RootsChat.Com
General => The Common Room => The Lighter Side => Topic started by: Braban on Sunday 24 March 19 21:56 GMT (UK)
-
It's a rather wonderful, if not curious vehicle. Possibly taken in Barnstaple, Devon
-
It's a charabanc
A early form of stretched limo, served a similar purpose to the ones we see here now
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charabanc
-
Thank you!!
-
It's a charabanc
Yes, literally a 'car with bench'. Popular around the first war (note the solid tyres, you'd get a pretty hard ride on the roads of the time) especially for trips round the countryside at weekends. A small convertible single-deck bus, I suppose.
-
My grandmother born 1884 would mention the times she rode on a charabanc. During WWI she removed to a village that wasn't served by public transport and she had a two mile walk every Friday to the next village where she caught the charabanc that transported villagers to the market held five miles away in neighbouring town.
-
As far as I can gather, Colwill's was a company operating out of Ilfracombe. I wonder if No.7 was the fleet number of this vehicle, or the route it operated?
-
I think the '7' is more likely to be its fleet number. If it was a scheduled route number, wouldn't it also display the destination?
By the way, in case Latana was wondering, I've always heard it pronounced as 'sharra-bang' ;D
Added: I've just spotted that Wikipedia agrees!
Carol
-
By the way, in case Latana was wondering, I've always heard it pronounced as 'sharra-bang' ;D
Added: I've just spotted that Wikipedia agrees!
Carol
[/quote]
and me ;D ;D
Carol
-
As all the passenger appear to be male, was it an outing to somewhere rather than a regular service route? A club or organisation?
-
As all the passenger appear to be male, was it an outing to somewhere rather than a regular service route? A club or organisation?
As I suggested above, I think charabancs were mainly for excursions. Everyday buses would not normally have a collapsible roof. In fact if I recall correctly, some charas didn't even have a roof. But people, especially in rural areas, may have been more used to an 'outdoor' life.
I'm sure the number 7 is just to identify the vehicle, as on a railway engine.
-
I'm happy to accept that the 7 is a fleet number - it's just that Rena's post (below) suggested that some charabancs operated on regular routes, so I was wondering if this might be shown on the vehicle, much as stage coaches sometimes had their route painted on the side.
My grandmother born 1884 would mention the times she rode on a charabanc. During WWI she removed to a village that wasn't served by public transport and she had a two mile walk every Friday to the next village where she caught the charabanc that transported villagers to the market held five miles away in neighbouring town.
-
By the way, in case Latana was wondering, I've always heard it pronounced as 'sharra-bang' ;D
Added: I've just spotted that Wikipedia agrees!
Carol
and me ;D ;D
Carol
[/quote]
Yes my grandmother pronounced it "sharra-bang" too. I think it's a French word
-
I'm happy to accept that the 7 is a fleet number - it's just that Rena's post (below) suggested that some charabancs operated on regular routes, so I was wondering if this might be shown on the vehicle, much as stage coaches sometimes had their route painted on the side.
In the late 60s, my relatives (ex colonials - India, SA, Australia and New Zealand) used to refer to the local buses as charabancs, even when it was a double decker!
Regards
Chas
-
Good evening,
Sha ra bang is the correct pronunciation, comes from the French "char à banc" meaning "carriage with benches". The earliest being horse drawn. Their hey day in Britain was in the 1920s and 30s and were used on routes and excursions.
In Australia they were known as side loaders, there is still a renovated one in Echuna (think thats correct) Victoria. Used in the docks for some occcasions.
Iv'e looked at dozens of pictures but can't see one the same style but may be a mercedes.
John915
-
Looks very similar to one in a tyread I started here - https://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php?topic=804030.0
-
Older people in Yorkshire still say they're going on the "Charra". Even if it's a luxury air conditioned coach with a toilet!!
-
Looks very similar to one in a thread I started here - https://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php?topic=804030.0
I've just looked at that earlier thread. Still wondering about the discussion around the Stockport registration on the vehicle behind that chara - which as far as I can tell has no connection with it .... :P
-
Looks very similar to one in a thread I started here - https://www.rootschat.com/forum/index.php?topic=804030.0
I've just looked at that earlier thread. Still wondering about the discussion around the Stockport registration on the vehicle behind that chara - which as far as I can tell has no connection with it .... :P
All I can think is that the owner of the car travelled to London with them. My theory is that it was a party from the Battersby hat works and possibly the photograph was taken for the company magazine (The Wideawake).
The hatting museum in Stockport has a selection of the magazines in their archives but getting information out of them; to misquote an ex-colleague, is like talking to a bag of sprouts!
-
What a lovely image! I know exactly what you mean.