Ask Dave
(Or, What does Jeeves Know?)
November 2000
Please send your questions to dave@dinersoft.com

Q. Dear Dave,   

I can understand your frustration with regards to the cost of printers and parts from Squirrel. I have visited the Squirrel plant and yes there are "off the counter" parts used to assemble the Squirrel terminals.  If you take a close look at most of the hardware in this market, most of it is assembled using "off the counter" parts.   I do not believe that this should be associated with trying to monopolize the market.  

Squirrel has produced a very good product since the early to mid 80's and you can't argue with stability.  To quote you from your August reply to the Positouch problem: "Last year I cancelled the hardware portion of the contract because my system didn't break down enough to warrant the expense."  I am not sure why you are knocking a product for being stable???  The alternative may not offer the same comfort level.    

Jody

A. Dear Jody,

Thank you for your response to my column. It is nice to know that someone's checking my opinions with views of their own. I agree with you that the squirrel hardware is reliable (my version 3.11, some later versions may disagree). But at what cost? The hardware components used can be found at half the price elsewhere if not for a diode that was installed (by squirrel) that only makes their reconfigured printers compatible resulting in a monopoly. Do I have that same condition with my with any other piece of equipment in my restaurant? In most cases, no!!!! 

I also agree with your assessment that some people may be more comfortable with the hardware contract. I stated in a response to one of my questioners that not having a hardware contract may be detrimental to someone who doesn't know much about this area. They need to evaluate the level of importance that cost means to them. 

Thanks for your response, 

Dave

Q. Where does the term "86" come from?
A. www.dictionary.com defines "eighty-six" as follows:
1.  To refuse to serve (an unwelcome customer) at a bar or restaurant.
2.  a)To throw out; eject; b) to throw away; discard.  

There are myriads of explanations about how the term came into general use in the restaurant industry:  What follows are some, one or more of which may be true...

1.  The Delmonico's origin.  This seems to be the most widely-accepted explanation, and may even have some proof to it.  Ribeye steak (sometimes other items are used, depending on which story you read) was item number 86 at Delmonico's.  On one, or more, occasions, they ran out of item "86", which somehow became shorthand for running out of anything.  Kind of like how Watergate became Irangate, Clintongate, etc., I guess.

2.  The "8 feet by 6 feet" theory.  Since a coffin is 8-feet long and goes six-feet under when someone dies, when it is buried, they are "8 by 6'ed", which shortened to "86'ed.  Almost too plausible to be true! 

3.  Article 86 of the New York State Liquor Code.  Apparently, it defines when someone should be refused alcohol, or "86'ed".

4.  Soup kitchen Sad Sack.  Back in the days when they had soup kitchens, they would only make enough soup for 85 people.  If you were the 86th, no soup for you!

5.  British Merchant Marine left onshore.  A standard British Merchant ship carried a complement of 85 sailors.  The 86th?  Left ashore.  (Doesn't sound like a bad thing, to me!)

6.  New York's 21 Club had only 85 tables.  "Yes, sir, you are number 86, tonight...can I get your name?  The wait?  Ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha..."

7.  Fountain workers numerology.  According to The Morris Dictionary of Word and Phrase Origins, fountain workers had a long lexicon of terms, including "ninety-nine," for the head soda jerk; "ninety-eight," for the assistant; "psst ninety-eight," meaning the assistant manager is snooping; "thirty-three," for cherry Coke; "fifty-five," for root beer; and "eighty-seven and a half," for a good-looking girl out front. (In the bar, the code for a comely patron is "check the ice" at the end of the bar, or wherever that person might be.)  I guess "eight-six" meant "we're out".

8.  Bartender trick.  When bartenders used to run out of 100 Proof, they would substitute "86 proof".

9.  "Eight-six" rhymes with "nix".  Lame, but who knows?

10.  Morse code.  Telegrapher's shorthand for "no more".