PASSENGER TRAVEL NEWS.
Page 23
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The Latest Doings and Developments in the Bus and Coach World.
A PROMENADE BUS CONVERSION.; Details of a Baico 28-seater Vehicle, the Basis of which is the Ford Mechanism.
ONE OF the most successful modern types of vehicle for short runs, particularly along seaside promenades, is the low-built passenger vehicle with toast-rack seating and an exceptionally low floor level, obtained chiefly by the employment of small wheels.
A very neat machine of this type, known as the Baico Boulevard car, has been constructed by Baico Patents, Ltl., 115, Fulham Road, London, on their 24-ton Supertonna chassis, in which use is made of the Ford mechanism as a basis for the chassis. For this purpose the frame and wheelbase of the ton Ford are lengthened so that the wheelbase is 14 ft. 10 ins, instead of the standard length of 10 ft. 4 ins., an increase of 4 ft. 6 ins. • The extra frame extends the whole length of the body, so that the chassis itself forms the body frame without the need for superimposing any bearers. In addition, the springing is greatly improved and rendered strong enough for its extra load by the employment, at the rear, of two semi elliptic springs, 4 ft. 4 ins. in length, whilst a special cross spring is employed at the front, this being considerably stronger than in the original chassis. In the patented Supertonna construction, the rear axle is most substantially trussed, floating bearings for the rear wheels are added to the original live axle bearings and extra external-contracting brakes, actuated by a pedal, are fitted so that two independent sets of brakes operate on the rear hubs. The foot brake in the Ford gearbox is not disconnected, but merely loosened so that this brake forms a reserve in the event of the external brakes becoming so worn as to be inefficient. The Baico auxiliary gearbox supplied with this vehicle gives three speeds operated on the sliding gear principle, the Ford bands being employed only for starting or emergencies, the gear ratios thus rendered available ranging from 37-1 to 5f-1 on the indirect high gear, whilst a standard gear of 7-/-1 is available on direct drive, The Indirect high gear enables a great saving to be effected in petrol, oil and repairs, as the engine need revolve only slowly when the vehicle is travelling at a good speed on the level or down hill, or when it is running with no passengers. The 20-in, wheels and patent construction of the frame enable a low floor level to be provided.
The main body sides are carried by specially shaped brackets secured at the same level as the side members of the chassis frame, so that the floorboards rest directly on the frame and only two steps, each about 10 ins. high, are necessary.
There are seven rows of seats, each holding four persons, including the driver, making 28 in all.
Whilst the chassis is a striking application of the Baico principle, the extra length and strength make it a remarkably useful model for all kinds of work, particularly for such loads as pipes, timber and other articles requiring great length combined with a corresponding weight capacity, and an average length of over 20 ft. can be secured when required. The load capacity of the chassis is 2-i tons; which is ample for many purposes.