A NEAT ALL-WEATHER 20-SEATER COACH.
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Interesting Details of a Smart Body Recently Constructed on a Bell Chassis for the Use of the Co-operative Wholesale Society, Ltd.
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A BELL chassis forms the basis of _LI. the neat all-weather coach Which we illustrate with this article. It was recently supplied to the headquarters of the Co-operative Wholesale Society, Ltd., Manchester, and the vehicle is, so we understand, to be used mainly for the purpose of taking parties of visitors to the various productive works which are under the control of the company. The Co-operative Wholesale Society, Ltd., is, of course, the manufacturer of the Bell chassis.
The coach is capable of seating 20 persons, special provision having been made to ensure a maximum of comfort for the occupants. The efficient all-weather equipment is of the Beatonson, type, being provided by G. Beaton and Son, Ltd., Victoria Road, \Vines
den, London, N.W.10, and this should enable comfortable travel to be given at all times of the year.
Deep aluminium panels add an air of distinction to this up-to-date vehicle and this effect is not lost when..the hood of the coach is raised to protect the passengers from inclement weather. Incidentally-, the pillars of the vehicle, above the waistline, are constructed so as to drop, thus enabling the cant rails to fall flush with the top of the side panels. The well-known Beatonson drop windows naturally form part of the equipment; those over the forward doors, however, are of the sliding type, this portion of the head being fixed. The screen is upright and of the yestype, and the two upper glasses on each side are adjustable.
A wide door is provided at the rear of the vehicle for the convenience of passengers. whilst the two forward doors are slightly curved so as to avoid breaking the symmetrical lines of the body. To this end, also, detachable covers have been placed outside the rear wheels and hide the gaps in the panels caused by the wheel arches.
We have mentioned that riding comfort has been carefully studied in this vehicle and, in this connection, deep seats, which are upholstered in highclass grey-hued leather, are arranged in the body so as te allow plenty of legroom for each passenger. The two rows at the rear form, as it were, a separate compartment, and a collapsable table in mahogany is placed between them. The accommodation for luggage is under the panels beside the forward steps, which are hidden by the closed doors.
The colour scheme of the vehicle is mast attractive, and is carried out in maroon, primrose and mauve, a broad line at the base of the vehicle accentuating the low effect created by the depth of the panels.
Readers will doubtless note in the accompanying illustrations an unusual type of direction indicator which is mounted on the radiator cap. This device is the Walden arrow-type indicator, marketed by Auster, Ltd., 126, New King's Road, Fulham, London, The chassis used in this vehicle is, we are informed, of a specially long type for the purpose. Power is supplied by an engine of 30-48 h.p., and the wheelbase of the machine is 12 ft., Whilst its track is 5 ft. 2 ins.
The equipment includes a 12-volt dynamo electric-lighting set. This actuates the interior lamps of the coach, which can be operated by independent switches, a master control being provided in the form of a switch on the dashboard, It may be mentioned that two spare wheels and tyres are carried.