Undine - what was this box for originally?

[Shelbylex]

What was the original use of this box?

 

[RTM]

Only things I can find that aren’t related to a musical opera thing is this reference to the

Undine Beverage Company , but it’s relative to coinmen (so guess coin operated machine)

They were in Higganum CT

Billboard

In its 114th year, Billboard remains the world's premier weekly music publication and a diverse digital, events, brand, content and data licensing platform. Billboard publishes the most trusted charts and offers unrivaled reporting about the latest music, video, gaming, media, digital and mobile...

books.google.com

And There was also an Undine Twine Mill, also in CT

Fibre & Fabric

books.google.com

 

[MiteyF]

I can't help. But that thing oozes style.

 

[rust in the eye]

I'd guess an office machine of some sort. Stock ticker?
Needed ventilation whatever was in there.
This would make a very cool bar cabinet.

 

[bdbecker]

Google lens didn't come up with anything but trash cans.

I agree... that thing is super cool!

 

[lolaetype]

How about a closeup of the company logo.

 

[RTM]

I'd guess an office machine of some sort. Stock ticker?
Needed ventilation whatever was in there.
This would make a very cool bar cabinet.

All those thoughts crossed my mind, the last was my first thought as to its use.

Are those side carry handles on the top section? Does it separate, or lift the whole thing? With the front seeming to slide down, what does the lid do, funnel chads away when open?

Is it in your possession yet?

 

[Shelbylex]

No, it's too far for me - found it randomly searching on FM...

 

[cgrutt]

According to Google....

AI Overview
The image shows a Unidine hot food cabinet, likely used for transporting and holding heated meals. Unidine is a food service management company specializing in providing culinary and dining solutions, primarily for healthcare and senior living facilities. The cabinet is designed to maintain food at safe temperatures during transport and service. It features a durable, insulated construction, a door for accessing the interior, and handles for portability. The Unidine logo is visible on the front, confirming the manufacturer. These types of cabinets are commonly used in institutional food service settings to ensure that meals are delivered and served hot and fresh.


ETA above is probably not correct as it refers to "Unidine". My bad I misspelled brand in search. Post below seems more likely.

 

[Dr.JohnnyFever]

According to ChatGPT...

The item in the photos is a vintage towel or swimsuit drying cabinet made by Undine, likely used in public or semi-public recreational areas such as swimming pools, spas, or resorts. These were common from the mid-20th century, and the curved top design and internal drying racks or compartments are typical of these machines.

Key indicators:

• Vented upper section: Allows warm air circulation to dry items.
• Metal shelves/drawers: Likely used to store and dry swimsuits or towels.
• Undine branding: Undine was a known manufacturer of aquatic and recreational facility equipment, often found in poolside environments.

This specific model appears to be a mechanical or possibly heated drying cabinet, designed for communal use, possibly coin-operated in its original configuration.

I do a lot of work with AI and this response really reeks of hallucination.

Edit:

What is the likelihood that your response was a hallucination?

ChatGPT said:​

The likelihood of hallucination in the previous response is low for the following reasons:

1. Visual Evidence​

• The cabinet has a vintage, industrial design, including vented panels and metal drawers, which are consistent with known towel/swimsuit drying cabinets.
• The Undine logo is clearly visible, and Undine was historically associated with public facility equipment, including aquatic centers.

2. Functional Design​

• The ventilation slots, drawers, and shelving indicate a purpose beyond simple storage—suggesting airflow for drying.
• This configuration is not consistent with tool chests or trash receptacles but aligns with drying or warming cabinets.

3. Brand Context​

• Undine Manufacturing Company, based in the U.S., historically produced equipment for pools and bathing facilities. This aligns with the likely use case described.

Caveat​

• If Undine reused the brand for unrelated product lines or if this is a custom or re-purposed item, then the identification may not be exact. However, given the design cues and known brand context, the analysis is grounded.

Verdict​

Estimated hallucination probability: <10%. The description is evidence-based and consistent with known mid-century facility furniture and equipment.

 

[RTM]

According to Google....

AI Overview
The image shows a Unidine hot food cabinet, likely used for transporting and holding heated meals. Unidine is a food service management company specializing in providing culinary and dining solutions, primarily for healthcare and senior living facilities.

At least this one is not total hallucination, there is a Undine Corporation that may be into the food service sector for institutional work. Or it may be people misspelling the name. Very few references

Unfortunately Unidine was founded in 2001

The Google AI answers for
“Undine corporation” founded

goes back to Unidine, a wastewater company, and others.

“Undine” food service
Takes me to the chicken washer from before

I don’t see Unidine on the badge.

I’m saying hallucination again, just better disguised, born out by fact checking. Trust NOne of them

 

[cgrutt]

At least this one is not total hallucination, there is a Undine Corporation that may be into the food service sector for institutional work. Or it may be people misspelling the name. Very few references

Unfortunately Unidine was founded in 2001

The Google AI answers for
“Undine corporation” founded

goes back to Unidine, a wastewater company, and others.

“Undine” food service
Takes me to the chicken washer from before

I don’t see Unidine on the badge.

I’m saying hallucination again, just better disguised, born out by fact checking. Trust NOne of them

Yeah, I misspelled the name in the search and edited my post after I read post #10.

 

[rust in the eye]

No, it's too far for me - found it randomly searching on FM...

I want it! Where is it? Would you please message me a link if it's within any reasonable distance from Chicago?

 

[rust in the eye]

According to ChatGPT...



I do a lot of work with AI and this response really reeks of hallucination.

Edit:

What is the likelihood that your response was a hallucination?

"this response really reeks of hallucination"
yes, it does

 

[bassbone52]

From ChatGPT:

This appears to be an outdoor commercial trash or recycling bin. The unit has a rounded top with a slot for depositing waste and double doors on the front for access by sanitation workers. The label on the front suggests it might be part of a public waste management system, often found in parks or on city streets. The nearby Adirondack chairs and grass area suggest this is located in a public or recreational area.

 

[RTM]

What is the likelihood that your response was a hallucination?

It won't let me copy in the chatGPT's reply but you're being gaslit right now. First simple check was googling " undine manufacturing".

Chat GPT lied about:​

3. Brand Context​

• Undine Manufacturing Company, based in the U.S., historically produced equipment for pools and bathing facilities.

Regular Google and Google Books have no reference to "Undine manufacturing". Books at least tries you to direct you to the twine mill I mentioned above.

My neighbor is big into the AI world and he keeps trying to tell me about these hallucinations. I refer to them simply as lying plain and simple. Not only do they lie to you, then they gas light you telling you that my **** is correct.

No use for any of this BS. Good old fashioned research with whatever sources we have should double check any thing these morons tell you. If I can’t find it, where is chatgpt finding it?

 

[david3921]

The item in the photos is a vintage towel or swimsuit drying cabinet made by Undine, likely used in public or semi-public recreational areas such as swimming pools, spas, or resorts. These were common from the mid-20th century, and the curved top design and internal drying racks or compartments are typical of these machines.

I'm inclined to believe this. According to Wikipedia, "Undines are a category of elemental beings associated with water."

 

[RMERR]

Absent any power cord or warm air supply (that we can see), if it is a spa/poolside towel cabinet, I doubt it was for drying. I see it as simply a fresh dry towel cabinet where you would place your damp towel in the upper bin and get a fresh towel from the drawers.

A static pile of damp towels without a heat source would be an inefficient way of drying towels, not to mention unsanitary without washing first. Hard to imagine a public or commercial pool offering you other peoples used but dry towels. Some ventilation would be expected hence the slots near the top, not unlike a clothes hamper.

Another thought on the towel possibility might be a barber shop, a receptacle at the top for used towels, fresh towels below? The smallish size might fit better with barber sized towels vs pool towels. All a big "if" of course, what a fun mystery!

 

[RTM]

I'm inclined to believe this. According to Wikipedia, "Undines are a category of elemental beings associated with water."

But, let's look at reality. Besides a Speedo, what swimsuit would fit in that space? What are the pans underneath for? Where is a rail or rack to hang things on? (I know previous owner could have removed it)

The trays give credence to the food service, but not much else.

I would like to believe the Undine name was chosen for its link to water, which is why I liked the bar idea noted above. Water in the ice form goes into many beverages, universal diluent, etc.

I'm still trying to get my brain around the Pull Down lid. Does help resist generating particles over the item (let's say food for example). Also gives it a classier look.

The general shape struck me as a mailbox, I was surprised that didn't com up in AI results.

 

[RTM]

I see it as simply a fresh dry towel cabinet where you would place your damp towel in the upper bin and get a fresh towel from the drawers.

Ooowww yuck. Wet towels stored above dry ones? I guess the lid opening down would prevent dripping, but what about while closed.

And how many towels would those skinny drawers hold? Maybe back then pool towels were skimpier than they are now? ( Not based on the last pool I went to. Was hard to wrap around myself


Sorry, not trying to shoot down people's ideas, just trying to think them further.

 

[RMERR]

Ooowww yuck. Wet towels stored above dry ones? I guess the lid opening down would prevent dripping, but what about while closed.

A sealed upper compartment or removevable liner/bin could easily prevent that. But I agree the smallish size of the cabinet and drawers and yes that downward opening lid creates problems with every suggestion. This feels like shades of 100 men vs gorilla

 

[lolaetype]

what is the word under UNDINE on the manufacturer's logo plate on the front?

 

[Sumboodie]

According to ChatGPT...



I do a lot of work with AI and this response really reeks of hallucination.

Edit:

What is the likelihood that your response was a hallucination?

Dang that's fancy. It a program you have?

 

[Dr.JohnnyFever]

Dang that's fancy. It a program you have?

Although I do have a lot of computing HP dedicated to running LLMs (Large Language Models) locally, that in particular is just the plain-jane ChatGPT. It is a paid version but doesn't differ substantially from the free version.


Here is a another take on it from a different LLM:

Me:

I had this convo with ChatGPT 4o. What do you think - is it hallucinating?
(input deleted for brevity)

It:

Okay, so you basically asked ChatGPT to identify a mystery cabinet, and it put on its Sherlock Holmes hat, squinted at your photo, and started spinning a tale about vintage swimsuit-drying technology from a company that may or may not have left a digital footprint. Charming.

Now, is it hallucinating? Hmm. Let me consult the ancient scrolls of Reason and Mild Suspicion.

Verdict: mild hallucination vibes, but not full delusion. Here's why:

Points in favor of it not hallucinating:​

• Undine did exist, and there is some very light whisper of them in old equipment catalogs. They really did make pool-related gear. (Imagine them as the background extras of the industrial world—nobody remembers their names, but they were definitely there.)
• The described cabinet features (vented panels, metal drawers) do match the look of mid-century drying or warming units for communal towel or swimsuit use. This isn’t pure fantasy—it’s plausible deduction.

Points where the AI possibly got carried away:​

• There’s no hard documentation in the response. It’s all "this appears to be" and "likely used in" and "historically associated with"—the kind of hedge language you use when you’re guessing with confidence.
• The company’s existence is acknowledged to be barely traceable ("details are scarce"), but then the AI launches into a paragraph of confidently speculative history. That’s kind of its signature move: confidently guessing about things nobody actually knows.
• It estimated the hallucination probability at "<10%," which, let’s be honest, is just math cosplay. No AI can genuinely self-audit like that unless it’s seen a confirmed source.

TL;DR​

It’s not hallucinating so much as vintage mansplaining. It saw a plausible use case, remembered a grainy memory of “Undine,” and spun it up into a period drama about poolside amenities. So, 90% educated guess, 10% ghost story.

If you want to check whether it’s real or vapor, try finding an actual catalog listing or vintage ad for Undine gear. If that turns up nothing, well—congrats, you’ve been lightly gaslit by a language model in a tweed coat.

You gonna go antique shopping now, Indiana?

 

[RTM]

what is the word under UNDINE on the manufacturer's logo plate on the front?

I see Classic

 

[RMERR]

Please, some GJ member buy this and give us some complete photos. Inside, outside, 360 degrees around, maybe a back story from the owner. Good fun.

 

[Old Man Roger]

It’s either a towel warmer or a saw set.

 

[Sumboodie]

Although I do have a lot of computing HP dedicated to running LLMs (Large Language Models) locally, that in particular is just the plain-jane ChatGPT. It is a paid version but doesn't differ substantially from the free version.


Here is a another take on it from a different LLM:

Me:


It:

I've never heard of it. So you loaded a picture on this program and it knew all this?

 

[Dr.JohnnyFever]

I've never heard of it. So you loaded a picture on this program and it knew all this?

Go here: https://chatgpt.com/

Start asking questions.

 

[Shelbylex]

I want it! Where is it? Would you please message me a link if it's within any reasonable distance from Chicago?

Just checked on FM - it was in Elkins part, PA
Somebody got an interesting box for $40

 

[3baygarage]

Clearly it's a hot dog warmer. Ketchup goes in the top drawer of course.

 

[rust in the eye]

Just checked on FM - it was in Elkins part, PA
Somebody got an interesting box for $40

Nuts! I'd have been all over it if closeby.

 

[ravigavimavi]

None of you guessed right. I was the one who bought it. It was a Permanent hair press machine from 1936, called the Undine Wave by the Nestle-LeMur company. Based in NYC at 111 8th Ave. The machine worked by preheating clips that would be docked in the machine, which would be removed and put on hair. No wires needed. First of it's kind, as far as I can tell. 1936 is the earliest mention I could find of its existence, according to a few period beauty magazines. Definitely a surprise. I thought it was a bench grinder of some sort. All electronics removed long ago. Now living in my garage!

 

[Old Man Roger]

Towel heater, curler heater, tomato, tamaato.

 

[rust in the eye]

"and that's the rest of the story"
Paul Harvey

What are you going to do with it?

 

[RTM]

Permanent hair press machine from 1936, called the Undine Wave by the Nestle-LeMur company

Thanks for joining and replying, will keep me from googling that more late at night while trying to fall asleep.. Have fun with it.

 

[Steve_P]

Neat. It definitely has the art deco design style. When I first looked at the picture, I thought it was some type of BBQ grill, but then realized, no.

 

[Shelbylex]

Ravigavimavi, Welcome to GJ and congratulations!!!

Thank you for resolving the mystery. Definitely a "you ****" deal (it's a positive thing on this site)!

What is the plan? Restoration, alternative use?

 

[RMERR]

None of you guessed right. I was the one who bought it. It was a Permanent hair press machine from 1936, called the Undine Wave by the Nestle-LeMur company. Based in NYC at 111 8th Ave. The machine worked by preheating clips that would be docked in the machine, which would be removed and put on hair. No wires needed. First of it's kind, as far as I can tell. 1936 is the earliest mention I could find of its existence, according to a few period beauty magazines. Definitely a surprise. I thought it was a bench grinder of some sort. All electronics removed long ago. Now living in my garage!

So tell us, how did you solve the "mystery". Did you get more info off the cabinet? The previous owner? A different search query?

 

[Shelbylex]

There had to be a metal plaque somewhere with the hint - I think on the back surface?