A Showroom on a Trailer
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How Bradford Encourages the Use of Gas.
THEgas department of Bradford Corporation has put to a novel use a vehicle which, practically speaking, is an expanding trailer-caravan. The trailer is towed by a motor lorry from one to another of the outlying portions of the city, and the residents—particularly those of the new housing estates —are introduced to the latest appliances for the use of gas in the home.
The vehicle has been built for the corporation by the Howeroft Carriage and Engineering Co., and is based on Barber's patent When on the road it has the appearance of an ordinary van, but, by an ingenious arrangement of interfitting portions, which are extended by a simple screw gear, the sides are drawn out and the vehicle becomes three times its normal width. The arrangement of the showroom after a journey by road is the work of a very short time, and, although the apparatus shown includes two complete fireplaces and mantels, a number of gas cookers and washing appliances, and the complete outfit for a bathroom, including a bath, together with pendahts, gas rings and other small fittings, the whole can be included in the normalsized van and re-arranged in the extended showroom. When the sides have been extended the steps, of which there are two seta (for there are entrances at both sides), slip, into position and, as the stay is usually of some weeks' duration, they are fixed securely in position. From the various appliances flues are extended and, in most cases, these are continued above the roof so as to carry away fumes. As a fairly considerable amount of gas is used in the actual demonstration of the appliances a main has to be carried to the spot and then connected to the pipes on the vehicle. The wheels and chassis are, of course, under the centre portion, but the whole is well supported on adjustable props and care is taken that the weight does not cause the vehicle to settle.
Clerestory lighting to the centre portion and single-pane windows at each side of the doors give a good light inside the showroom, and there is adequate ventilation by means of roof ventilators. To give the suggestion of a permanent fixture a dark canvas curtain is run-around the base of the stationary vehicle to cover the supports.
Since its acquisition some years ago the showroom has seen service in various parts of the eity, attracting much attention, and the publicity given to the uses of gas has been very satisfactory. The fittings are presented in surroundings which approximate to those of the home, the woodwork being tastefully finished and the floor covered with linoleum, whilst there is ample room for a score of_people to be in the showroom at once.
The showroom is taken to places where the cost of maintaining 'a permanent showroom would be too high to be an economic proposition,