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Shortly after the Civil War in the United States ended, the Gilded Age begins (1870 – 1900 A.D.) with great economic and industry empires quickly developing. The Biltmore Estate in Asheville, North Carolina was built during this time between 1889 and 1895 A.D. Designed to impress and entertain, the Chateauesque style mansion can be visited today.
A Biltmore Estate is landed on 10.86 square miles with lakes, rivers, gardens, horse stables, and all kinds of resort areas. Even hunting and horse riding was done by George W. Vanderbilt guests.
Three circuits I liked are shown, the Biltmore hospitality legacy, of a multitude of workers and servants required exact timing when most did not have watches or clocks. Top left circuit is master clock with an electrical contact on minute hand. At top of minute, an electrical pulse is sent by master clock to slave clocks all over the mansion and outer buildings to advance them one minute at a time. Probably, a weight or spring tensioned gear able to move clock escapement one minute per master clock pulse as digital did not exist.
Invited guests, maybe 60 to 250 people to feed in style, could benefit from second circuit at lower left. Adjustable control for powerful direct current motor for rotisserie able to turn side of beef at one time beside grill large enough to cook side of beef or game the hunters may have shot. Cooks and help prepare dishes on bottom floor and send food to upper levels ready to be served in two dumb waiters able to lift 250 lbs. of food.
Circuit on right with lamps is for lighted underwater indoor pool. Note: Direct Current had to be used for pool lights. Pool was filled with cold spring water, heated water from house to warm up the pool. No pool filters or chemicals, so pool would be drained and cleaned down after three days.
Do not forget, dinner is served sharply at 8:00 P.M. Wear your black tuxedo with tails and white shirt, be ready for about a two hour 6 or 8 course meal, and have about 2 hours of pleasant dinner conversation ready to do your share of entertaining at table. Guys go smoke cigars and drink brandy after meal.
Mark Twain’s expression, The Gilded Age, stuck on this period of American history. I am starting to read Mark Twain’s book, The Gilded Age: A Tale of Today, which satirized an era of serious social problems and corruption which people tried to cover over with a glittering surface and mask as thin gold gilding.
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