A COACHBUILDER RUNNING COACHES.
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A Yorkshire Owner Who Thinks the 28-seater is the Most Remunerative Type.
FROM a conversation which a representative of The Commercial Motor had with Mr. Tom Johnson, of Westgate, Bradford, who not only builds but runs coaches, the impression was received that ;in sonie of the districts in the West Riding of Yorkshire coach competigion. was sornevvhat toe keen, and that this was having its effect in the coachbuilding trade, because nousers felt prepared to increase their fleets under present circumstances. "What about the amoll coaches?" we asked Mr. Johnson. "Well, we hear a good deal about them, but we do not. see a great deal of them in this district," he remarked. Mr. Johnson said that, from the owner's point of view, there were many disadvantages in a small coach when compared with the standard 28-seater. Fares in Yorkshire were standardized on the basis of a 2B-seater, and people still had to be educated up to the point that it was -worth while to pay snore for extra oomfort. Then, again, the difference in maintenance and running costs as between the two types was not very great, and owners were not yet convinced of the economy of pneumatic tyres.
Mr. Johnson's coaches are provided with card tables for the benefit of passengers in. the rear seats, who sit round the table when travelling, ;cud this feature he has found has been appreciated. The accidental opening of a coach door has been receiving Mr. Johnkon's attention recently, and he has perfected a fitting which enables the driver of a coach to have contrkal of the doors. The local licensing authority insist upon a doable lock on the doorS3 not Only is this provided for, but by means of a switch n eaT the steering column the driver is able to secure all the doors. If a door is open When the electric lock is put into operation it is immediately closed and secured also. As yet the apparatus is not • quite complete, but Mr. Johnson hopes to have it in actual use before very long. With regard to the coming season from the coach owners' point of view, Mr. Johnson remarked that 'he did not propose to vary much from last year's programme when, in addition to the ordinary day excursions to various resorts, a feature was made of two-day tours to the Lake District. The Lake District runs were real sightseeing tours, and a guide was taken with the party to point out the sights. Mr. Johnson had a, large number of appreciative letters in reference to the, services the guide performed for the parties on these tours,