Diners of the Past

The original roadside Diners of days past were horse-drawn wagons that were pulled to busy roadside locations and factories to attract the attention of the masses. In spite of their size, they evolved into wagons with interior seating and varying features and amenities.

The idea of situating the lunch wagon in a semi-permanent location, rather than pulling it to a strategic location, foreshadows the arrival of the classic roadside diner. Mountain View Diners of Singac, New Jersey were o­ne of the primary manufacturers of Art Deco diners in the 20th Century, building hundreds of diners in America during the boom years of 1939 to 1957.

Traditionally, a metal tag would be installed by the manufacturer when construction was completed and the diner was ready for transporting to its final destination. These tags were also, almost always, stamped with a serial number. At some diners today you can still see the original tag affixed over the entrance door. You will find that new diners today are reminiscent of the diners built in the 40's and 50's, some being shaped like subway cars, with flashy chrome counters, sparkling vinyl booths and oldies music, creating a fun environment memorable of that era. Diners are definitely something we all can enjoy, whether they are new or the original diner built long ago!