Today In Diner History. . .

On this date in 1939, Allendale, New Jersey resident, Irving B. Cooper received patent number 2145919 entitled "Vehicle Body Construction." Though he filed on April 27, 1938 it wasn't until the following February when the patent was issued. This patent described a welded steel frame and other improvements to a diner car's structure. The entire patent and accompanying drawings may be viewed on the Google Patent website.

According to page 239 of "American Diner Then & Now" by Richard J. S. Gutman, Mr. Cooper, "...was vice president in charge of design and production for the diner division" of Paterson Vehicle Company. This is the company that built diners under the name Silk City Diner.


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