happened to breakfast in bed? And would dw be electric or manual?
Mark, I’ve given a lot of thought to your question.
And no answer has introduced itself.
Perhaps it was meant for transferring goods to the kitchen from the larder in the basement. That was, after all, the coolest place in a house prior to AC. But there may have just not been any such utility to extending it upwards, if the cross family didn’t plan to take breakfast in their bedrooms, say.
Well, dang. I was looking forward to your having a dumbwaiter.
Does the quoted price include installation? If not, then have you considered acquiring parts to build one yourself? The drawing doesn’t provide great detail, but the principle is clear: a loop of rope for operating the car, an axle to convey the motion of the operating rope to the rope and pulley system that raises and lowers the car, a channel for the counterweight, and some T-bar or other shape for the guide rails.
Dearest Ross, this is just a wish postponed! Bit by bit you make these amazing the bugs happen! Throw your energies to finishing the immediate projects. The dumb waiter is a lovely idea, but a luxury and building costs for it increased 50%! The dumb waiter is a dream deferred temporarily…..
Good grief!! The phrase, “amazing the bugs happen” was supposed to read: “you make these amazing things happen!” Spellcheck is helpful most of the time, but not in this instance.
Focus on the priorities of moving in. Cat fence, flooring, kitchen. Is the basement done to move the lighting business into?
You’ll have a dumbwaiter. You just won’t have one soon. It’s a matter of priorities and you have yours. While it would be nice to have it for moving your lighting fixtures and other items, the cat fence needs to get done, the flooring and the kitchen so you can move in and either sell the other house or rent it out for income. (I’d go with renting as I don’t believe in selling property unless absolutely necessary. It can be a source of income.) These are things that need to get done so you can move in. You don’t need a dumbwaiter to move. Need trumps want. It is a sad fact of life but that doesn’t change the price of the dumbwaiter.
You also live a very charmed life. If the price doesn’t come down, something else will pop up. Perhaps salvaged parts that can be used that miraculously fit. Life seems to have a way of dropping things into your lap. When the time is right, something will happen to provide. Meanwhile, trudge on with the cat fence, floor and kitchen.
Personally, I think some of these delays are advantageous, since it seems the longer they go the more you ponder and then a light comes on with a brilliant solution that makes you “squee-ly” ecstatic.
I can’t imagine how you feel. But I agree with a previous comment that somehow it will happen in the future. Onward…. 🙂
I’m so sorry Ross, what a disappointment. You will get a dumbwaiter sometime in the future. Finish your current projects so you can move in. Perhaps renting (or selling) your previous house will give you the income for the dumbwaiter. It will happen though. Stay positive.
Hi Ross,
haven’t commented in a while, but I have the mechanism for a dumb waiter from a commercial building that was built c. 1950’s that looks very much like the one in the drawing that you posted. You are welcome to have it, although I am not certain that I can find all of the parts in my hoard of things.
Itr had two pipes on the sides and the counter weight ran inside of one of them. It went from the basement to the second floor.
Let me know if you want it.
He’ll take it!! … well, I hope he’ll take it. That’s so cool
Stewart! Welcome back!
Can you send me some pics?
Hi Ross,
I am in technophobe’s hell right now. I know, I think, I took pictures before and during the I disassembly of the dumb water, but I can’t find them. I am using a new computer at my apartment, which doesn’t have many of my pictures, so they may be on the computer at my house. I should be going where the parts are stored in the next few days and may be able to find the parts and photograph them. If so I will send some. Unfortunately, that house had squatters take over earlier this year who stole and old many things so I don’t know what I do and don’t have. Queen said it best…….
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Od6hY_50Dh0
I shouldn’t have offered before doing an inventory of the parts, so, alas, I may have spoken too soon. I will do my best to find it all.
Stewart to the rescue! Hopefully you have shared pictures with Ross and it would by a miraculous perfect fit! This blog is such a sharing of eclectic ideas! Somebody somewhere might have what you are looking for! So fun to read! Again kudos to you most astute and resourceful Stewart!
Check out this dumb waiter for sale…It’s in PA though but? I thought of you…
https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/item/846642246328010
Hand Powered or electric? I have a bunch of hand-powered pulleys in storage.
Hand-powered, Rowan.