Novelty
These novelty building designs were found in patents from the 1920s, 30s, 40s and 50s.
Sandwich BoothAn ornamental design for a sandwich booth featuring a burger roof and pickle supports. 1930
April 25 |
Chef buildingA design for a building in the likeness of a chef, where the teeth are windows. 1930
April 23 |
Pig ParlorA design for a store front or the like. We're not sure what the pig has to do with the design. This could easily be turned into a goat parlor, chicken parlor, ... 1931
April 18 |
Clark's Twin T-PsThe original Twin T-Ps Restaurant was opened in Seattle in 1937. Herman Olson, who registered this design for a "resort building", operated the original Twin T-P. In 1942 Walter Clark bought the business and established a chain of 22 restaurants. Col. Harland Sanders, of Kentucky Fried Chicken fame, worked on his Original Recipe in the Twin T-Ps kitchen. Learn more about the restaurant and see some photos at HistoryLink. 1937
May 9 |
Drink standWhy couldn't I have been born a Centaur? This unfortunate design affixes a man's head and arms to an orange in the hope of selling juice. 1928
April 27 |
Portable refreshment boothThis doesn't look too portable, but that's what the patent for this churn says. 1927
April 22 |
Dashing designA service station in pin stripes designed for Southern States Oil Company. 1936
April 11 |
Refreshment standA design for a portable refreshment booth. Perfect for traveling to fairs. 1934
March 29 |
Fruit roofAs Carmen Miranda would tell you, there's nothing that can't be dressed up by a bowl of fruit, even this simple design for a "merchandising booth." 1930
March 19 |
Beverage treeA design for a dispensing stand that we have tried many times, unsuccessfully, to plant in our back yard. 1929
March 17 |
Flying-saucer drive inA flying-saucer ornamental design for a Continental Air Lines drive-in building. 1958
Donut cupAnother architectural design that doesn't know when to stop. We get the point, you sell donuts. 1938
Frankfurter stand"The rear half of the body of the building is in the form of a half cylinder with a substantially smooth surface and with rounded ends that unite with the correspondingly round ends of the front half of the body of the building, thereby imparting to the entire building structure the general shape of a frankfurter or wienerwurst." 1932
Airplane gas stationAn ornamental airplane design for a filling station. Here is a photo of a similar station. 1931
Shell service stationA Shell service station design patented by Quality Oil founders Joe H. Glenn Jr. and Bert L. Bennett. The stations were rather small inside but served the purpose of drawing attention to the Shell brand. Today only one of the seashell-shaped stations remains. 1930
Memorial buildingThis design for a memorial building looks like a fairly large structure, with a walkway ringing the equator. 1928
Ice cream shopThis design for an ice cream shop reflects an era when the frozen treat was hand packed. 1932
Orange Crush standA dispensing stand for orange soda assigned to the Orange Crush Company of Chicago. 1928
August 9 |
Ellis Importing CompanyA store-front building design for Ellis Importing Company of Philadelphia. 1930
July 24 |
Tambourine ladyThe patent says simply that this is an "ornamental design for a building." This would be certain to draw the attention of any passersby. 1932
July 24 |
Portable food standDon't be fooled by the image of a waiter. You're expected to serve yourself at this "portable food dispenser stand." 1940
July 13 |
Refreshment stand sphereThis design for a refreshment stand makes absolutely no sense and seems like a terribly wasteful use of space. 1939
July 13 |
Tony's Chili PotTony's Chili Pot and Quonset hut. I would love to know if this was ever built. If you've seen it please leave a comment. The inventor was from Baltimore. 1951
June 27 |
Tamale InnYes, this is a restaurant on wheels in the shape of a tamale. No, I don't know if there ever was a demand for traveling tamales. 1929
June 14 |
KegThe patent says this could be used as a display building for fairs, an amusement building, dancing pavilion or a restaurant or refreshment building. But it's clearly a building design that would inspire college students. 1934
May 24 |
Spark an ideaIt's not clear from the patent application if this building design is meant for selling light bulbs, spark plugs or as a lab for inventors. 1933
May 24 |
Shoe buildingLive your nursery rhyme fantasy in a shoe. Watch your step when walking through the door upstairs. 1933
May 11 |
Pig hutPigs are a popular image for novelty buildings. This angry porcine Pilgrim looks like he would house a restaurant or a butcher. 1932
May 6 |
Refreshment buildingRefreshment building. Nothing says quality dining like a yawning pig. 1934
April 7 |
Dirigible buildingA building of dirigible aircraft design. Hold tight as you step aboard, for the reputation of this establishment is not inflated. 1931
March 21 |
