Dumbwaiter Lift

The name for the dumbwaiter likely came from its ability to act as a silent servant, using the outdated term “dumb” for someone who does not speak. Spinning shelves to move food between rooms was not the only dumbwaiter innovation Jefferson made at his home of Monticello.Arguably, the most significant difference between dumbwaiters and elevators is that they serve completely different functions. Elevators primarily carry passengers while dumbwaiters solely carry items between floors while unattended.