New Entrant to Ambulance Market
Page 114
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ANEW participantin the ambulance field, as from toddy, is Busmar, Ltd., of Blackpool, an organization with tong experience in the bodybuilding world, especially in the production of family sidecars for motorcycles. This development is part of the company's redeployment following their building of an entirely new works in Bristol Avenue, North Shore, Blackpool.
Considerable study of the practical aspect of this specialized sphere preceded the planning of the prototype vehicle which is a dual-purpose, sitting-case-plusstretcher designed to carry nine seated or a recumbent patient and five walking cases. In production use will be made of glass-fibre panels to replace the light alloy employed at several points on the prototype. An exclusive design of mechanism for positive change from thh bench seat to stretcher tray, and vice versa, has been evolved, and applications for patents have been made for it.
Based on the Austin LD chassis, the Busmar ambulance has 'a Fin, resinbonded, plywood floor mounted on a 34--in. underframe. A trap door gives access to the rear axle. The floor is covered with heavy lino, Ferodo anti-slip treads being provided for the steps. The main frame of the body is in ash. reinforced with steel brackets and gussets. Internal panelling is in plastics-faced hardboard, that of the prototype being finished in ivory. The facia panel and all interior woodwork are of French polished mahogany. For ventilation purposes induction and extraction Vents are provided in the roof and there are opening lights in two forward off-side windows and one at the near-side rear.
The Busmar ambulance has an overall height of 8 ft., is 14 ft. 3-1. in. long and 6 ft. 4+ in. wide. The headroom is 5 ft. 74in, On the prototype the roof and forward panels are of 16 g. aluminium, but it is intended that glass-fibre panels will be used for normal production. In future there will be double-skinned frameless doors of this latter material, but metal will continue to be used for the n46 side panels. Two translucent plastics light sections are let into the roof.
Provision is made to accommodate four-seated passengers on the near side of the saloon, one sitting in front of the 30-in, passenger door which swings fully back against the side of the body, to give the utmost space for entry of incapacitated patients. Another passenger seat is provided behind the driver and to the rear of this is the stretcher rack which converts into a bench seat. Three passenger safety bars are fitted, one to the rear of the near-side door, one facing that door and one at the rear of the vehicle.
At the rear of the saloon are double doors with 3 ft. 6 in, wide steps that fold into the body. Conveniently located inside the right of the steps is the firstaid box, whilst on the left the sputum bowl is accommodated. The top step cover is removable and houses the spare wheel which is completely enclosed in a glass-fibre carrier.
As previously mentioned the stretcherbench seat change-over mechanism is a Busmar design. The back squab is fixed
in position, but when a stretcher is to be employed the stretcher tray moves laterally revealing special channels to accommodate the fitting. On completion of the movement the unit locks in position. Locker accommodation is provided in the box below and the top tray lifts to provide access to this. There is a further locker over the screen and a box above the rear doors for access to the ambulance sign.
The battery is sealed in a glass-fibre compartment beneath floor level to obviate any leakage of fumes into the saloon. Glass-fibre mouldings are also used for .the interior window surrounds. for the wheel boxes and for wheel spats
A five-kilowatt interior heater if. located in the near-side front quarter, being angled across the vehicle. Equipment includes two-way radio, plasma bottle and holder and water carafe fitting.
Jack panels arc located at the skirtinp line near the back of the vehicle tc facilitate wheel removals. A supplementary driving light is provided at the front.