Numbers on ceiling in diner/restaurant?

Question

I've always wondered this, but could never figure it out. I was in a diner recently and have seen this panel that hangs from the ceiling, it was numbered 1-12, and it lights up the numbers. What does this panel mean? I haven't seen them in a long time, since the 80's, so it was a surprise to see one up, and I couldn't figure out what it meant, as it wasn't being used. Any ideas?

Answer 1

It is probably a call light. It was used to tell the wait staff that they had an order ready to be served. They must have only had 12 servers at a time. When the waitress or server had food ready, thier number was lit up by the cook in the kitchen.

Now a lot of restaurants have a belt buzzer. The wait staff has a little pager thingy on thier belt that vibrates when they have food ready.

Answer 2

It has to do with the wait staff and table order numbers.  Instead of yelling that an order is up, the light comes on.

Answer 3

most often, at least from my experience, its a way to let guests who are waiting for a table know when their number is called.

i would assume that be the case here.