Hygienic Seating for Passenger Vehicles.
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An Account of an Interesting Visit to an Up-to-date Mattress Factory.
Owners of motor vehicles catering for public passenger service are rapidly beginning to realize that, if an increasing business is to be attracted, -a quid pro quo must be offered to the public in the shape of increased vehicle luxury. On the whole, owners are progressive in this respect. We can call to mind, however, occasions on which a little attention to the interior fittings of machines would have prevented sore limbs following some hours of travel. The premier omnibus company of the world— the L.G.O.C.—has adopted an up-to-date and progressive attitude with regard to such detail.
Health and Cleanliness.
In making these preliminary remarks, we had in mind more particularly the question of suitablysprung seating accommodation. For many years, mtil quite recently, a laissez faire policy has prevailed. Some genius in the earlier part of the 18th century discovered that horsehair possessed a certain amount of resilience, and for many years following horsehair was the first and last word in high-class filling material for scats. There is little need, we imagine, for us here to expound on the disadvantages possessed by this and similar materials when used for this purpose. Competent medical authorities have given it as their opinion that a tendency undoubtedly prevails, with stuffing material of this sort, to hold infectious germs for a considerable period. Smoke, moisture, and so forth, are also retained, and there are few of us who have not at some time experienced the nauseating odour arising from an opened mattress which has been in service for sonic time.
Springs Make Healthy Fillings.
We recently paid a visit to the factory in Salusbury Road, West Kilburn, of the Marshall Sanitary Mattress Co., Ltd. Here we observed with considerable interest the process of mattress making under the most hygienic and modern conditions. In the
Marshall Vi-spring product, coppered spiral springs have taken the place of flocks, horsehair and other fillings. These springs, which are disposed vertically, are each self-contained in a calico pocket, and can be compressed either individually or collectively without noise or tendency towards sideways displacement. It is well known that certain qualities of calico possess moisture-retaining properties, and, bearing this fact in mind, a special fabric is woven for the Marshall mattress, in which this disadvantage has been, to a great extent, eliminated.
The springs are built up into suitable calico lengths, each spring being, as we have said, contained in its separate pocket. These lengths are then placed side by side, in number varying according to the width of the seat or mattress required. A small quantity of horsehair is inserted at the sides of the two rows of outer springs under the covering, and a further quantity of hair is placed over the upper surface of the springs. Felting of suitable thickness, according to the conditions, severe or easy, under which the mattress or seat will be used in service, is then laid over all, and the final outer fabric is then attached and secured, These spring seatings are in great demand by motorbus companies, char-A-banes owners, etc., the London General Omnibus Co., Ltd., alone having 8000 of them in service.
Sanitary ManuTacturing Methods,
Walking through the factory we were much impressed by the absolute cleanliness, and the efficient lighting and ventilation systems installed. Anticipating a somewhat unpleasant inspection, we were agreeably impressed at the conditions prevailing, and we were not surprised, therefore, having corrspleted our visit, when we were informed that many of the leading motor manufacturers, both in this country and on the Continent, had given their sole contracts for upholstery to the Marshall Sanitary Mattress Co,, Ltd.