AN ALL-THE-YEAR-ROUND PASSENGER VEHICLE.
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n NE OF the outstanding novelties at I•er last year's Olympia Show, in so far as passenger vehicles are concerned, was the charahus, which is designed and manufactured by Christopher Dodson, Ltd., of Cobbold Road, Willesden, London, N.W. 10.
The main idea in designing this novel body has been to produce 'an improvement on the ordinary coach, by providing an open type of vehicle that can be readily converted and made comfortable and weatherproof, enabling it to be used all the year round, irrespective of prevailing weather conditions. It is a well-recognized fact that the standard Cape-cart hoed is far from satisfactory, and that in actual -use passengers often get wet while it is being raised. The difficulty of raniing the hood also induces the driver to avoid putting it up until the last, moment.
With the Charalaus, protection cart be given to passengers in less than one minute. Two men can in 10 minutes convert the Ohara-Eine from an open vehicle to one completely enclosed. Four detachable mahogany framed Windows are used for each side when the vehicle is completely enclosed, although, -should the weather be only .ehowery, the stormproof curtains, which can readily be removed when the weather improves, can be used.
In the Cha,rabus the driver's cab and the compartment at the rear are permanent fixtures, and a centre rail connects the two. This centre-piece houses the cant rail, to which is fixed the twill ecivering. When it is desired completely to enclose the top, this cant rail, which reins on rollers, is drawn over to the side, where it is held in position by three stays, which, when not in use, are also accommodated in the centre-piece. The cant rail is so shaped that, when used with the centre-piece, rattle is prevented. The normal seating capacity of the Charabus, as illustrated on this page, is 28, but, by the provision of tip-up setts in the gangway, this can be increased to 34..
It is fair to assume that the Charabus will be patronized during uncertain weather conditions when an ordinary char ..-banns might very well be regarded with disfavoiu. Upon fairly long trips, returning late at night, even in the summer, the nights get chilly and the ride tedious, owingto cold and dark11E6; with the CharahuS closed and the interior lit up, a 'cheerful and pleasant finish to the day's outing is assured.