MORE COMMENTS ON THE MIDLAND "RED" $.0.S. BUS R ELATIVE to
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the remarks made by Mr. L. Reynolds, A.I.R.T.E., on the origin of the S.O.S. bus, which were published in your issue dated October 22, I have always regarded this as meaning " Shire's Own Specification."
Mr. Wyndham-Shire designed this vehicle, which was notable for its low unladen weight—under 3 tons—its 32 by 6 H.D. pneumatic tyres and a low h.p. engine which seemed to rev, at a high speed. J. S. DUNN. Worcester.
RECENT correspondence under this heading has prompted me to look up some of my early notes on this interesting chassis, and I find that Tilling-Stevens, Ltd., of Maidstone, built the first of a large number during the year 1923.
This chassis was jointly designed by Mr. WyndhamShire and Tilling-Stens, and put up an outstanding performance.
It weighed only 3 tons 17 cwt. with a 32-seater body, was capable of 45 m.p.h. and had 40 by 8 single pneumatics at the rear.
The designation S.O.S. has always been shrouded in mystery, and any one of the meanings given by your correspondents, to which I will add one more, Sperience over Speriments," could apply.
Much of the experience gained in constructing and operating the S.O.S. was eventually utilized in producing the Tilling-Stevens " Express" chassis in 1926, one of the most successful single-deckers—of which we built many thousands—ever put on the road.
Maidstone. E J. HUGHES.
(For Tilling-Stevens, Ltd.) AS regards the letter from Mr_ Reynolds concerning the origin of" S.O.S.," which appeared in your issue dated October 22, he may have been correct, as the name was adopted by the Birmingham and Midland Motor Omnibus Co_, Ltd., in the days of keen competi tion, to indicate vehicles of its own production. I, personally, think that it had its origin in connection with the designer's name, he being Mr. Wyndham-Shire, chief engineer of the Midland "Red," and in no way connected with the Tilling-Stevens concern.
I was one of the " pirates " operating several buses in Leicestershire between 1923 and 1929 against TillingStevens vehicles then operated by the Midland "Red," which were, as suggested, somewhat cumbersome double-deckers on solid tyres and not very reliable.
The Midland " Red's " answer to the " pirates " was not first with the S.O.S., but with Garford 20-seater vehicles on pneumatic tyres, and with a maximum speed of about 40 m.p.h_ It was on these vehicles that the Gifford, made by the Gifford Motor Co., Ltd_, was founded, and proved to be the first and only really satisfactory passenger chassis at that time. Others were little more than converted lorry chassis. I believe that Lycoming engines were used in these Gilfords.
Mr. Reynolds was quite correct in saying that the S.O.S. had single tyres at the rear and smaller ones at the front. These big tyres were about 40 by 9, and in the case of a burst a vehicle would almost turn over. They were later dropped in favour of twin-tyre equipment. Incidentally, I have known of several windows of cottages being shattered by blow-outs from these early tyres.
The first S.O.S. vehicles had, of course, their teething troubles but, in general, the design turned out to be a very good job. They were not for sale for general operation, but only to associated companies, such as the Potteries Motor Traction Co., Ltd., and the Trent concern.
Although I admit to operating a "pirate" service, I was also a pioneer, inasmuch as I started a 7 a.m service out .of Leicester City to Hinckley, whilst the earliest B.M.O.C. service was at 8 a.m. As my early service began to be very profitable, so the pendulum swung, and the B.M.O.C. became a " pirate" in its turn.
Trowbridge. H. M. Swa-r, I HAVE been most interested in seeing in your journal 'letters suggesting various explanations for the name "S.O.S."
Whilst agreeing that a likely meaning was "Shire's Own Specification," another would be 'Science Over Strength," which would have applied strongly in the early days when the term was first coined_ Incidentally, the " S.O.S." has been superseded by the initials of the maker, i.e., " B.M.M.0." As far as I am aware, the letters S.O.S. last appeared on a hatch of 50 singje-deckers built by the Midland "Red" for itself in 1940. The same year also saw the last batch of these chassis to be built for another operator_ It comprised 14 for the Trent Motor Traction Co., Ltd., the fleet of single-deckers of which, at that time, consisted almost entirely df S.O.S. vehicles. A. A. COOPER. Coventry.
THE Tilling-Stevens petrol-electric chassis Was the standard bus type used by the Birmingham .and Midland Omnibus Co., Ltd., from 1912 until the introduction of the S.O.S. in 1924.
This S.O.S. had a side-valve engine, normal control and utilized a crash gearbox in place of the electric drive. During 1926 a forward-control version was introduced, seating 34 passengers. Both vehicles were unique in having single giant pneumatic tyres with large, artillery-type wheels front and rear.
The name S.O.S. was, 1 believe, a term meaning "Squire's Own Special," Mr. Squire being the company's
engineer at that time. A. 0 NASH. High Wycombe.
WRITING in your issue dated October 22, Mr L. " Reynolds asks other readers for their opinions as to the origin of the name "S.O.S."
I am. afraid that his version is not quite correct, as I have good reason to believe that the letters stand for "Shire's Orthodox System," Shire being the name of the chief engineer of the Midland " Red " concern, which built many of its own chassis in the past and now builds both chassis and bodies.
Birmingham, S. CHARLES E S. Ls. [Possibly the Midland " Red " concern will see this correspondence and solve the problem.--Enj