In the Home

The Idea: A portable bar.

The Motive: To facilitate the consumption of beverages; to preserve the surface of furniture.

The Story: In the Astor Hotel, Shanghai, a year ago, one Childs H. Baker Jr. called for a drink. A small native with shoe-button eyes trotted briskly up to him, pushing a white three-wheeled barrow; in the barrow were the materials for making drinks. Surprised by this display of ingenuity, Childs H. Baker selected a concoction of gin, lime-juices, ice & fizzy water. As he quaffed, he became thoughtful. . . .

The fruit of his reflection appeared last week at Manhattan stores (The Three New Yorkers, Inc., Abercrombie & Fitch Co., Mark Cross Co., Saks & Co., Fifth Ave., Lewis & Conger, Ovington's, B. Altman, Elizabeth Pusey) at a Chicago store (Peacock) and at a Los Angeles store (Barker Bros.). It was a three-wheeled barrow, of tea-wagon appearance, containing lock compartments for liquor, an ice receptacle, niches for bottles, glasses, ice-picks, opener, knives, spoons; a cedar drawer for 500 cigars; a tray; an oak board for slicing fruit; a musical attachment designed to play certain tunes. This machine--the "Baker Bar-ette"--is usually made with a red-lacquer finish. Some are equipped with the heads & tails of animals (cock, horse, dog) sticking out at either end, to support the leaves which, when folded, cover the box, and, when unfolded, serve as a depository for used glasses.