A SALOON BUS FOR SPEEDY SERVICE.
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Brief Details of a One-man-controlled-type Vehicle Recently Put Into Service by a Midland Company.
rpHERE is always likely to be a big demand in this country for the small saloon bus which, it is generally admitted, is a useful and economical type for operation in rural areas or for linking up two populous centres. By reason of its relatively light weight and moderate width, it can be run on roads which might possibly be unsuitable for carrying larger and heavier vehicles. A bus of this description, which is typical of many hundreds in service in different parts of the country, is the Morris 18seater illustrated on this page. The vehicle has recently been delivered to Messrs. Dean and Tailby, of Repton,
by the Willowbrook Co., Belgrave Gate, Leicester, who are responsible for the bodywork, and the bus is now plying on the road between Derby and Burton.
Of the Morris 25-30-cwt. chassis which forms the basis of this vehicle we need say no more than that it is particularly suitable for small buses, and in this direction has already achieved considerable popularity.
The body is a well-finished product, and is arranged for one-man operation, the passenger entrance, which is under the control of the driver, being at the front on the near side. It is of the two-piece folding variety and completely
dating two people and being separated by a wide central gangway which runs right through to the emergency door in the rear panel; this door can be opened from both inside and outside the vehicle. The seats have shaped covered plywood backs on sprin'g steel supports and a wide shoulder rail well upholstered. The cushione are detachable, and consist of good quality spring cases covered with Itexine.
The bus has four frameless drop windows on each side, -which are operated by patent balanced fittings with a centre controlling device. 'There is a sliding window on the right of the driver which enables him to give hand signals to on-coming traffic. Ventilators of a non-rattling pattern are fitted above each main light at the sides.
In the design of the body the builders have sought to give ample strength without excessive weight, for which reasons light steel plates or body irons are used to reinforce pillars and corners. The interior is finished in the natural grain of mahogany and ash, which, with the white enamelled roof, give a bright and pleasing appearance. A number of lamps is fitted in the roof, one of them, which has a separate switch, being disposed over the entrance., 'The driver is cut riff from the passengers by a half-width partition.
The bus we have briefly described is built for speedy service and is shod with pneumatic tyres, twins being used on the rear wheels. The Willowbrook "Co. inform us that they have made arrangements for bodies of this type to be kept in stock, so that they are in a position to meet the iunnedinte needs of those who require to use the Morris 25-30-cwt. chassis for bus work.