Originally Posted by Winston_Churchill
(Post 152940)
A charabanc is a type of large open-topped bus designed for sightseeing and day tripping. Other types of conveyance have largely replaced the charabanc in the modern era, but at one time these buses were extremely popular, especially in England. Several vintage charabancs can be seen on display in museums, including some very elegant hand made examples designed to be drawn by horses. The charabanc may also pop up now and then in actual usage, usually as a novelty item.
The term comes from the French char-a-bancs, for a “carriage with benches.” The simple design included rows of seats in the body of a carriage which all faced forward, accommodating a large number of sightseers. A driver perched on a seat in the front, or rode in a separate carriage which pulled the charabanc. Typically, no covering at all was installed over the riders, although some versions included a canopy as rudimentary shelter from the elements.
The charabanc is most closely associated with outings organized by employers, especially employers of the lower classes. By all accounts, some charabanc rides got rather rowdy, with employees taking advantage of the liberation from work to get sauced on alcohol and eat large volumes of food. Generally, a charabanc took people on a sight seeing tour, usually ending at a destination such as the fair or the beach.
The concept of the charabanc has been around in English since at least the early 1800s, when the French word began to be Anglicized into its modern form. However, the heyday of the carriage appears to have been in the England of the 1920s, when both motorized and horse-drawn charabancs littered the countryside, especially during the summer months. After the Second World War, the charabanc began to be replaced with other buses and modes of transit that were more comfortable and sheltered for the rider.
In some regions of the world, vintage charabancs are used to add flair to sightseeing tours, since it can be interesting to tour an old fashioned village or city in an old fashioned bus. Large wedding parties may also use charabancs to arrive in style. People who are interested in hiring a charabanc should ask around in their region to see where the nearest rental company is. Regions which offer charabanc tours usually advertise them, often allowing visitors to make reservations while they are planning their trips.
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