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.
Earlier in the week, I was fortunate enough to get an original 1940s plexiglas model made by the Little Tavern Shops chain. As my way of sharing with all of you, I drafted up a version for all of you fans out there. Download, print, fold and glue.
Here’s how it should turn out, with all the pieces attached on the roof. Assembly should me mostly self explanatory. If you build one, I’d love to see it! Send your pics to: https://www.facebook.com/dinerhunter
The inspiration. These original plexi versions have a lift-off roof.
The Tastee Diner, Laurel, Maryland. Based on a c.1983 slide by Michael G. Stewart.
I can’t pull quite enough detail out of this one to tell which burger chain this was shot in. White Tower, White Castle, and any number of others- they were all close enough inside as to be virtually indistinguishable.
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
I got this photo in the mail earlier today. It was taken in 1947, but other than that, I don’t have much to go on as far as identifying the location goes. The photographer just missed name of the diner on the sign, and there is just too much film grain to be able to read any of the menu board inside. A nearby barbershop must have been moving or have been evicted, with all of its equipment sitting on the street in front of the diner at night. The vestibule is a crude affair, and the flowerboxes are gone. The sign is showing clear signs of age.
I just got in the negative for this photo- the Camden Diner. The diner was located at the corner of Howard and Pratt, by Camden Station. Nothing in the photo still stands, having been redeveloped for the convention center and for Camden Yards. The photo was taken on June 19, 1948. The diner doesn’t seem to have lasted long under this name, I can only find records of it as such from the late 1940s through early 1950s.
Diner Hunter 