PASSENGER TRAVEL NEWS.
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The Latest Doings and Developments in the Bus and Coach World.
A NEW FORWARD-DASH-TYPE BUS.
An Example of a New Type of Bus Body Mounted on a New Forwarddash-type of Petrol-electric Chassis.
ALTHOUGH IT IS not so long ago that the first example of the forward-dash-type chassis made its appearance, since that time most of the prominent British manufacturers have been impressed with its advantages for certain classes of work, and.shave, accordingly, either designed new chassis
incorporating this feature or have made modifications in their standard productions enabling the driver, to be accommodated alongside the engine.
Tilling-Stevens Motors, Ltd., of Maidstone, are the latest makers to adopt this method of construction, and an example of the new type of chassis, which is known as the T.-S. 6, fitted with an interesting type of body produced by Thomas Tilling, Ltd., in their coachbuilding department at Wren Road, Camberwell, London, S.E., has recently been delivered to the East Kent Road Car Co., Ltd.
The chassis follows the general design of the company's other petrol-electric models, the main differences being that. the engine is fitted with Ricardo pistons and cylinders, that the cylinders have detachable heads, and that the steering and controls are mounted at the front end of the chassis frame in order that the driver's position can be brought forward alongside the bonnet. It should also be mentioned that the controller and resistance boxes are fitted on the offside of the frame.
The primary motive power of the Tilling-Stevens petrol-electric model is a four-cylinder internal-combustion engine of the conventional type, which is directly coupled to an electric generator which transmits power through insulated cables to an electric motor. This motor is directly connected to the rear road wheels through a cardan shaft, and differential gearing. The Tilling body, which is fitted to the vehicle we illustrate on this page, incorporates many interesting features in its design, chief amongst which is the canopy top with which it is fitted, which enables the 'bus to be used as a completely enclosed vehicle during the winter months and as'a, semi-open-type vehicle during the better months of the year. The body provides seating accommodation for 38 passengers, 30 of whom are disposed on transverse seats, each seating two people, on each side of a central gangway, provision for another seven passengers being made on a seat seat which extends round the off-side corner ofthe body, the remaining passenger being carried on a tip-up seat which is fitted between the foremost gangway seats.
The body framing is carried out in English oak, the pillars and rails being of ash. The roof sticks, which serve the purpose of carrying the loose canvas covering, are fitted with additional longitudinal rails for the purpose of securing additional strength. The framework of the body is reinforced at vulnerable points with steel flitch plates, pillar plates and angle supports, as is usual in coachbuilding practice. The panels are of sheet aluminium, hand-beaten to shape.
The body is lined on the inside with birch veneata plywood: The seat frames have been specially designed to secure the utmost rigidity, and they are made of ash with three-ply, back-sloping boards which are secured to the floorboards by suitable angle brackets. There is Only one entrance to the body, and this is located on the near side just behind the rear wheel. It is of the two-piece type and its width is such as to enable easy ingress to, and egress from, the vehicle. The door is framed in mahogany, and it has glass upper panels fitted with a special locking device.
In the design of the vehicle considerable .attention has been giver, to the question of passengers' comfort and convenience, and all seats are provided with loose spring cushions, which are 5 ins, deep and have rounded corners; they are stuffed with horsehair and upholstered in blue Spanish Duratex. Nickel grab handles are fitted at the back of each seat.
The four forward windows on each side of the body are of the frameless type, and are fitted with the Lawson drop-window lift, which enables. the light to be adjusted and fixed in any desired position. A special device is used to make all windows absolutely watertight. All the windows to the rear of these lights are of .polished plate-glass, and they are securely fixed in rubber channel. A brass rail runs along each side of the body, from the front pillars to those ahead of the fixed windows, which acts as a safety guard and protects the top edges of the windows when they are lowered. •
The roof is an entirely new type. It. is made of heavy-quality khaki duck, and the cover is firmly • held at. its forward end by means of a broad bead. When it is unrolled it is held in position by special oval-section, rustless steel springs, suitable attachments for each spring being disposed along the body sides, eight springs being fixed to the side pillars and eight to the cant rail on each side of the vehicle. All edges of the cover are doubly reinforced in .order to lengthen its life. It is a simple matter to roll the covering back when it is desired to use the vehicle as a semiopen but, and three straps are provided on the fixed -portion of the canopy to hold it in position.
Special attention has been paid to the questions of interior ventilation and lighting. When the windows are all in the closed position a hit-and-miss sliding ventilator at the front of the vehicle ensures a constant supply of fresh air for the interior. In the matter of illumination, special angle-pattern fittings are used, and these are supported from the cant rails.
It will be seen that the comfort of the driver ha.s been well considered, and high side doors, combined with a deep adjustable windscreen, help to make his compartment comfortable and give adequate protection from bad weather.
The whole of the vehicle is finished in the standard colours of the East Kent Road Car Co., Ltd., the panels being painted a deep red and picked out in black, the name of the company being shown on the side panels. So far as dimensions are concerned, the overall length of the body is only 22 ft.. 4 ins., its overall width being 7 ft. 24. ins, and its inside height 6 ft.
ins.
The general design and finish of the body fully maintains the coachbuilding reputation of Mews. Tilling. Finished in the natural wood, which is highly French polished, the interior of the bus possesses a clean and attractive appearance, whilst the exterior provides evidence of the well-proportioned fines of the chassis and the body which it carries.