british-cars
[Top] [All Lists]

Re: Berkshire.. now side curtains

To: timd@ptltd.com (Tim Dziechowski)
Subject: Re: Berkshire.. now side curtains
From: phile@stpaul.gov (Philip J Ethier)
Date: Thu, 14 Oct 1993 12:33:59 -0500 (CDT)
Tim Dziechowski writes > 
> >> 24. British for removable side windows
> >
> > Side curtains, same as USA since the horse-and-buggy days.  In the USA
> > they were sometimes called "I-zen-glass" curtains (I have no idea how to
> > spell that), which referred to the clear material.  May have been a brand
> > name for some kind of clear cello stuff no longer used.  This term is very
> > old and predated automobiles.
> 
> Although your dictionary may tell you otherwise, isinglass referred to a form
> of sheet mica which was used in the US for window coverings in colonial times
> when glass was expensive.

There is an OLD American song called "The Surrey With the Fringe on the Top"
A surrey is a horse-drawn four-wheeler with open sides and and a flat top
made of fabric, which of course often carries decorative fringe all around
it.  Part of the song is:

"And isinglass curtains that roll right down
in case there's a change in the weather" 

These side curtains were rolled up and secured behind the fringe with
leather ties.  I have seen safari tops on Jeeps and Land Rovers that work
the same way.

> "Let me know if this is getting too trivial" 
 
It's getting silly.  We passed trivial hours ago.


<Prev in Thread] Current Thread [Next in Thread>