“How to Dispense With Servants in the Dining Room” yet still drink wine c. 1921
William Heath Robinson’s “How to Dispense With Servants in the Dining Room” is one of four drawings which appeared in “The Sketch” during 1921. This is the only image of the four that contains bottles of wine. It appears that the bottles arrive from the cellar via a circular contraption under the dining room table. A wine bottle, fastened tight to a stand, is opened by pulling on the chain connected to a corkscrew. Finally, the thirsty man pours his glass of wine by tilting a lever connected to a wine bottle balanced on a stand. As for everyone else, the woman, boy, and even the cat all have their own contraptions to aide with dinner.
[1] Robinson, William Heath. “How to Dispense With Servants in the Dining Room”. 1874-1944. The British Museum. Number 1967,1014.140. Image License CC BY-NC-SA 4.0. URL: https://www.britishmuseum.org/research/collection_online/collection_object_details.aspx?objectId=737407&partId=1