20 Nickels Exactly at the Automat

We were a Horn & Hardart family when I was growing up in Philly. My mom and I would go shopping on Saturday and to the automat downtown for lunch. Getting those nickels was always amazing. And the brass fixtures were beautiful. On Sundays we would go to the Horn and Hardart cafeteria in Germantown for dinner. (I felt so tall when I could finally reach the water glasses atop the water dispenser.) And my dad would pick up lemon meringue and cherry pies as well as baked beans and creamed spinach at the H & H retail stores on his way home from work (it was "Less Work for Mother.") And I would watch Stan Lee Broza on the Horn & Hardart Children's Hour on early TV. Great memories!

I still have fond memories of eating at automats in the late 50s and early 60s. Such a fun place for a child. Does anyone else remember one in Washington, D.C. in the mid to late 60s?

The Automat what a great place. We are becoming fewer and fewer that actually ate in the Automat. Thanks Ed for taking me down Memory Lane.

If Trump wants to "make American great again," he'll bring back the Automat.

OK, years ago, someone told me that the term for when an Automat cashier instantly tossed out exactly 20 nickels in return for a dollar it was called "a perfect Heidel." I have no idea if that's true or if my leg was being pulled, but, in either case, it was a beautiful thing to see! Also, I thought that someone should mention the Doris Day movie "That Touch Of Mink" which has several scenes set in the Automat:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=nTqjO-dHTmE

One could say that the Automats invented "fast food". As soon as you inserted enough coins, the little window would flip up, and you could get your egg salad sandwich, franks/beans, or whatever. And I do remember (I'm 77) those fancy milk dispensers. Our family, too, would include a trip to the 42 St. branch when we came into "the city" from Queens.

My intro to Lemon Merenge Pie was in the early 60's in the city. My mom never made that! Seems like an automat could make it if in the right location. WOuld need to have the slot and the knob and the window-door to give people the full experience.

Reminds me of my favorite Automat song.

Tune of Diamonds are a Girl's Best Friend

A crisp dollar bill may be quite consequential
But nickels are this boy's best friend
A crisp dollar will get you stuff that's essential
But it's turned down flat
In coin slots at
The Automat

I'll give thanks for beans and franks
And those pies that my pals recommend

But those eats they're vending
Need coinage for spending
Nickels are this boy's best friend!

I loved eating at the Automat on 42nd Street. Getting the right number of nickels was something I came to expect, even though I remember being impressed each time I retrieved them. Glazed beets and macaroni and cheese were my favorite dishes.
I found a photo of the Automat on line and kept it as a screensaver for a while. Very fond memories of the city when I worked there in the '50's.