A PRIVATE-CAR CHASSIS FOR AMBULANCES.
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A Well-appointed Vehicle for a Yorkshire Municipality.
ALTHOUGH in the majority of instances certain types of commercial chassis are employed as the basis of different classes of ambulance the factors which are involved in the branch
of service in which these vehicles are used are such that certain classes of private-car chassis are sometimes found quite suitable for the work. Endorsement for this statement is to be found in the case of the high-class saloon ambulance which Arrol-Johnston. Ltd., makers of the Arrol-Johnston and Galloway motorcars, have recently supplied to the Settle (Yorks.) Ambulance Committee.
The chassis which is used for the vehicle (interior and exterior illustrations of which are published herewith) is the company's 20 h.p. Empire model. The chassis s which has front-wheel brakes, conforms with the standard specification, except that the wheelbase is 10 ft. 9 ins, instead of 10 ft. 6 ins., and that Dunlop 33-in. by 6-in, lowpressure tyres and Hartford shock absorbers are fitted.
The design of the body differs from the more orthodox types of ambulance and the equipment is of a well-appointed
character. The body has four doors at the sides (i.e., two on each side), as well as two which are hinged from the corner pillars and open almost to the entire width of the rear ; all the doors can be locked. The windows are of the frameless type and are raised by Rawlings patent window regulators, except that which encloses the right-hand side of the driving compartment, where the glass is made to slide so that the driver can signal his intentions to overtaking traffic. The window of the partition which separates the driving compartment from the stretcher-carrying section is also of the divided sliding pattern. The driving compartment is upholstered in dark blue leather and the interior is
finished in mahogany which is var
nished. The outside of the body is
painted dark blue. '
The question of ventilation has received very thorough attention, and not only is a roof ventilator used but louvres are embodied in the rear doors.
The ambulance is equipped with an Ilkley hair-mattress couch with two pillows and a stretcher on wheels which can be placed on the couch when only one patient is carried, or used as a bed when two patients are being transported. An extra stretcher forms part of the equipment for carrying patients.
In order that the interior space can be turned to the best account the couch and the stretchers have telescopic handles. Two armchairs, which are upholstered in dark blue leather, also form part of the interior equipment, and these are carried on strong pillars which fit into sockets in the floor. _These chairs can
be adjusted so that they take up six different Positions.
It will thus be seen that the interior equipment makes provision for transporting four people, two sitting and two recumbent, and it certainly appears to provide the maximum comfort for conveying injured or sick cases to hospital. Although the window space is considerable complete privacy is secured in that part of the body behind the driver's compartment, by the use of spring rcoller blinds for covering each of the lights.