Helms Bakery Divco Coach Interior
View taken through the front windshield.
Within those drawers were bakery-fresh cookies, doughnuts, brownies, cakes and other treats. The bright levers down the center were used to disengage the catches that normally held the drawers closed. Loaves of bread were stowed upon the shelves above. A sliding chalkboard in front of the shelves could be used to announce daily specials. A second sliding panel allowed covering the shelves completely across.
In the upper right was the lever by which the Helmsman was able to sound the distinctive whistle by activating a roof-mounted bellows. The driver's seat could be swung forward as shown in order to create more working space as the customer stepped into the cab to make selections.
Here's a video explaining a bit more, narrated by Ralph Story, KNXT (now KCBS) Channel 2's wonderful presenter of historic things of Los Angeles and Southern California:
Helms Bakery Divco Coach Interior
View taken through the front windshield.
Within those drawers were bakery-fresh cookies, doughnuts, brownies, cakes and other treats. The bright levers down the center were used to disengage the catches that normally held the drawers closed. Loaves of bread were stowed upon the shelves above. A sliding chalkboard in front of the shelves could be used to announce daily specials. A second sliding panel allowed covering the shelves completely across.
In the upper right was the lever by which the Helmsman was able to sound the distinctive whistle by activating a roof-mounted bellows. The driver's seat could be swung forward as shown in order to create more working space as the customer stepped into the cab to make selections.
Here's a video explaining a bit more, narrated by Ralph Story, KNXT (now KCBS) Channel 2's wonderful presenter of historic things of Los Angeles and Southern California: