This black-and-white clip shows the manufacture and fitting of some of the interior features of the Spirit of Progress. Windows and doors with shatterproof glass are completed and installed, passenger seats and chairs are constructed and upholstered, window blinds are made, terrazzo floors are polished and stoves are installed. The train’s exterior is spray-painted and then painstakingly detailed with gold leaf applied by hand.
Narrator A very important safety factor which might be overlooked by passengers was the use of shatter-proof glass in all windows, doors and corridor partitions. The compartment’s sliding doors were glazed with shatter-proof glass before having the door pulls fitted and finally placed into position. Because of the number of components which went to make up the tanite frame, the assembly was somewhat slow and called for painstaking care. When completed, the frame was placed in the lower half of the door to permit the escape of used air from the compartments.
All of these operations called for precision and good tradesmanship. The double windows are of an unusual design and, blocked at all times, they effectively seal the cars for airconditioning purposes. The frames which carry the double shatter-proof glass for the car exterior windows were made by mitre welding at the corners. Buffed and glazed and with rubber insertion fitted, the window openings were then provided with wooden seals and slip pieces to receive them.
The manufacture of frames for the seats was another detached but important operation and these, together with the seat backs, were made whilst the car was under construction so that there would be no delay in the final assembly. The frames were made from machine-standardised pieces and placed together in a jig and then fitted. The various metallic fixtures were placed in position in the seat backs to carry the disappearing armrests. First-class seats have two such armrests and second-class have one. Special attention was paid to the comfort obtainable from various types of seats and it was only after exhaustive tests that seats of this design were adopted as a standard for the train.
Seats and backs were sprung and upholstered in very comfortable horse-hair padding, which was carefully wigged into position to give the right contour. The sewing of the leather and other fabrics was carried out by seamstresses at the Newport workshops. The solid leather covers were then placed into position by skilled upholsterers. It will be of interest to note that the whole of the cover had been shaped and sewn together so that all that was required at this stage was to carefully fit and secure it. Car seats and backs, having been finished, they were placed and secured in the car. The compartment was then rapidly nearing completion.
Meanwhile, the manufacture of special chairs of different types was preceded with for use in the parlour car and dining car. These chairs are an excellent example of first-class workmanship and were built with due regard to comfort and durability. The manufacture of blinds was also a related industry that was called into play in building this train. These blinds were for use in first- and second-class sitting cars. Venetian blinds were used exclusively in the parlour car.
As the compartment reached completion, the final floor covering of rubber linoleum was applied, as were also the steel grills for the individual compartment radiators. Rubber curving had been used to protect the lower portion of the veneer panels from footmarks. This was, of course, very essential in corridors, where there is a greater possibility of the lower portion of the veneers being damaged.
The terrazzo floors in the toilets were laid by experts and then finely ground and polished. The stove in the kitchen of the dining car just after assembly. It is interesting to note the rockwall insulation being placed into position. This rockwall is a special feature of the stove, which is renowned for its heat conservation and great fuel economy.
After being duly filled and flattened and the necessary number of undercoats applied, the exteriors of the cars were painted by modern spray-painting methods. The rounded end of the parlour car receiving its final colour, which consisted of two coats of royal blue duco. To this surface was carefully applied two parallel lines of gold leaf, which extend the whole length of the train. This band of gold leaf is three inches wide and the second band, two inches wide, was placed above the windows. This was, of course, a very delicate operation and required great skill and patience.
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