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Mobile Luxury for Ted Heath's Band

16th April 1954, Page 44
16th April 1954
Page 44
Page 44, 16th April 1954 — Mobile Luxury for Ted Heath's Band
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A Well-known Band Leader Expects to Save Money by Operating his own Coach

A WARDROBE, cocktail bar and buffet, and seats adjustable to four positions, arc some of the features of a Seddon-Duple Elizabethan luxury coach which will be used by Mr. Ted Heath, the band leader, to carry his 21 players to engagements in various parts of Britain. This unusual operator expects to effect a "considerable saving" from his acquisition, as it has hitherto cost him some £3,500 a year to move his band from town to town. The chassis, which was supplied by Halls (Finchley), Ltd., is a Seddon Mark II with a 16-ft. 6-in, wheelbase fitted with a Perkins R6 vertical underfloor oil engine.

Twenty-two of the 23 individual seats are adjustable to four positions and, at 2 ft., are wider than normal. Armrests are provided on each side. Seat fillings consist of double-density Dunlopillo, and squabs and headrests are formed of especially soft foam rubber. Each seat is provided with a detachable headrest cover, and a glove and paper pouch is fitted to the back.

Individual-beam reading lights are placed over each seat, the upholstery of which is in blue moquette. There is a gangway clearance of 1 ft. 2 in., and a carpet is fitted along its length.

The full-depth wardrobe, faced externally with moquette, is fitted at the B10 rear on the off side. The wardrobe door is reached by tipping forward the rear off side gangway seat.

A sink, and the cocktail cabinet and buffet with Formica-lined counter are built into the near side rear corner. A waste-water tank is provided below the counter. Woodwork is in walnut. The luggage locker at the rear has a capacity of nearly 100 cu. ft.

Copper tubes for heating extend along both sides of the interior. Radio, with three loudspeakers, is provided in the saloon.

As the coach may be used on the Continent, a folding step is provided below the emergency exit door fitted to the driver's right. Two fog lamps

are also incorporated.

The interior colour scheme is blue and fawn; light and dark blue are used on the outside.

The coach was delivered through Brookside Motors (Croydon), Ltd.

A new company, Albemarle Coaches, with their registered office at 23 Albemarle Street, London, W.1, has been floated to operate the coach, The Commercial Motor could not confirm a rumour that the coach would be available for private hire when not being used by Mr. Heath.

Tags

People: Ted Heath
Locations: London

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