Another vintage slide from my collection, and I wish I had more information on it to share with you. The car has an Indiana tag, and the slide was developed in Evansville, Indiana. Such a generic name makes tracking down a former location difficult. Does anyone remember this one? The sign advertises Ideal Ice Cream, and possibly the name Herbert underneath.

Photo collection of Spencer Stewart, reproduction prohibited.

Here’s another old diner that’s been hiding under brick and a mansard, remodeled almost beyond recognition. According to real estate listings, the diner dates from 1928. While it looks like a 1930s monitor roof model, there’s enough off about the design (dropped windows, three section front, connection joint of the monitor, that it’s likely to be an updated older model or an on-site construction.

What’s left of the diner is located at 246 Wanaque Ave, Pompton Lakes, NJ, and can be yours for $175,000

Another addition to the collection, a print from 1951 of a trolley diner former located near 901 Pulaski Highway, Joppa, MD.

The Tastee Diner, Laurel, Maryland. Based on a c.1983 slide by Michael G. Stewart.

I got an original print of this one in today, and into the scanner it went.

The Central Lunch was located at 155 Bay Street (corner of Central Ave.) in Tompkinsville, Staten Island, NY. It looks like instead of the usual porcelain enamel, that the facade is done in mosaic tile. The tilework continues onto the shed roofed kitchen bump out.

Mahony Diners was founded in 1956 by the former plant and sales managers of Jerry O’Mahony, after that company went out of business. In addition to their own advertising, they re-used promotional materials from O’Mahony with the “O” blacked out. They exhibited their two-unit Diner/Motel design at the first annual Hotel Exposition in New York, which included an 86 seat diner, and a two room motel which measured 40’x12′. This unit apparently sold at the show for $76,000. Period press releases talk about orders for this diner/motel setup flooding in, but this may have been the company stretching the truth. They only built four diners, and lasted in business less than two years. Richard Gutman’s book, “American Diner Then & Now” identifies the first as the LauraLyn Diner of Rahway, NJ. The Vermont Royal Diner, of Springfield, Vermont, is the only surviving example.

Diner/Motel setup as exhibited. Crossover matchbook advertising Mahony Diners, Fountain Luncheonette & Diner Magazine, and Diamond matches

Tag design used by Mahony Diners.

Joseph Montano – President, Plant Manager, Sales
Started in the diner business c. 1944
Formerly plant manager at Jerry O’Mahony

John L. Cronk – Vice President and General Sales Manager
Started in the diner business c. 1950
Formerly sales manager at Jerry O’Mahony

Joseph Cavallo – Secretary/ Treasurer
Started in the diner business c. 1951

John Mayers – Carpenter / Foreman
Started in the diner business c. 1927

Anthony Damiano – Sheet Metal Foreman
Started in the diner business c. 1945

Ray Anisko – Design Draftsman
Started in the diner business c. 1944

Pete Nalio – Carpenter
Started in the diner business c. 1951

George Gibbons – Machine Operator
Started in the diner business c. 1926

Frank Bonifanti – Structural Steel Foreman
Started in the diner business c. 1945

John Hospodar – Sheet Metal Man
Started in the diner business c. 1941

George Campbell – Sheet Metal Man
Started in the diner business c. 1944