Photograph, Bathroom, The Glass Train, Somerset Murray, 1937

Publicity photograph of the Age of Glass Exhibition train - showing a bathroom - a sink with mirror above it at right and a mirrored vanity unit with circular stool in front.

The Glass Train was created for Pilkingtons the glass manufacturers from two converted LNER railway-coaches by Kenneth Cheesman. It aimed to show 'what could be done with contemporary methods, and to stimulate imagination regarding the design properties of different glass products.' The train called at 40 different towns and attracted 400,000 visitors. One is reminded of the Russian Agitprop propoganda trains of a slightly earlier date.

Here the mirrored vanity unit allows make-up to be applied in the bathroom rather than at the dressing table in the bedroom. The sink has no plug chain and must have been operated at the tap which in itself is of a modern fixed flow design. Again the lighting is non-direct.The advertising function of the whole train can be seen from the etched labels on the glass panels: 'No. 4 Fluted Sandblast' reads the one at far right.

PH.453-1980