Vintage Images Of American Diners
Walter Scott (1841-1924): The First Night Lunch Wagon
The American entrepreneur, Walter Scott, first began as a street vendor selling sandwiches from a basket to the employees of the Providence Journal, in Rhode Island, USA, at 17 years of age during the 1850s. Scott's early work experience had helped him to realize the potential for full time work selling pre-prepared meals and hot drinks at a time during the evenings, when most restaurants were closed. During the late 1800s the industrial revolution was creating important changes within America, as the nation was undergoing a transition from an agricultural society to an industrial society, and urbanization was rapidly evolving within many regions of the USA. In north-eastern America numerous jobs were being created, plus a greater number of companies were starting to utilize electricity technology, particularly the use of electric lighting, resulting in numerous organisations providing night-shift working hours for many of their employees. Additionally, more people were wondering the streets at night seeking late night entertainment, such as festivals, fairs, and theatre going, while others were merely out on a casual stroll enjoying the mid-night air. Meanwhile, Walter Scott was busy working as a part-time pressman and compositor, and he supplemented his main job by selling pre-prepared meals to local businesses. In 1872, Walter Scott decided to take a gamble with his career, when he purchased a horse-driven wagon in order to start a full time self-employed culinary enterprise, and as a result, 'Scott's diner' was considered to be the first walk up to horse-driven wagon diner in American history. But he was also credited with introducing the first 'Night Lunch Wagon' in the United States. Scott's business venture turned out to be a hugely inspirational idea, which became seen by many hawkish businessmen as a potentially lucrative prospect in which to invest. Therefore, it wasn't long before commercial production of wagon diners began to proliferate across many cities in the US.
The American entrepreneur, Walter Scott, first began as a street vendor selling sandwiches from a basket to the employees of the Providence Journal, in Rhode Island, USA, at 17 years of age during the 1850s. Scott's early work experience had helped him to realize the potential for full time work selling pre-prepared meals and hot drinks at a time during the evenings, when most restaurants were closed. During the late 1800s the industrial revolution was creating important changes within America, as the nation was undergoing a transition from an agricultural society to an industrial society, and urbanization was rapidly evolving within many regions of the USA. In north-eastern America numerous jobs were being created, plus a greater number of companies were starting to utilize electricity technology, particularly the use of electric lighting, resulting in numerous organisations providing night-shift working hours for many of their employees. Additionally, more people were wondering the streets at night seeking late night entertainment, such as festivals, fairs, and theatre going, while others were merely out on a casual stroll enjoying the mid-night air. Meanwhile, Walter Scott was busy working as a part-time pressman and compositor, and he supplemented his main job by selling pre-prepared meals to local businesses. In 1872, Walter Scott decided to take a gamble with his career, when he purchased a horse-driven wagon in order to start a full time self-employed culinary enterprise, and as a result, 'Scott's diner' was considered to be the first walk up to horse-driven wagon diner in American history. But he was also credited with introducing the first 'Night Lunch Wagon' in the United States. Scott's business venture turned out to be a hugely inspirational idea, which became seen by many hawkish businessmen as a potentially lucrative prospect in which to invest. Therefore, it wasn't long before commercial production of wagon diners began to proliferate across many cities in the US.
Ruel B. Jones / Samuel M. Jones: Night Lunch Wagon Operators & Manufacturers
Charles H. Palmer : First Patent For Lunch Night Wagons
Charles H. Palmer was an American businessman, who had expressed a keen interest in the growing success of the lunch night wagon business across Worcester, consequently, Palmer decided to bid for the acquisition of a large number of the night lunch wagons that had been owned by the Joneses, all of which Palmer eventually became the new owner of, following a business transaction that had concluded in 1891. And two years later, on the 16th May 1893, Palmer became the first person in US history to apply for and then granted a patent (497 598) for 'Night-Lunch Wagons'. Soon after this event, Palmer began to manufacture both plain night wagons, and elaborately designed ones with a view to operate some of them for his business, but also, to sell other models to prospective businessmen. Palmer's lunch wagon designs had set a high standard at that particular time in US history. His new models were designed with high back wheels and built to be more spacious; typically they averaged six feet wide by sixteen feet in length with stools for customers, who preferred to eat while seated. Palmer’s high class models included ornate etched stained-glass windows with intricately decorated interiors, plus a counter which separated the kitchen from the dining area. During the 19th century most restaurants and stagecoach inns were largely frequented by the upper class or wealthy individuals. During that era most of the working class population could not afford to eat within restaurants, and because they had very few options from which to eat out, most working class people brought their own meals with them whilst out on a journey or going to work. Therefore, for working class people lunch wagons were viewed as a long overdue blessing, since those particular establishments had offered a variety of quickly prepared appetizing meals and beverages that was easily affordable for most people. But as night lunch wagons became more popular across the US, a wider range of social classes began to sample the cuisine. Palmer's lunch-wagon designs continued to flourish in Worcester, until 1901, at which time his business came to an abrupt and tragic end, after it was reported that a large fire had destroyed his factory.
Thomas H. Buckley: Lunch Wagon Manufacturer
Between the years 1890 to 1898, Buckley introduced the Palace Café lunch wagons, which received high acclaim from certain newspapers, Buckley also established the White House Cafe, a permanent based restaurant, situated in Worcester, which became famous, additionally, mobile lunch wagons bearing the same brand name were also introduced by him, those models were said to have been impeccably designed both within the interior and exterior structures, including ostentatious mural carved coloured glass windows. But the jewel in the crown was widely considered to be the prestigiously designed Tile wagon models, they were adorned with the combined features of beautiful high class mosaics and tiles, as well as the finest silver carriage lamps perched upon the outside structures of those models, for which Buckley was said to have received over 140 awards. Buckley's organisation first began as the New England Night Lunch Wagon Company, but by 1898, he decided to change his company name to T.H Buckley Lunch Wagon Manufacturing and Catering Company, which also included a service for various high-end catering utensils. By 1898, Buckley had distributed lunch wagons in 275 different towns and cities across the US. However, at the summit of his success, unfortunately, in 1903, Thomas Buckley died unexpectedly at the age of just 35, and following his demise it is believed that his company was taken over, but continued to function successfully until roughly the mid-20th century. Thomas Buckley's story of a working class man, who rose spectacularly from humble beginnings to a position of prominence and wealth, within a relatively short space of time, was said to have epitomized the American dream. But more importantly, in the corridors of American history, Thomas Buckley's legacy is arguably the greatest entrepreneurial contributor to the evolution of the American diner.
The Original Diners
In the early 20th century as the American population dramatically increased, the demand for eat out diners also greatly increased, and as a consequence, horse-driven lunch wagons soon gave way to truck-driven lunch wagons, until one fine day, an unknown individual introduced the concept of utilizing disused railroad cars for serving meals to the American public. The word 'Diner' is a derivative of 'dining car', although the original diners were called lunch-wagons or night-lunch wagons, by the early 20th century these old terms were soon superseded by the modern name, diner. Many of the first diners were decommissioned railroad passenger cars and trolleys which were often converted into diners by opportunistic business men, many of whom could not afford to purchase new buildings. The original entrepreneurs, who had re-modernized and transformed unused diner cars into permanent based restaurants, were said to be influenced greatly by the interior designs of the old fashioned American railroad classical chrome dining cars, additionally, some of those diners were embellished with neon lights and terrazzo floors. The visionary aim was to create an environment or a place of abode that captured the imagination by portraying a nostalgic ambience, while exhibiting a welcoming and charming atmosphere.
In the early 20th century as the American population dramatically increased, the demand for eat out diners also greatly increased, and as a consequence, horse-driven lunch wagons soon gave way to truck-driven lunch wagons, until one fine day, an unknown individual introduced the concept of utilizing disused railroad cars for serving meals to the American public. The word 'Diner' is a derivative of 'dining car', although the original diners were called lunch-wagons or night-lunch wagons, by the early 20th century these old terms were soon superseded by the modern name, diner. Many of the first diners were decommissioned railroad passenger cars and trolleys which were often converted into diners by opportunistic business men, many of whom could not afford to purchase new buildings. The original entrepreneurs, who had re-modernized and transformed unused diner cars into permanent based restaurants, were said to be influenced greatly by the interior designs of the old fashioned American railroad classical chrome dining cars, additionally, some of those diners were embellished with neon lights and terrazzo floors. The visionary aim was to create an environment or a place of abode that captured the imagination by portraying a nostalgic ambience, while exhibiting a welcoming and charming atmosphere.
The Golden Age Of Diner Production
At the beginning of the twentieth century there were a growing number of business men who concluded that there was more profit in manufacturing diners and selling them, than there was in owning and operating one. Jerry O'Mahony (born 1890 - died 1969), had proved to be one of many such success stories, he founded the Jerry O'Mahony Diner Company, in 1917, in New Jersey, United States, and as a result, during that era O'Mahony became one of the most successful and prolific manufacturers of pre-fabricated diners in America. O'Mahony's company went on to manufacture over 2.000 diners within the United States between 1917 and 1954. Many of the new diner structures that became popular across the US were originally pre-fabricated constructions, which were designed and built at an assembly factory, then on request transported to another location in order to be re-assembled and installed at the new destination. Interestingly, American diners remained popular during the depression years of the 1930s, and throughout the 1940s due to providing a service for a variety of well-liked but inexpensive meals to the American public. However, from the early 1950s the numbers of American diners increased exponentially, especially those built on site as brand new restaurants. But the golden age of diner manufacturing began in New Jersey in the 1920s, and that region soon became a magnet for a multitude of such enterprises to such an extent that New Jersey eventually became the capital of America for diner production.
Modern Fast Food Restaurants
Modern American diner-restaurants were brand new constructed buildings on site, not pre-fabricated ones as previously, and those restaurants began to appear at some point during the economic boom of the 1920s in America. Modern diners were more spaciously designed and they included dining booth sitting areas, telephone booths, toilet facilities, and waitress service, with a view to become more family-orientated establishments, but especially to appeal to a greater number of female customers. And following World War II, American diners began to grow abundantly throughout the 1950s and 1960s across the USA. However, by the 1970s American diners were being superseded by a number of giant fast food restaurants such as McDonalds, Wimpy Bar, Burger King, Kentucky Fried Chicken, Wendy's, Subway, and Pizza Hut, all of whom are now illustrious enterprises that are currently flourishing within numerous towns and cities across the world, yet once upon a time, each of which had been hoisted by the humble American diner.
Written by Star_gazer
Published 2 June 2021