Why do hearses have curtains

Pruyn died, H. Ludlow, a local ambulance and funeral service, agreed to furnish a motorized hearse. Since Ludlow did not have one, he had one built by the C. Coey Auto Livery Company.

Coey adapted a horse drawn hearse by placing the framework on the chassis of an opera bus. In , hearses were beginning to resemble the passenger limousine that was popular with the well to do.

Three-way coaches were introduced near the end of the Roaring 20s. This allowed the casket table to move in order to be loaded and unloaded from either side of the hearse, or through the back door. Since streets were still unpaved, people liked the convenience of being able to load and unload the casket out of the mud. During the Art Deco Movement of the s, art-carved hearses became popular. These hearses featured hand-carved wooden panels that resembled heavily draped curtains and were placed on the side windows for privacy.

In , Sayers and Scovill introduced the landau style of hearse. Landau is a term from the Victorian era, which meant carriage bars that could fold and unfold, opening up part of the carriage to the elements. It was adapted to the motorized vehicle creating a semi-convertible where the rear quarter of the car could be opened up by folding the cover at the landau joints.

The funeral industry embraced the look and the leather-backed hearse with its faux landau bar became popular. Today, the S-shaped landau bars are still visible on many hearses. World War II. Funeral coach production was on the increase when WWII broke out and factories were converted for wartime production. By the end of the war, many funeral coach companies had experienced financial losses and were forced to close. These special bars were bought from overseas probably Italy but I could never find out where exactly deliberately so nobody else in Australia would have the same bars.

This can be seen with the two pictures below, figure 1 is of a Mannings hearse and figure 2 is of a WNBull hearse. Although they are both dual cab black hearses you can see the subtle difference in the window and roof styles. The Mannings hearse has no chrome border and less slope on the windows at the back. However the main differences is the chrome bars on the roof and inside the back.

The WNBull hearse has a single row of round spiral bars while the Mannings hearse has two flat chrome bars. Fig 1. Mannings hearse dual cab outside their office. Fig 2. WNBull Hearse dual cab driving through the city.

This shows how each company can make their hearses different and unique to their company. Here something as simple as chrome bars separates the two companies from each other and from others.

The customisation of the hearses not only leads to an opportunity to individualise the hearses but a need to individualise them. Companies often go to great lengths to make their hearse unique to the industry such as WNBull buying bars from overseas.

American hearses on the other hand are unique and customised but not to the same extent. Because they can be bought from a manufacturer there is less difference between them. Just as buying cars from the manufacturer are mass made and not very different from one another. Thus I wonder about the need or desire to individualise the hearse in America, either for the company or the family. Another notable difference is the windows of the two.

In Australia the hearse will almost always have large glass windows on the back with no pillars, curtains or obstructions, as pictured in figures 1 and 2. In America they tend to use either a limousine figure 3. Fig 3. American hearse single cab with limousine style back. Fig 4. American hearse single cab with landau style back. Fig 5. As you can see the limousine style back does have windows, but they are small and usually have a curtain behind them.

With the landau style the whole back is blacked out save the rear window and passenger windows. The view of the coffin is partially obstructed or completely blocked in the American hearse while it is completely open and viewable with the Australian hearse. Australian hearses do have the option to cover the windows with black leather or curtains, yet I have never seen or heard of them being used. And the main point is to hid the coffin on long trips to or from the funeral, not to cover it during the funeral.

It should also be noted that these windows on the Australian hearse are custom made and very expensive. It is interesting how in Australia there is obviously a desire to see the coffin inside the hearse while on a funeral, that the mourners and public not only have no issue with it but want it to be visible.

Most people choose a hearse to lead the funeral procession — also known as a cortege — on the day of the funeral. A hearse commands respect. People will stop and take notice of a hearse. Any vehicle that is large enough can be used to transport a casket. But a hearse is specifically built for that purpose.

Not only that, but hearses are easily identified and are treated seriously. They convey a sense of somber dignity. Even if you are having a cremation burial , you can rent a hearse to transport the cremated remains.

The hearse is equipped to transfer the casket from the funeral home to the funeral service, then from the funeral service to the cemetery or mausoleum. This is all included in the price of the rental from the funeral home.

They provide the hearse, the driver, and everything involving transportation. If you would like to give your loved one the dignity of a funeral procession led by a hearse, then this is a good and honorable choice. Discuss hearse rental and transportation with your funeral director. They will make sure to take care of you and anything you need. Now you know much more about hearses than you knew before. Learn More: Funeral Planning Guide. Your email address will not be published.

Skip to content A hearse is a vehicle that takes people on their final ride. Continue reading and you will find the answers to these question and more. What Is a Hearse? The first hearse was built in Why is it called a hearse?

Who rides in the hearse? Why do hearses have curtains? For the sake of privacy, a hearse has curtains. What are the things on the side of a hearse? Do you have to rent a hearse for a funeral? Can you use your own car as a hearse? How much does a hearse cost for a funeral? Can you rent a hearse for other events?