Coventry' s Double-deckers.
Page 11
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In our issue dated the 30th October, 1913, we mentioned that the Coventry City Council had decided to initiate a motorbus service in that city, and had placed an order with the Maudslay Motor Co., Ltd., Parkside, for six doubledeekers. An illustration was also included showing one of the machines being used by the civic authorities on the occasion of the opening or the various branch free libraries in and around that city.
The six machines commenced ser, vice on the 30th March last, and reports to hand give evidence that the people of Coventry greatly appreciate this addition to the city's passenger-transport facilities, they having long since realized that the tramway system is hopelessly inadequate to meet their requirements.
We herewith publish brief details of the. more important constructional features of the vehicles. The ehassis,.with the exception of track gauge, is the Maudslay Co.'s standard three-tonner. The wh:iel gauge, we find, has been increased, in this instance by 5 ins., to 5 ft, 11 ins.; the wheelbase, as usual, is 73 f7. The 40 .h.p. engine, with the cylinders cast in pairs, is of that type which ha?, overhead camshafts, a constructional feature long associated with Maudslay design, and one which allows maximum accessibility to the power unit.
Through a leather-to-metal cone cleteh the power is transmitted to a sliding spur type of gearbox, which is designed to give four speeds. The final drive to the hack axle is by means of worm and worm wheel. the former component being placed on top, thus making sure of the maximum amount of ground clearance. The feature of the rear axle is, of course, the Maudslay patent one-piece weldless steel structure which houses the worm-gear and also takes the load.
The company's patent springloaded torque-rod is also retained, a refinement which relieves the rear springs from taking all the driving torque, and it is a construction .vhich has given entire satisfaction in the past. As is well known, the Maudslay people have long been associated with passenger tranenom and as early as 1905 a slumber of machines of this make was out into service by the Scottigh Motor Traction Co., many of these being in service at the present time.
The bodies of these new vehicles are exceedingly fine examples of coachwork. They were constructed. by the Brush Electrical Engineering Co., Ltd., Falcon Works, Loughborough, an undertaking vehieh has for many years been associated with the manufacture of good coachwork for tramcar rolling
stock, and which has also supplied a large number of bodies to the London General Omnibus Co. and the Metropolitan Electric Tramways for street passenger service. Many towns throughout the country have machines running in public service with this company's superstructure mounted on the chassis.
The framing is of American oak, with outside panels of mahogany, the length inside is 11 ft. 5 ins., the width, over pillars, 5 ft. 10 ins., and the height inside is 5 ft.
10.1,ins. The inside seats, which are placed longitudinally, are of the sprung-back type and upholstered in rep. The seats on the top deck are located crosswise. The total seating capacity of the vehicle is 34 passengers, 16 of -whom can be comfortably mum
inodated inside. Particular care has been taken to eliminate all tendency to rattle, and all fixed lights have been carefully embedded in rubber. Hinged ventilators are fitted over the side windows.
The interior of the body is highly finished, and the ceilings aee, of bird's eye maple veneer, whilst the decorations are mahogany panelling relieved with embossed mouldings.
A close examination of the body shows that the Brush Co. is well equipped in every direction for constructing coachwork of a highclass quality.
C.A.V. dynamo lighting is installed, there being six interior lights, in addition to the usual head, tail, side and destinationboard illumination.