COACHBUILDING WITH STANDARD FITTINGS.
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A Company Specializing in the Supply of Metal Parts for the Construction of All-weather Coach Bodies.
TT will doubtless be recalled that, in .1 our issue dated March 29th last, we described a special type of all-weather coach body which was originally patented by Mr. G. Page. Auster, Ltd., of New King's Road, Fulham, London,
S.W.6, is now marketing the necessary equipment, in the form of . the Auster .all-weather coach fittings, for constructing this particular type of body. The parts provided include metal body and door pillars, special hcadtvork, complete windows, front windscreen and all necessary door fittings. This equipment is supplied to suit the coachbuilders' ONVII plans, thus saving him much time and labour.
It would be as well to refresh our readers' memories with a brief description of the fittings. The pillars are of a special light aluminium alloy which gives exceptional strength combined with extreme lightness. They are designed to be secured to the chassis frame by clips or bolts and are cast and machined so that they are ready to be fitted by the coachbuilder. Three of these • pillars are usually employed on each side Of the body. The extreme front and rear pillars, however, are of timber, Which arrangement allows the coachbuilder more latitude in design.
With regard to the headwork, the cant rails are of brass and of a specially designed :.•tectioxi so that they fit over the window frames when lowered. This gives the appearance of a broad beading along the top of the panels and adds to the finish of the body. The cant rails are operated by special springloaded telescopic plungers and can be
easily raised or lowered by a quarter turn of a small handle: They can also be held in position by means of setscrews, as shown in the accompanying drawing, Connecting links and knuckle joints" are provided to carry the cant rails over the doors when the hood is in use. The hood sticks are of tubularsectioned steel and are fitted with easily operated locking jaws to enable them to be firmly secured to the cant rails.
A feature of special interest is the avoidance of pillars above the waist rail. This is effected by employing between the windows, rubber cushions of special section which run in slots in the pillars. When the windows are raised, these cushions, being released from their slots, press one against the other, thus forming a perfect draught-proof and watertight joint.
The window-frames are of brass, are glazed with best quality British glass and bed in rubber ; they are controlled by Auster double-action raisers. The front windscreen has a frame of standard Auster design and its top half is made to open.
The parts, which are supplied and fitted ta all doors,
include slam-locks of efficient design, striking-plates, buffers and outside and inside handles of neat appearance. All fittings and frames can be finished in nickel-plate or polished brass. This equipment should undoubtedly prove suitable for all sizes of coach, from the 14-seater to the large vehicle seating 32 or more passengers. The net prices range from £70 for equipment suitable for building a 34-seater coach, to £135 for the fittings for a special 32-seater body.