When we think of the American Diner, we think of the magical 1950’s era, rock ‘n’ roll music, dime and nickel jukeboxes, bobby socks, the "picture perfect" American youth culture portrayed in Norman Rockwell paintings.

But did you know that the very first American Diner started out its life in 1872 when an ingenious young man called Walter Scott started selling food from a covered horse drawn cart.

From horse drawn wagons, the American Diner evolved when vendors started kitting out obsolete horse drawn streetcars into basic diners. Due to popularity, these streetcars morphed, with vendors commissioning builders to construct special cars with innovations such as indoor bathrooms and tables!

Many diners remained the same until the 1930’s when modern materials were made into streamlined forms to symbolize mobility and speed.

After World War II the demand for diners increased dramatically. Americans were eager to spend money and make up for the years that they had to do without. Technological innovations developed, and diners were equipped with new materials such as Formica, Naughahyde and Terrazzo floors.

The arrival of the space age was also reflected in diner design as the American public became obsessed with rocket and jet transport. Space was the new frontier and this was reflected in the design of diners from the mid to late 1950’s.

For a while after the 1950’s, diners began to lose their share in the market with decreased sales, but then in the 1970’s a new revival began, spurning renewed interest in the American Diner. Old diner builders began to fabricate brand new diners in old retro styles.

This interest in American Diners continues today, and there are hundreds if not thousands of American style diners dotted around the world, all paying homage to the classic American Diner of wholesome values and a place where people from all walks of life can gather, share a meal and relax in comfortable surroundings.

Copied From Eddie Rockets web site