A New Metropolitan Steam Bus.
Page 11
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nit, Metropolitan Steam Omnibus Co., Ltd.. has recently put into set
ice its 23rd Darracq-Serpollet omnibus. This new machine has been built to conform to the 1909 regulations of the Commissioner of Police, and Mr. A. C. Clifford, the manager of the operating company, who is responsible for the modifications to the chassis, and Christopher Dodson, Ltd., the maker of the body, are to be congratulated on the production of a bus that is at once smart and workmanlike.
The chassis is one of the 30-40 h.p. Darracq-Serpollet machines, which has been modified and improved by Mr. Clifford. The improvement consists of the elimination, re-arrangement, or simplification of many parts, but the design of all the important and vital details remain as in its maker's standard machines; there is, therefore, no (petition about the " safety " of the chassis, having regard to the excellent experience of the Metropolitan Co. With its original 20 buses, which maclones, of course, are much heavier, although only running on springs, axles, etc., of the same tii.7.0 as on No. 23. The total unladen weight of the new bus is 3 tons, 11 cwt., 56 lb., whilst its weight in running order. with the driver, conductor, and 31 piosengers, is 100 lb. short of six tons.
The laxly has seating siecommodathin for 16 passengers inside, and 15, on ordinary garden seats, on the tool the latter seats are arranged so as leave a wide gangway along the centre. The principal feature in fhe construction of the body is the adaptation of Dodson's patent pillar-plate; this plate, which is of tee section, runs continuously from the roof to a point about 12 in. along the floor inside the chassis frame. In other parts of the body, the sections of scantlings, etc., have been modified, wherever possible, so as to reduce weight. The tread plates, hand rails, and many other parts, are made of aluminium alloy, and the body weighs under one ton, complete with wings, wing stays, chain guards, driver's footboards, electric-light fittings, side routehoards, and destination board both at the back and front. Each of the lastnamed boards is illuminated by means of three small electric lamps, which are neatly arranged and protected by a reflector of Mr. Clifford's design.
This new bus is fitted with a Hounsfield excess-speed alarm, the provision of which device is now compulsory on ihl new buses presented for licensing. at Scotland Yard. This fitting, which is made by Crompton and Co., Ltd., of London and Chelmsford, was placed on the market in the spring of last year, and references to it have been made in this journal on several occasions. A brief description, with a sectional view of the device, was given on page 20 of our last week's issue. in one of the photographs of the new Metropolitan bus, the position of the excess-speed alarm may clearly be. seen. The engine crankshaft has been extended to take a small bevel wheel, which latter meshes with a similar wheel on the after end of a longitudinal shaft; the bevel gearing is enclosed by a neat easing. The instrument is mounted at the forward end of the longitudinal shaft: its position is such that the alarm may plainly be heard by the driver.