A BUS FOR USE WITH OR WITHOUT CONDUCTOR.
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The Latest Vulcan Model Incorporating Features Enabling the Vehicle to be Under the Control of One or Two Men.
HE "VULCAN MOTOR AND ENGINEERING CO. (1906), LTD., have done much to popularize the small bus, not only in this country, but abroad, and that their efforts have been rewarded with Much success is fully evidenced by the number of small Vulcan buses which. are to be seen in daily service running" through rural areas and linking up Iirge centres.
The latest type of vehicle of this description which the company have turned out is. a bus which is built to ••carry 26 people, and an example of the
thick is illustrated on the next page, the actual machine shown being for use in the city of Stockholm, Sweden, where a number of Vulcan buses of a similar type, which are now under construction, will Shortly be seen in service_ This particular Vulcan model possesses many outstanding features. In the first place, although the\ vehicle has not been primarily designed to be operated by one man it can be used in this manner by locking the rear door, and that this feature is not an afterthought on the part of the builders is indicated by the fact that. the front door and steps are arranged to be operated in a, similar manner to those on the one-man type vehicle.
The front entrance is of R particularly safe type, and the risk of accident to passengers in boarding or alighting from the vehicle is considerably diminished by the provision of a small roof light in the centre of the doorway outside the door, which, when in use, throws a, light on to the steps and the road. The switching on and off of this light is controlled by a small .push-button in the body which comes into contact with the door, so that immediately the latter is opened and the steps are lowered a light is automatically reflected on the place where the passenger must tread_ It will thus be seen that, by the use of a lever, the driver performs three distinct operations at one and the same time.
The door at the rear of the body on the near side is of the two-piece type and it opens inwards, the steps which give access to this opening being connected to the front section of tile clu'or hy means of metal arms, so that. the action on the rear door in relation to the steps is similar to that at the front. If at any time it wsis found necessary to dispense with the services of the rhodoctor it is arranged, as we have already said, that the rear door could be locked and the vehicle used as a one•man type bus.
The body of the vehicle is built in two distinct 'compartments, the rear portion being partitioned. off from the remainder by means of a sliding door rmining on ball bearings. It is intended that the rear portion should be used by smokers; and the ventilators in this part of the body are so disposed that passengers in the forward part of the vehisle are not inconvenienced by
the name of the company, which is in gold lettering.
It will be noticed that the -bus is fitted with a roof rail in order that luggage may be carried, and to enable baggage to be disposed on or lifted from the top of the vehicle a ladder is provided, and, -when not. in use, it is carried en brackets below the body.
There are many. other interesting detail features in the design of the bus, amongst which are the petrol-filler cap which protrudes through the dashboard on the outside, and the special type of bumper bar which is provided for protecting the radiator from damage. The design and construction of bath Chassis and bodyworlt will certainly worthily uphold the prestige of British products, and particularly that of the well-known company whose headquarters are located at erossens, Southport.