July 20, 2017
This is “Our Past Is Present” from
the Geary County Historical Society.
Getting outside and enjoying the
weather, taking a ride in the country, visiting small towns or just admiring
the Flint Hills is something many of us like to do. In July of 1925, the automobile gave many
just that opportunity. A number of conveniences for the tourist had been
invented for preparing and keeping food hot or cold while on an excursion. There were elegant and perfectly equipped
luncheon boxes and baskets, but until that year no one had invented a table on
which a luncheon could be served to travelers when they wanted to stop along
the roadside for a meal either inside or outside of the car.
The folding
table filled that gap. It was advertised
as being perfect in any car and gave tourists assurance that luncheon may be
served at any place or at any time – rain or shine. And…. it was not necessary
to leave the car. After lunch, the table could be used for playing cards or
writing a letter that needed to be posted at the next stop. When not in use,
the table folded and hung out of the way from the robe rail or it could be
folded flat to lie on the floor of the car.
This traveling table was invented by Mrs. George A. Rockwell, a
prominent citizen of Junction City. She
applied for a patent on it in 1915 and had the tables manufactured by a
furniture factory in St. Louis. Mrs.
Rockwell was expecting to establish agencies in most of the large cities to
promote and sell her table, which seemed to have been a forerunner to
today’s…..folding t.v. trays.
And… that’s
today’s story on “Our Past Is Present” from the Geary County Historical
Society.
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