A NEW ONE-MAN COACH HOOD.
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An interesting Development of a Novel idea, Which May Help to Solve a Difficult Problem.
THERE is no end to the variety of ideas, inventions, and suggestions hich have as their Object the perfecting of the matcr coach hood, although we cannot say that any of the designs which we have seen approach at all closely to ' the ideal : perfection is still, in this matter, afar off. Even the number of the -Various devices for mounting these hoods, simplifying their attachments,, so that they may be easy to erect and to slow, is legion.
Careful readers of these pages will, no doubt, recall the features of Many of them, and will remember that the idea of supporting a hood on taut wires is not entirely novel. They will, however, agree that, in its application of this particular principle, the design which we are now about to describe, and for which Mr. R. Leonard Pope. of 10, Berkeley Road, "Westbury. Park, Bristol, is responsible, embodies several new features.
The rear end of this hood is supported, in orthodox fashion, on a couple of hoopsticks, one of which is vertical, the other lying back on the angle so as to atiffen , the rear corner. There are no other hoopsticks whatever. Along the top of the hood, at regular intervals; are aluminium cross-bars or half-hoops. Each has a pair of eyes near each end, and through these eyes pass two endless wires, one at each side of the hood. Each wire starts at the hoop-stick to which we have re ferred, and passes forward over a pair of pulleys located on a bracket on the top . the windscreen, thence over yet another pulley, which is supported on a vertical screw which is mounted on the front. of the dashboardBy the manipto Iatien of this sereViathe wire is tightened.
When it is desired to raise the hood, the two rear hoop-sticks are lifted, and the wires are laassed over their respective pulleys and duly tightened. The forward portion of the hood ia then pulled along, the eyes in the aluminium. Cross-pieces sliding freely an the wires until the front
C52 end of the hood is so positioned that it may be engaged with suitable pins on the frame of the' windscreen.
In the ease of a long hood an additional supper may be provided, about the middle of its length, in the shape of pillars, hinged to the body of the coach, and engaging one of the aluminium crosspieces by Eklqlle form of bayonet joint..
When the hood is to be folded back, the reverse operation is carried out. The aluminium ribs slide back along the wires
until -they lie close to one another and to the hoop-sticks. The wire is then slackened, removed from its pulleys, and folded back inside the.hood. The hoopsticks are then' turned back, and the folded hood takes up the familiar shape and position at the rear of the body.
In order to secure the aluminium ribs when the hood is folded, tubular fittings are. mounted on the hoop-sticks, which are designed to envelop the eyes on the ribs. When all tha eyeA are in, a pivoted catch closes the end of the tube and keeps everything snug. •
Coaching Fares in North Wales.
THE North Wales Silver Motors, Ltd., of Llandudno, who operate a fleet of 12 motor ortinibosea (two doubledeckers and 10 single-deckers) of Dennis and Daimler manufacture, have just inaugurated their summer programme, which includes an hourly circular service between Llandudno and Colwyn Bay, returning by Mochdre The activities .of this company also include the operation of six motor Dennis and Daimler coaches, which are fitted with armchair .seats,
Motor' coaching fares in North Wales are considerably below those ruling last year, and are very unstable on account of-local competition. The following table of comparisons shears the late Reason fares last year, as against what would be considered a good rate for current trade.
gaining considerable favour in the As in tins country, the trolley-hua is United States. Two services extending for 15 mires are operated by the City of New York on Staten Island, where the city engineers have made plans for routes amounting to 200 miles. The country is hilly, and, being close to the mainland, the island has residential districts and summer resorts, as well as manufacturing and rural centres,
The new omnibuses which have recently been put into operation are, according to Th.c= Es Omer, designed on the lines of the private car rather, than the ordinary, omnibus, the entrance and exit doors being in the side of a .vestibule at the front end of the body, and just behind the rear wheels respectively. Two 25 h.p. motors in tandem are geared to disc wheels, fitted with solid tyres of 36-in. by 6-in dimensions, those on
the rear wheels b'eing twins.
The bodies fitted to the vehieles are 26 ft. 6 ins. long, 6 ft. 10 ins. wide, and 6 ft. 4 ins. high. Each vehicle is arranged to carry 30 passengers. and has transverse and longitudinal seats.