Duple Show Latest Models
Page 33
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EEVIDENCE of some rationalizing of production between the various factories of the Duple group was shown at the exhibition of their products, held at the Hendon works, which opened last Monday and closes today. Individual companies' designs continue to exist as separate entities, but some standardization of seating is evident, for example. This is the first of these biennial exhibitions to include Burlingham as well as Duple and Willowbrook products. The largest new coach, the 36-ft.-long Continental, may be considered as a Duple group design, although it is understood that it is going into production at the Burlingham factory. As the name implies it has styling of Continental character and, in addition to being of the maximum length and width now permitted. is also somewhat higher than most existing British coaches.
Based on an A.E.C. Reliance 470 chassis, it is capable of being fitted with seating for up to 51 passengers, although the vehicle shown has been built as a46-seater. An inward-opening door is arranged at the nearside front.
Metal-framed Structure The main structure is metal-framed, Ind reinforced plastics are extensively Ised for the front-end assembly. An nteresting feature is the use of inter
:hangeable double curvature + in. oughened safety glass sheets for the ingle-panel windscreen and rear window.
The prototype vehicle exhibited is for he Leroy Tours business of Anglo 2ontinental Tours (Torquay), Ltd., and ncorporates a number of additional eatures. such as the provision of armests on both the side and gangway edges if each double seat. The unladen weight ; 7 tons 14 cwt.
Of corresponding interest is the 36 ft. y 8 ft. 21 in. bus body built by VilIowbrook, Ltd., on a Leyland Leopard 8 ft. 6 in. wheelbase chassis with neumo-cyclic gearbox. This is fitted tith 55 seats and has a single entrance Irward of the front axle. The unladen eight anticipated is 7 tons 6 cwt.
The other new designs were the urlingham Gannet and the Duple Bella ista. The Gannet is a development of le Seagull 61 (which itself continues with minor alterations as the Seagull 62) and is intended for Bedford SB or Thames Trader coach chassis. The frontal styling is revised and seating of the latest Duple design is incorporated.
The Duple 29-seater Bella Vista, designed for the new Bedford VAS chassis described in our issue of August 18. is available for demonstration.
Tunnel Ban on Tankers
PETROL tankers will be banned from travelling through the Mersey Tunnel if a proposal of the Tunnel Joint Committee is approved by the Ministry of Transport. Tankers were not allowed in the tunnel before 1941, but the end of the car ferries and the exigencies of wartime made it necessary to ease the ban. Now the question of safety from fire risk has been raised again.
The joint committee will now draw up a new by-law giving powers to exclude certain types of vehicle. When this is agreed with the Ministry it will he advertised and tanker operators will then have the opportunity to appeal. If there is sufficient opposition there could be a public inquiry.
If the ban is imposed tankers will have to be routed by the new Runcorn-Widnes high-level bridge, thus making their journey ao miles longer.