Economics of 14-seaters
Page 43
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A CORDING to Mr. H. I.
Partridge, proprietor of Bantam Coaches, Coventry, the use of 4-seaters for private-hire coach arties solves many problems conected with catering arrangements. he coaches are exempt from .the no coaches" prejudice, and the mists are welcome in the best otels.
Referring to what he calls the better atmosphere of the small latch," Mr. Partridge claims that the ICCCSS of a trip with such a party is most a foregone conclusion. The oach is more intimate and there
less likelihood of discordant ements. The cost of an outing in 14-seater is 33i per cent., more than Le ordinary fare, but most passen!rs consider that the advantages lake the higher cost worthwhile. There are three 14-seaters in the antam fleet out of a total of 12, the :mainder comprising seven oiligined and two petrol-engined ..hicles with capacities varying from
to 39 seats. The small Coaches .e mounted on Karrier passenger tassis and are fitted with full)rward-control bodies made by eading and Co., Ltd., Portsmouth; ie overall dimensions are 17 ft. by ft. 3 in.
The seats of the Katriers are of le luxury type and are arranged tree in a tow with two on one side F the gangway and one on the other. ntrance is by means of a wide iding door at the front, and there a rearward-facing seat between the trance and the windscreen oppo
te the driver. The windows are iVided, the top sections being fitted ith sliding_ lights. Other items [elude a radio and a heater. Favourable fuel consumption and low tyre costs partly compensate foi the higher percentage cost of the driver's wages. The engine is the Humber Hawk four-cylindered side. valve unit of 2.3 litres capacity. developing 58 b.h.p. at 3,400 r.p.m. The average fuel consumption rate on standard-grade petrol is 18-20 m.p.g.
The cylinder bores are chromium plated, and after 38,000 miles the oil consumption of all the engines is negligible. One unit has run this distance without alop overhaul or any attention apart from minor adjustments. The engine lubricant employed is Fina semi-detergent oil, and oil changes are made at 3,000mile intervals.
Taking into consideration the lower first cost of the four 9.00
by 16-in. tyres, compared with that of the six larger covers of the oil-engined coaches, the saving in overall tyre costs is about 66 per cent. India covers are fitted to the existing 14seaters and these have put up an average 30,000 miles.
Although the small coaches were introduced for private-hire work, when the seating capacity is adequate they are often used for licensed tours and excursions. They are also sometimes employed as relief vehicles to take the surplus from a larger coach. On private hire their winter mileages are far higher than the distances covered by the other vehicles.
The oil-engined vehicles in the fleet comprise three Dennis Lancet 35and 37-seaters, two Albion coaches with 33 and 37 seats. a Leyland 33-seater and a Sentinel underfloor-engined 39-seater. The remaining petrol-engined vehicles are a Bedford Vega 33-seater and a Cdrnmer 30-seater. The average fuel consumption of the oilers is at the rate of about 12 rn.p.g., the best being that of the Sentinel which yields about 14 m.p.g.