Practical Small Duple Coach
Page 36
If you've noticed an error in this article please click here to report it so we can fix it.
TO meet the current need for a small, manoeuvrable and economical vehicle seating 14-25 passengers,. Duple: Motor Bodies, Ltd„ The Hyde, Hendon, London, N.W.9, is producing a special coach on the Bedford OLAZ 3-4-ton goods., chassis, modified by Vauxhall :vlotots, Ltd., for public service vehicle use. Known as the Sportsman, this eminently practical vehicle has a composite body in which timber is the principal material in the framing. Fitted with 25 coach seats as standard, the unladen weight is 3 tons 4 cwt. The first one produced has been purchased by a London operator, and a number is on order for David MacBrayne, Ltd.
In its basic version, the Sportsman is reminiscent of a shooting brake in appearance, for the main framing is left exposed and the 1-in, resin-bonded plywood panelling is finished in natural grain. The use of plywood in this way is unusual but practical, for the panels, which run the full depth, from waist to skirt rail, are glued to the pillars and thus act as truss panels, making a rigid structure of the body.
Protective Measures
The pillars and rails are covered by timber capping sections and all joints are Bitched. The roof, roof pillars and dash are panelled in aluminium, and care has been taken in the design to extend the metal over the waist rail, for example, to protect the plywood panelling from moisture. The amount of metal in the vehicle has been reduced to a minimum, but an operator may specify the usual aluminium exterior panelling if this be required, at extra cost.
Although the resin-bonded plywood is extremely resistant to damage, a. panel, if damaged, can be readily repaired. This is achieved by cutting out the damaged portion, replacing it by a suitable piece cut to size, which is then backed on the inside by a thin sheet of aluminium and covered on the 132 outside by a thin grained piece of plywood. However, the position of the. panelling, insuie the main framing members. ensures a degree of protection against scratches and dents which may be suffered when the vehicle is operated in the narrow roads for which it is ideally suited.
The standard coach seats are fitted with Dunlapin° cushions. The floor is ramped slightly to improve visibility and to avoid wheel arch difficulties. The general standard of comfort is remarkably high. The main side
windows are fixed, but there are three sliding ventilators on c-th side of the body. Full equipment, including lighting, bell pushes, interior luggage racks, and a rear locker are provided. A large hinged entrance door is located behind the near-side front wheel, opening on to two 7-in. steps. The entrance aperture is 2 ft. 6 ins. wide. A folding door can be supplied as an alternative.
Overall length of the Sportsman is 22 ft., width 7 ft. 6 ins, and height 9 ft. 2 ins. Final details of the chassis price have not yet been decided, but the cost of the vehicle complete is estimated at £1,925.
NEW S.L.F. RODS
rTWO new oxy-acetylene welding rods .I. have been added to the range of Suffolk Iron 'Foundry (1920), Ltd., Stowmarket. One is designated the Sifonite No. 18 hard-surfacing rod and is available in 5/32-in., 3/I6-in. and 1-in. diameters. The other is a new bronze rod containing 22 per cent. nickel, specially produced for Sifbronzing stainless-steel fittings. This is made in 3/16-in. and 1-in. diameters.
The mobile bar built for Greenall, Whitley and Co., Ltd., described in last week's issue, incorporates a Carrimore Quickfit turntable. The outfit was supplied by Leach and Seed (1946), Ltd., Vauxhall Road, Liverpool.