Neat and Readable
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DESTINATION AND ROUTE INDICATORS
Some Notes Upon Various Patterns of Box for Housing Indicators, as well as Upon Route Boards, for Passenger Vehicles
THE front destination indicator of the single-decker is usually at the roof level, and, as a rule, it is built into the surrounding framework. As compactness is usually desired, only the terminal point to which the vehicle is travelling is displayed. If more wording be required the indicator box is extended upwards, or it may occupy the full width of the canopy rail.
If the service be one of many in a large town a route number is added, which, again, to ensure compactness, may often be displayed on the same level as is the name of the destination. The double-decker, with its upper front panelling, is better adapted for the more detailed description of the route covered. If the names of the more important points on thee route be displayed it is essential that they should be given in the order corresponding to the direction in which the bus is proceeding. Therefore, any such large indicator should have a roller blind, so that the route points may again be given, but in their reverse order, f o r. t h e return journey.
At the back of the bus information similar to that at the front should be provided. In the case of a double-decker the indicator is seldom built into the roof structure, unless the roof be the clerestory pattern, which, being raised in the centre, is easily designed to accommodate a destinatior. indicator.
With the normal type of bus the box is laid ' out as a separate unit to be mounted on the roof. Alternatively, it may be let into the upper part of the window framework just below the cant-rail. If there be no rear emergency door the indicator may be placed centrally, otherwise it is displayed above the near-side window.
The use of destination indicators at the front and back of the vehicle has been developed because these positions are favoured by the licensing authorities. In the London area the regulations stipulate that the letters forming the name of the destination must be 4/ ins, high and those of the principal points of the route 4 ins. high. Geographical sequence must also be observed, and there must be provision for illumination at night. It is stated that route boards may be fitted to the sides of the vehicle.
It will be seen, therefore, that any side announcement is permissive and not obligatory. In the earlier days of the motorbus the side of the vehicle was always used for this purpose. Although the direction in which the vehicle was going might not always be clearly indicated, yet plenty of space was devoted to route points, both on the panels and on fixed and detachable boards fitted above and below the windows.
The long distance coach proprietor, although he adheres to the present-day practice of front and back indicators, is usually in favour of having the route points written on the side. He, no doubt, regards such information as a good permanent advertisement, apart from its direct utility to intending passengers.
The route board may be fastened to the roof and often It forms part of the enclosure of the luggage space. In another style the body is made with a special panel above the cant-rail and provides an additional surface for writing display.
The glass louvres at the tops of the windows are also used, but th6.5r are not to be recommended if the high-class appearance of the coach is to be carefully, studied. With the double-decker the side display of the route points is most effective if it be placed on the panels of the upper saloon.
The mechanism of the destination indicator consists of a top and bottom roller separated sufficiently to enable the word or words marked on the blind clearly to be shown. Motion is communicated to the blind rollers by means of a wheel or handle, which operates bevel or worm gearing.
Wh en the operating handle is underneath it is attached directly to a vertical shaft, on which is mounted an upper and lower bevel wheel. These engage with corresponding bevel wheels attached at the end of the blind rollers.
When the handle is at the back the verticaF shaft has four bevel wheels mounted on it, the two inner ones engaging with the bevel wheel on the handle shaft. If the handle be at one end of the destination box it directly operates the blind roller. This is split so that it can be made to grip the end of the material and no tacking is necessary.
Owing to the improvements that have been made in the illuminated route and destination indicator the beard with written or printed wording is fast disappearing, and it is considered that the bus gains in appearance thereby. The rollers, actuating mechanism and lamps, take up more space than does a board, but there is usually plenty of room available for mounting the box containing them. .
If the destination indicator be mounted in front of the upper saloon of a doubledecker, flush with the outside panelling, in order to give it a neat appearance, the front row of seats should be arranged so that there is sufficient cross gangway remaining between the back of the box and the front of these seats, otherwise-legroom will be curtailed.
It is not a difficult matter to increase the length of the upper saloon a few inches forwards, but it is seldom possible to increase the width of it. Therefore, a side route-number box is apt to form an obstruction at the inner ends of the crosswise seats, and it is in a better position if it be placed at the roof level of the lower saloon, where there is usually an excess of headroom above the seats, so long as licensing authorities approve.
The most useful type of side route board is one which may be reversed. In order that it may be within convenient reach at the end of the journey the belt panel is usually selected for mounting it. The board is held at each end in a clip or bracket, which has a Plate spring lo prevent rattling.