Equipment and Finishes for
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PASSENGER-VEHICLE INTERIORS
Our Bodybuilding Expert Outlines the Features of Interior Decoration for Coaches and Buses and Introduces a Few New Ideas on the Subject
pRIMARILY the interior of a bus or coach is designed for the passenger's comfort and convenience. Usually it is also finished so as to give it an attractive appearance. Utility and artistic effect have, therefore, to be combined. It should not be difficult to reconcile these two factors, because modern interior display tends to be neater and less fussy, whilst cleaning is easier than formerly. Moreover, if something novel be desired for the interior decoration scheme, it may often be achieved by reconsidering from the practical standpoint some feature with a view to improving it.
The front bulkhead of a single or doubledecker may be taken as an example. It is an essential part of the body framework and is a prominent one, because most of the seats face forwards. In conjunction with constructional requirements provision should be made for adequate natural lighting with a minimum of obstruction to the passenger's view ahead.
The bulkhead may be divided into two, three or even four windows between the cant-rail level and waist line. ' A bulkhead with two windows may be regarded as a recent innovation, because hitherto it has been considered that at least two -well-spaced intermediate pillars were necessary in order to support the roof and its load.
But it has been found that one wide central pillar, or two set out close together, are quite satisfactory, even for the lower saloon of a covered-top double decker. Whether two or more windows be adopted, a central pillar is in many instances essen tial owing to the presence of the half-width, forward-control cab.
Between the cant-rail level and roof there may be smaller windows corresponding with the largerones below, or this part of the bulkhead may be panelled so that the insertion of a set of louvres, or other type of ventilator, is facilitated. At the same time, the introduction of ventilators need not preclude -the use of glass, because they can be made of this material.
Between the waist line and the floor the front• bulkhead of a service bus is usually given up to a display of plywood panelling finished in various ways, with the fare-board set out in the centre.
The fare-board may be regarded as a legal necessity and its position a matter decided by the regulations concerning it, or it may be considered as giving information which many passengers will wish to peruse. If the fareboard is to be read easily there is scope for Improving the display of it.
As a rule, it is not easy to read the lower lines of a long -fare-table. It is suggested that it be divided into two portions. The upper half is placed centrally over the large windows and it is sloped forward at the top. The same idea has for a long time been used in connection with the facia-board of a shop front. The lower half of the faretable is placed in the normal position below the waist line. If the list of fares be a short one it may be placed completely above the windows, with the advantage that the whole of the bulkhead panelling below the waist line may have a unified decorative Scheme.
Regarding the inside of the back of the vehicle, natural lighting is at this point not so important as it is at the front. A coach may have one large or two smaller windows. There may be curtains at each end and, if there be a pair of back windows, one or a pair of curtains may be placed in the centre.
But why not do without the curtains entirely so that the outline of the back light is well defined? This outline is considered to be a decorative feature of the exterior display ; therefore, it seems illogical to conceal it on the inside. If protection from sun or headlight glare be desired a roller blind may be fitted.
The ,back seat of a coach may be designed to seat lour or five passengers. Often with a view to enhancing the comfort afforded, only four seats are provided and they are individually shaped.
As the same width of coach has to accommodate a pair of double seats with a gangway between them, it follows, therefore, that each of the four passengers on the back seat has an inch or two of seating space more than is provided in the case of the other seats. This may be considered to be a compensation for having to sit at the back.
On the other hand, if every passenger is to be allotted the same amount of space the space thus saved might be used for the disposal of a cabinet or locker. The top of this cabinet could form an arm-rest or it could be carried to the top of t he seat-back or bottom line of the window.
With a pair of back windows a narrow locker could be built reaching to the roof. According to the size of this fitment so it could be used for the storage of light refreshments, cigarettes, guides, tickets, first-aid equipment or light luggage.
It is the practice now to panel the underside of the roof of the single-decker as well as the lower saloon of the double decker, a refinement which has been copied from the coach. This panelling is attached to the underside of the roof ribs and the joints of the panels are concealed by the employment of thin moulding.
. An interesting development of interior roof design is the enclosure of the curved sides of the roof with a flat sloping panel behind which lamps are concealed. Alternatively, this sloping panel may be interrupted at the lamp positions so that the lamps are seen in their recesses. The lamp is still well protected, and being of pearl finish there is no direct glare. This arrangement has the advantage .that the lamps are more accessible than when the panelling is continuous. Instead of having a panel between the lamp position, • the idea might be tried of inserting small fixed windows here, in order to afford more light and better observational facilities, especially for a coach that frequently travels in hilly country. These windows could be protected with a blind or curtain to shield the passengers from sun glare.
The finish of the sides of the body does not offer much scope, because the greater part is concealed by the seats, but even when so restricted the designer has the choice of many colour schemes by utilizing the natural colour of oak, ash, mahogany, walnut and other woods, or by staining or polishing them.
Leather cloth and other materials allow not only the colour but also the texture of the surface to be varied, whilst the use of metalwork, tither as fittings or as a protection strip along the skirting, again introduces a fresh note into the decorative scheme.
The side pillars are too small in themselves to influence to any great extent the general scheme of interior embellishment. Nevertheless, they are improved in appearance by means of cellulosefinished cappings on the rear faces, with similar wood strips fastened on to the inner faces where the window grooves are situated.
Then there is a finisher along the top of the inside waist or garnish rail and often the garnish rail itself is inlaid. At the cant-rail there is a top finisher and usually a separate moulding which conceals the electric wiring.
The narrow upright panel already described, which is often to be found in the centre of the front bulkhead and to the backof which a mirror is attached, is a style of finish which might be adopted more frequently for the sides of the bus or coach.
The natural lighting of the vehicle would not be decreased any more than now obtains with the use of side curtains. The passenger would not notice any difference—in fact, owing to the presence of the mirrors and their reflection, the inside of" the vehicle would seem larger and brighter. ' •