Newcomer in bus body field: Hazlemere Longlife
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By DEREK MOSES
NEW entrants into the field of bus body building are indeed rare these days, but one company which has turned to this type of work is the Hazlemere Motor Co. Ltd., Waltham Abbey, already well known for commercial vehicle bodywork.
The company is now building a fleet of nine buses on Karrier Gamecock chassis for the London Borough of Enfield Education Committee.
The Longlife bus body has been developed to fill the need of a service bus available in small quantities at an economic price and is aimed particularly at welfare organizations, factory transport and so on.
It is based on the Longlife steel-framed construction already employed for Hazlemere goods bodywork.
The main structure is of riveted and bolted construction in five main units; 18 gauge steel interior truss panels are riveted to top hat section pillars and longitudinal members. Rolled steel channels are used for the underframe with flooring in one-piece in. hardwood plywood.
Ease of repair is one of the keynotes of the design which uses many standard components common to the commercial vehicle bodies, thereby ensuring a constant supply of spares.
The Enfield buses have a front entrance with three steps into the saloon and single jack-knife doors are fitted. There are transverse leather upholstered seats in the forward part of the saloon but longitudinal seats over the wheel-arches and in the rear, to allow the carriage of school meals containers. A wide rear doorway with folding steps is fitted to seven of the buses to facilitate this exercise.
The remaining two buses are to be equipped with double rear doors and Ratcliffe tail lifts for the transport of handicapped children. All the buses have low seats for small children.
Although not built to p.s.v. requirements, the necessary modifications would not be extensive, and the Longlife would then make an ideal country bus. Quotations are being made to many authorities, and the bus will be available on any make or type of single-deck bus chassis. Standard equipment includes two recirculatory heaters.
The Enfield vehicles are being supplied through Ray Powell Ltd., Rootes distributors. An exterior photograph of the prototype was published in COMMERCIAL MOTOR last week.
COACH FIRM BONUS CUTS ACCIDENTS
A NORTH CUMBERLAND coach company, Sowerby's Tours Ltd., of Gilsand, near Carlisle, decided four years ago to give its drivers an "accident-free" bonus. The bonus is now £10 a year.
"Our policy seems to have paid dividends," says the managing director, Mr. William Sowerby. "By June 30, all being well, we will not have had an accident for four years." The firm has 24 vehicles and employs about 20 drivers.