The Invention
The patent, US386289A, granted to Miriam E. Benjamin of Washington, D.C. on July 17, 1888, is for an innovative “Gong and Signal Chair for Hotels, etc.” The invention is a signaling device designed to reduce the need for numerous waiters and attendants in hotels, restaurants, and other public spaces.
Key Features:
- Integrated Signaling System: The core of the invention is a chair that has an integrated mechanical system for summoning an attendant.
- Acoustic and Visual Signals: The system provides both a sound and a visual signal. When a person presses a button or knob on the chair’s armrest, it activates a small gong to get the attention of an attendant. Simultaneously, a signal (a small ball with one side painted red) is automatically turned to display the red side, which remains visible until an attendant physically resets it.
- Simple Mechanical Linkage: The mechanism is purely mechanical, a clever system of levers and rods. Pressing the gong’s rod pushes a horizontal rod under the chair, which in turn lifts a vertical rod. This vertical rod acts on a crank that turns a short horizontal rod at the top of the chair, causing the ball to flip and display its colored side.
- Versatile Application: Benjamin specifies that the chair could be used in various settings beyond hotels and restaurants, including steamboats, railroad trains, and even legislative bodies like the U.S. Congress, to summon pages. She also mentions its use for invalids in hospitals.
Significance of the Invention and Inventor
Miriam E. Benjamin was a significant and groundbreaking inventor. Her “Gong and Signal Chair” is a testament to her ingenuity and highlights a practical, social need of the time.
- A “Smart” Chair for the 19th Century: The invention can be seen as a low-tech precursor to modern signaling and call systems. By making it easy for a guest to discreetly summon a waiter, it solved a common problem and improved the efficiency and “convenience and comfort” of dining. It also offered a more polite alternative to “hand-clapping or calling aloud.”
- Economic Impact: Benjamin explicitly states that her invention could “reduce the expenses of hotels, &c., by decreasing the number of waiters and attendants,” thereby increasing profitability. She estimated that one waiter could serve 12 to 15 guests with her system, a much higher ratio than the three to four guests served under the current system.
- A Pioneer for Women Inventors: Miriam E. Benjamin was one of the first African American female inventors to receive a U.S. patent. At a time when women and African Americans faced significant barriers to professional and intellectual pursuits, her achievement was remarkable. The patent for her “Gong and Signal Chair” is not only an example of a practical invention but also a historical document showcasing the talent and perseverance of a trailblazing woman.
