A good story is always worth re-telling. After all, many people missed the story before, so they have the benefit of catching up. For the people that heard the story before … a good story is always a good story.
Food turntables have been around for centuries, we know, but why do we call them Lazy Susans?
No one knows.
The legends point to Monticello, to England and even to the Far East … but no one really knows. There’s a great summation of this story that ran in the LA Times a few years ago; link is at the bottom.
What we do know is that the first published instance of the term “Lazy Susan” was in a 1917 edition of Vanity Fair, where “Ovington’s $8.50 Mahogany ‘Revolving Server or Lazy Susan'” is advertised. The term is probably a 20th century invention, it appears … and they were really, really big in the ’50s & ’60s.
The trends have turned again, naturally, and Lazy Susans are a consistent seller from the Woodshop. Here are the latest … and I doubt I will make any more Lazy Susans much before Thanksgiving. Let me know if any catch your eye!
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LA Times: Back Story: Who Was Susan, And Was She Truly Lazy?
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