No, the aforementioned ‘dumb waiter’ does not refer to a service professional of sub-average intelligence – it is nifty vintage space-saving, elevator-style invention (attributed to Thomas Jefferson). The originals were made for manually hauling things (often fully-prepared meals in fancy homes) from one floor up to another within a home – this one is designed to lower your food right down in front of you.
This oven pays indirect retro-tribute to this classic food-service creation with a pull-down-to-open and lift-up-to-close cooking surface that slides along a track and stays out of your way while you cook. Produced by Siemens and others in various styles and models, some have additional cooking racks and trays for higher capacity and versatility.
Unlike a traditional front-opening oven, these hang up high on the wall and are thus safer for houses with small children. The units also displace less usable cooking and preparation space (counter and floor area) for home cooks with smaller condo or apartment-size kitchens.
