Mercedes-Benz 22/50 PS Küchenwagen

Dinner is served
 
In the period before the First World War, the automobile was still seen as a competitor to the horse. Nevertheless, even then there areas of application in which the four-wheeled vehicle had great advantages. Due to the still high exclusivity of the car, however, these usually only benefited the highest personalities.

In view of the fact that the top warlords wanted to dine on site during their visits to the military maneuvers, the “Daimler-Motoren Gesellschaft” invented the so called “Küchenwagen” (mobile kitchen).

Cooking could be done in the vehicle, two large ice buckets served as storage containers for meat, butter, wine, and beer “…in a richness that is up to all demands of the increased appetite during the maneuvers.”

In the convoy with the “Küchenwagen” there was also an escort car, which was used to transport eight to ten people. The seats could be removed from the interior of the car in just a few simple steps and could be used as outdoor seating. Under certain circumstances, it was even possible to form a sleeping facility form the benches.

Both cars together were marketed under the term “Küchenzug” (kitchen train). The mobile kitchen was available to the German Emperor Wilhelm II, from about 1910 and was used in the annual maneuvers.

Both cars were based on the 22/50 hp chassis.

In addition to the “imperial garage” of the German Emperor Willhelm II, the Russian Tsar is also known as the buyer of the vehicle duo. He used the two vehicles for private excursions or picnics.