PROGRESS IN PASSENGER TRAVEL.
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A New Method which Overcomes Certain
• Weaknesses in Existing Designs.
VERY LITTLE ingenuity has been V displayed in the matter of coach body design, and, in very many cases, manufacturers have been content to adhere hard and fast to orthodox principles. 0,ne of the neatest bits of coach designing for lightness is that of the Morgan all-metal body, which made its first appearance at last year's Olympia Show, but much *mope still remains for the employment of new ideas. In the Morgan design it may be remembered that the body of metal was built up an a tubular frame, jointed with remarkable ingenuity and braced with steel wire. A 25-seater body on these lines only weighed 12 cwt. complete with upholstery,hood, and screen.
In the ordinary body of wood, the general method of building is to mortise and tenon the bottom frame together, and, consequently, there is a weakness where most strength is required, and, owing to the overhang beyond the width of the chassisframe on many coach bodies, it becomes necessary to strengthen this vulneraiale part by the use of ironwork. In cases where the body is much longer than the chassis frame, heavy plates and angles have of necessity to be used, and although in certain cases these have been dispensed with by lengthening the chassis frame, this method causes much expense and does not always bring about a satisfactory result.
Mr. William Mumford, of Salisbury Road, Plymouth, has devised a means for overcoming these little weaknesses in design, and for two years, he tells us, he has been building coach bodies on the lines shown in tho accompanying drawing. It will be noticed from this illustration that the foundation runners (A), which are of deal, extend from the back pillar of the front door to whatever length the body is required on the floor line irrespectiveof the length of the chassis frame For a 30-seater body, Mr. Mumford 'wee material 9 ins. by 3 ins, if the body overhangs the chassis frame; otherwise, 4 ins. by 3 ins. material.
Intermediate cross-bars shown at B, which are of 3 in. sqeash, are bolted on the top of the foundation runners, the back cross-bar (C), of similar -material, Ll ins. by 3 ins., being rabbeted underneath to keep the bottom of the body in The bottom sides. (D) let down over the cross-bars to which they are bolted. The heelboa.nds (E), which are of in. elm, are firmly secured to the side pillars. The 1 in. floorboards (E) are tongued and grooved, and laid longitudinelly, the wood stiffening brackets (0), which are of elm of 1 in. thickness, merely adding
to the.et i rength without unduly ncreasing the weight.
Mr. Mumford claims that his method of construction is quite original and that bodies built en the lines described give greet strength in every direction. The foundation runners and bottom sides prevent any whip in the body fore and aft, and there is no trouble with doors opening on their own initiative. The cross-bars and heelboards look after all lateral strains.
This type of body is also said to be exceptionally light, only one piece of ironwork being used below the seat line and nothing but light squares above this level. The total weight of ironwork for a 30-seater body, net including, of course, hood fittings, amounts to 32 lb.
Convertible Coaches.
A 24-seated Char-a-bancs Transformable into a Lorry in 30 Minutes.
NO LONGER are the ex.L.G.O.C. buses being sold in this country, but the famous B type chassis can now be obtained fitted with a special convertible body which enables the vehicle to be used for coach work and ordinary goads haulage. The bodies.„ which are made and feted by the Associated Equipment Co., Ltd., at their Walthamstow works, have the square sides of the ordinary high-sided lorry, but there are four doers in .the near side, while at the hack is a concealed hinged tailboard. The driving seat, as might. he expected, is permanent, but the other four seats, which accommodate five persons each, are removable and fitted with loose cushions. A Cape-cart hood is provided, which can easlly be detached.
When the vehicle is required for use as a lorry, all that is required to be dote is to lift out the seats, which can be folded for storage purposes, and remove el4
tne nuvd. Naturally, the paintwork is a little better than that which is usual on lorries. Running boards are fitted for the convenience a passengers, but these should not inteafere with the use of the vehicle for goods transport.
Two oil side lamps and one tail lamp are included in the purchase price of this vehicle, which is, at the moment, £710.
Chester Coach Traffic.
Arrangements Being Made for the Summer Season,
SDA.LE RESIDENTS of the quaint old city of Cheater are aggrieved at the manner in Which certain parts of the town are -used as " dumping grounds " by chars-e-bancs, thus causing a nuisance. The Chief Constable has found that the complainanes have good cause for complaint, and he has Wormed the Watch Committee in a report he has repered that the storage ground at the Me Market (where vehicles last summer were "garaged") was unsuitable through lack of conveniences, and had not sufficient room to meet the demand. The inspectors had counted 178 vehicles
there, at one time, which_ meant that the streets in the vicinity became obstructed by the congestion; moreover, some of this space had recently been utilized for another purpose. "If we are to take notice of leading authorities on the traneport 'question, we may expect this traffic to increase very considerably in the near future, and the time is ripe for us to deal with it We require a place set` apart., with proper conveniences and suitable supervision, without which you will have neise
ances committed. Such a place properly developed would benefit . all concerned, would. soon pay for itself, and
bring revenue to the city. . " The greatest tremble the Felice have is mused when these vehicle load up; the drivers will pull up in a main street, in front of public houses, and stand for some time before they get their passen
gers aboard find that in some towns chars-a-banes are compelled to take certain routes,eat down and pick up passengers in certain places, and immediately garage their cars."
When the matter came before the City Council, after a discussion,the followmg rereenineedations were adopted (a) That it be reported to the Markets and Baths Committee that the Watch Committee are of the opinion that the parking of motor vehicles in the public market and cattle 'market should be discontinued.
(b) That it be recommended to the Improvement Gonsimittee (1) that the Little Roodee be utilized, except during race week for the parking of motor vehicles, (e) That on a satisfactory place being fonnd for the parking of motor vehicles, zegalations be made prohibiting the taking up and setting down of passengers in the public streets. (d) That the Improvement Committee be requested to consider a policy of providing satisfactory by-passes within the city so as to divert the heavy motor traffic from the main streets.
A Substitute' for Wood.
THE USE of wood for motes coach and van bodies, possesses certain disadvantages, and it is with a view to overcoming these well-known defects that O. D. Peters and Co., LW., 5a, Dean's' Yard, Westminster, London, S.W. have placed on the market a substitute in the form of Stu/deals,. It is not a new, untried material, having been manufactured abroad for the past five years, and we understand it has been
used for van bodies with considerable suecese. Its manufacture in England has been delayed owing to the war, but the necessary machinery has now been installed for its manufacture in large quantities.
Suncleala is claimed to be an ideal board for panelling, whilst it cain also be used for garages.. The material can be supplied in sheets, 10 ft. 3 ins. by 4 ft. 6 ins., a size which considerably reduces the cost of Labour in fixing as compared with material usually employed for this class of work. It is light in weight, strong and homogeneous, and will not laminate or split. It scores over wood, inasmuch as it possesses no flaws en the shape of knots, has no grain, and will hot shrink or warp when properly fixed. Being waterproof, Surideala can be painted and varnished in exactly tha same way as ordinary wood, and will maintain its hiall finieh indefinitely. It earl be steamed and bent to whatever shape required, as in the case of materials usually. employed for bodywork. Sun.deala being made of pure mechanical wood pulp, can be stored in exactly the same way as 'ordinary timber in a dry., airy room; it matures and improves with age, and its waterproof properties remain unimpaired.
Sundeala is supplied with sawn edges in several thicknesaes and sizes.