REPLACEMENT OF DOVERITE COVERING ON
RT, RF, GS, RM AND OTHER LTE BUSES
INTRODUCTION
Most post war to the early 1970,s built London Transport buses were fitted from new with a hand rail covering made from coiled strip PVC plastic called ‘Doverite’.
The reason for this was two fold in that it provided a convenient grip area, which was easily identifiable by passengers in both daylight and after dark and being insulated reduced the effect of static electricity causing unpleasant shocks on boarding the vehicle.
Doverite was originally manufactured by ‘Bluemels’ well known at the time as a manufacturer of bicycle pumps and other plastic accessories including handlebar covering similar to ‘Doverite’.
DESCRIPTION
Doverite is supplied in spirally coiled lengths each length when correctly fitted should cover six feet (just under 2 metres) of rail or pole. The material is grooved and has a lip that locates and locks each coil to the previous as it is applied. On the inside surface of the coil it has a 3/8 inch strip of masking tape applied. It is important not to remove this as it is there, to provide a good surface for the adhesive to stick to.
PREPARATION
To carry replacement it is generally easier to remove the rails or pole from the bus but in some cases it may be possible to fit the strip without removal, typically on platform poles.
The first operation is to release the retaining collars which originally were fixed by pins right through the collar and rail, close examination should indicate the position of the pins which can then be driven out with a suitable pin punch and hammer, support the rail on a piece of soft wood so as to minimise any damage to the surface. In the event of the pin failing to come out, it should be drilled from each end sufficiently to release the collar after which the hole through the rail will be easy to clear. If the rail has been recovered before it may be fixed with two pop rivets, the heads of these should be drilled off and then they may be driven in with the punch.
The old covering should now be removed, it is important that no traces of the old adhesive are left behind, it is best removed by the use of the traditional type of metal pot scourer as this leaves a good surface for the new adhesive. On the rails fitted to the front wall of rear open platform vehicles the brackets incorporate the collars, it may be possible to get away with only releasing the inner bracket, the old covering and adhesive can then be cleaned from the outer one with a suitable old hacksaw blade ground to a hook shape.
RECOVERING
Refit the collar which is at the bottom end of the rail on verticals or the outer end on horizontal rails but do not rivet on, with a pair of scissors or a hobby knife trim the Doverite from the thicker edge end of the roll so that it fits neatly under the collar and pierce though the holes with a suitable tool, a carpenters bradawl or a sharp scriber will be found very suitable.
Liberally coat the pole with spay contact adhesive. Do not wait for it to dry (DIY stores do a contact carpet adhesive spray which is cheap and effective). Start coiling the plastic around the pole (this can be a messy process but the adhesive does come off with white spirit), every few turns grip the coiled on covering and screw tight to the pole on reaching the other end cut of so that the end collar will fit neatly in place, pierce through with sharp tool and secure both collars with suitable sized pop rivets (these may vary dependant on how many times the old pole has been recovered).
Finally clean off surplus adhesive with white spirit (to get into grooves an old tooth brush works well), polish up poles and refit to bus.
IMPORTANT
When Doverite is fitted to vertical poles it is important that it is fitted so the laps are on the outside from the bottom up so that water runs off, similarly on horizontal rails over the ticket box the laps should be such that passengers’ hands slide over not against the edges of the turns.
John Clarke