Helms Bakery Coach - Divco
The Helms Bakery coach was a familiar sight and sound to neighborhoods in the Greater Los Angeles area until the close of their business around 1969.
You could hear the Helms vehicle making its way to your house by the distinctive whistle, one that was sounded by a hand-operated air bellows mounted on the roof of the coach.
The classic Helms Bakery coach was a Divco such as this example. Panel trucks were also utilized on some routes. When we lived in College Park East in Seal Beach, the Helms delivery vehicle was a yellow and blue Chevrolet or GMC panel truck from the early-mid 1960's. When we lived in Los Angeles, however, the Helms man drove a Divco such as this. Perhaps it was related to the physical distance between the bakery and the neighborhood. I suspect that the Divco vehicles were not meant to travel at freeway speeds.
Here's an 18 minute period video that was most likely filmed at the Helms Bakery. youtu.be/EsUh5olDi7s The scenes at the dinner tables all across the world are quaint!
Helms Bakery Coach - Divco
The Helms Bakery coach was a familiar sight and sound to neighborhoods in the Greater Los Angeles area until the close of their business around 1969.
You could hear the Helms vehicle making its way to your house by the distinctive whistle, one that was sounded by a hand-operated air bellows mounted on the roof of the coach.
The classic Helms Bakery coach was a Divco such as this example. Panel trucks were also utilized on some routes. When we lived in College Park East in Seal Beach, the Helms delivery vehicle was a yellow and blue Chevrolet or GMC panel truck from the early-mid 1960's. When we lived in Los Angeles, however, the Helms man drove a Divco such as this. Perhaps it was related to the physical distance between the bakery and the neighborhood. I suspect that the Divco vehicles were not meant to travel at freeway speeds.
Here's an 18 minute period video that was most likely filmed at the Helms Bakery. youtu.be/EsUh5olDi7s The scenes at the dinner tables all across the world are quaint!