AT THE HEART OF THE ROAD TRANSPORT INDUSTRY.

Call our Sales Team on 0208 912 2120

A MOBILE SHOWROOM

24th September 1929
Page 57
Page 57, 24th September 1929 — A MOBILE SHOWROOM
Close
Noticed an error?
If you've noticed an error in this article please click here to report it so we can fix it.

Which of the following most accurately describes the problem?

Keywords : Rooms, Movie Theater, Locker

• for Demonstrating Cinema Apparatus

An All-British Commercial-motor Vehicle as an Aid to Improved Salesmanship. From Car to Cinema in Five Minutes.

IN some industries products have to be sold to customers who require demonstrations, and, by reason of certain factors connected -with the use of the goods, easy demonstration is •impossible. This applies with particular force in the case of small cinematograph outfits, which require to be shown to prospective customers in a darkened room equipped for adequate ventilation and with proper facilities for mounting a screen and projector.

A solution of this particular problem has been provided by the joint ingenuity of Melville Hart and Co., St. Stephen's House, Victoria Embankment, London, S.W.1, and Houghton-Butcher (Great Britain), Ltd., photographic manufacturers, 88, High Holborn, Loudon, W.C.L It takes the form of a &menstration car affording drawing-room corufert; 15_ people can be accommoe dated, but-the normal s.eating arrangements provide for eight persons.

• Mounted on a TX-type 30-cwt. MorrisCommercial . chassis is a roomy body which can be converted into a fully equipped cinema in under five minutes. This was .proved to us by Mr. Hart outside his own offices. The body is finished in orange and lettered in blue—colours which are employed by Houghton-Butcher, Ltd., for its film cartons and other products. The sides are of the tumblehome variety. So soon as the door is opened leading to thedriver's compartment it is realized that the interior is finished as luxuriously as a house.

On entering the cab, it is seen that the driver's seat can be converted into a bed if required, or it will seat four people, whilst a locker 'below the floor is equipped to house two lighting and starting batteries to give an adequate reserve of current for demonstration work. The inside of the saloon (as it may be termed) is finished throughout in oak-faced plywood with oak headings, and a selection of photographs, displaying types of Ensign material, are affixed to the walls. The height inside the body is 6 ft. 3 ins.

The front bulkhead is used to support a detachable cinema screen-3 ft. by 2 ft. 6 ins, in size—which is normally carried in clips between the 'bulkhead and a combined gramophone and wireless cabinet on the off side at the front

of the vehicle. This cabinet is another product which the salesman demonstrates. Opposite to it is another cabinet mounted on wheels. At the rear of the body is a large upright locker, on which is mounted the cinema projector, on a bed which permits the outfit being moved to vary the size of the picture. This locker is used to house cinema cameras, boxes of films and other impedimenta of the salesman. In addition to a chair and folding table, there are longitudinal seats over the wheel-arches upholstered in blue moquette, and there -is a detachable cushion inside which can be used to form part of the driving seat. A lateral seat is provided in front of the projector. Floor coverings consist of linoleum, Sorbo matting and carpets.

In order to enlarge the space for a cinema demonstration, the two rear doors can be opened, a tailboard let down and a sliding extension of the roof moved backwards to increase by 2 ft. 9 iris, the length of the "hail." The doors form the sides, the tailboard forms the floor and the roof extension closes in the top of this part of the body. To complete the rear a black curtain is provided, fixed to the woodwork by press-buttons and having a lightning fastener to close a small door therein.

The hinge lines of the doors are provided with flaps to act as light traps and the windows in the rear doors have black curtains, thus making it possible completely to darken the interior of the vehicle. If it be desired to gain access to the radio cabinet from the driver's seat, a door in the front bulkhead can be opened, thus avoiding the necessity for the demonstrator having to disturb any member of the audience.

Tags

People: Hart
Locations: London

comments powered by Disqus