PASSENGER TRAVEL NEWS.
Page 20
If you've noticed an error in this article please click here to report it so we can fix it.
The Latest Doings and Developments in the Bus and Coach World.
A 20-SEATER COACH FOR IIIGH-CLASS TOURING.
The Latest Product of a Prominent British Manufacturing Company who Run a Large Fleet of Their Own Vehicles on Regular Service.
ONE IS impelled to exhibit the utmost respect for the products of a company of commercial-vehicle makers who run a comprehensive fleet of their own vehicles either for goods or passenger transport, for the simple reason that they are in the enviable position of being able to secure first-hand knowledge of the problems which have to he met by the -czar and can-, accordingly,
set out to meet them in the mostefficient manner.
There are but few companies in this country who fill the dual role of maker and user, and amongst them is the Bristol Tramways and Carriage Co., Ltd., v.,ho produce a range of chassis which have come to the fore in the industry, and operate and control a most comprehensive network of, bus serviees radiating in all directions from Bristol, to which, of course, motor-coach tours are added in the better months of the year.
After many years' intimate association with the operation of passenger-transport services, it can be safely assumed that the company possess a dear understanding of the requirements of this section of the industry. For this reason alone the new 20-seater motor coach which has just been produced by the company should merit attention at the hands of all those who cater for road tourists. The basis of this new produc-. tion is the company's 2-ton chassis, to the design and construction of which -we have had occasion in the past to refer.
The new coach is arranged to seat 20 passengers. The seating follows what is more or less conventional practice ; that is to say, transverse seats, each to accommodate two people, are disposed on B3f3
each side of a central gangway. The back seat, of course, runs the full width of the body, and in the case of this Bristol production it is arranged to be readily removed in order that the space at the rear can be used for carrying luggage when the vehicle is engaged on long-distance touring.
e framing of the body is built up of English ash, which is secured with hand-forged iron body plates. The panelling of the body is carried out in sheet steel.
Due attention has been given to the question of passenger's convenience, and apart from the use of spring seats, cushions and back squabs are stuffed with horse-hair and trimmed with leather in order to give the maximum degree of comfort. Access to the body interior is by way of a door located at the front on the near side, to which is connected a folding step, so that so soon as the door is closed the steps are automatically raised to the semi-vertical position. The type of step which is employed can be clearly seen from the illustration on this page which shows that on the off side, which is used by the driver to give access to his seat. .
The vehicle has been primarily designed for high-class coaching work, and accordingly much attention has been given to details. All fittings are electronickel-rdated, and in so far as coat and rug tails are fitted at the back of each seat, it is clear that no effort has been spared to render the vehicle an example of first-class coach construction.
It should be mentioned that this coach is fitted with the company's patent oneman hood, which is claimed to be a oneman hood in the true sense of the term. It requires the exertion of little physical strength to erect it, as the weight of the hood is supported upon cable runways during the process of erection, which can be carried out with an entire absence of inconvenience to the passengers. Moreover, the weight of the hood is claimed to be considerably less than that of other types which are in regular use.
The 2-ton Bristol chassis is of the for, ward-dash type, and, on this account, is eminently suitable for passenger transport in so far as it is capable of carrying a body which has a comparatively large seating capacity and at the same time gives adequate seating -space to each passenger.
The four-cylinder monobloc engine of the 2-ton chassis has a 3g-in, bore and 5 in. stroke and an R.A.C. rating of 22.5 at 1,000 r.p.m. A governer, which limits the speed to 2,000 r.p.m., is fitted. The engine power' is conveyed through a Ferodo-lined clutch of the dry-plate type to a four-speed-and-reverse gearbox, the final drive being by overhead worm.