Mind Your Head, Please
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THE oddly proportioned double-decker in the photograph on the right was recently seen near the Sacre Coeur cathedral in Paris by a member of our Art Department. Evidently intended to cater mainly for American tourists (the fleet name is Cityrama), it incorporates a sliding roof and very tall windows.
Aircraft type seats appear to be fitted. Another generally similar vehicle with a partially open upper deck was also seen. Nothing further is known about them, but they may well be the only double-deckers in France. Note the gentleman with his head poking through the roof!
It all reminds me that there is very little new. Looking through a 1926 file of The Commercial Motor this week, I came across a semi-roofed double-decker, no doubt intended to dodge the then.prevailing arguments about stability of roofed doubledeckers. The roof extended over the seats each side, but the central aisle was open to the elements (and, of course, the sides of the passengers sitting on the inside of the seats).
Reception Committee
RECENTLY a prototype coach chassis of decidedly unusual layout was discreetly driven to the factory of a certain body manufacturer. The driver was a bit nonplussed to find a large gathering awaiting the arrival of his charge--the more so upon discovering that several experimental and development engineers from a rival concern were in the party.
A7.0
Sir Hubert's successor
WHEN the Transport Bill becomes an Act—which is expected to taKe effect very shortly—the law will prescribe that the president of the Transport Tribunal "shall vacate office at the end of the completed year of service in the course of which he attains the age of 72 years."
Sir Hubert Hull, the current president, who will be 75 in September is, I understand, to stand down from his office in September and naturally enough, there is great speculation about his successor.
Az..cordine to the law, the president has to he an experienced lawyer, and three names are on the industry's lips.
he Candidates
1NE choice, .1 understand, is Mr. George D. Squibbs, a 56/ year-old Q.C., who is at present chairman of Dorset larter Sessions. He has a great interest in transport matters d is well known as an expert in genealogy and heraldry.
Another choice is Mr. E. S. Fay, Q.C. (of Merchandise and nold fame) who for many years has edited Traffic Cases, .ich are reports of appeals decided by the Transport Tribunal. Last but not least is the choice of Mr. J. R. C. Samuelbbon, who is well known as a transport advocate. He, too, ts Traffic Cases.
fhese barristers are the three most likely to be considered, in the Temple, and in some outside quarters as well, Mr. nuel-Gibbon is the favourite, the other two gentlemen being ittle too engrossed in civil and criminal law (as opposed to transport branch) to be likely to accept the paiition were Afered.
'ose and Level
20M1Y1ENTED a few weeks ago that individual axle weights to not always add up to the gross weight of the vehicle, Technical Editor tells me that it all depends how the axle ghts are taken. There are two things to watch, apparently. is that the axle next to that being weighed is right up :e to the moving pad of the bridge—literally to within an of the bridge platform. The other is that it is hopeless ixpeot accurate results if the ground in front of the bridge les noticeably.
o there you are—get really close to the bridge and make : the area surrounding the bridge is almost level. John -)n exaects his figures to tally to with:n 1 per cent.—and illy they do.