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Soft Rides foi 3ick People
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Page 139
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HOME demand for ambulances has settled into a fairly steady pattern, the chief requirement being to satisfy the needs of the many patients now regularly travelling for treatment. Thus it is that the dualpurpose models for the moment tend to dominate the market. These units are well adapted for construction on light commercial chassis, although in some instances suspension modifications have been found desirable. Despite the fact that the tendency is towards some measure of standardization, this field remains one for the specialist coachbuilder, as, in their anxiety to meet as precisely as possible
the needs of patients in their areas, the individual authorities demand numerous variations in equipment. More marked individuality is to be found among designs that are intended for use overseas, but these do not figure to any appreciable extent at the present Show.
For the "walking wounded" the objective is to give a better ride than the bus and at the same time, by omitting the frills, to attain a reasonable carrying capacity at equally reasonable cost. Thus, as at other recent shows, it is upon the convertible (or more utility) form of ambulance that the emphasis rests on this occasion.
Evidence of endeavours to cater specifically for public authorities in other fields is limited. The LandRover fire tender (Stand 79) is a versatile-looking outfit which should have a strong appeal for industrial organizations that require a measure of instant protection from the fire menace. The regular Land-Rover chassis is modified for this special use by the employment of higher rate front and rear springs and larger section tyres. Land-Rover also offer a goanywhere ambulance on a 9-ft. 1-in. wheelbase chassis, which is obviously intended for overseas and contractors' c54 use. The Pitcher bodywork is cleanlined and simple but thoroughly adequate for the purposes envisaged.
In a somewhat different category comes the Dennis welfare coach for the London County Council, seen on the .Edbro stand (2425). There are individual seats with plenty of legroom and ample circulation space within the saloon. A double tail-door is provided to facilitate the entry of invalid chairs.
Having in mind the special problems of the health authorities, and the fact that certain of the Bedford chassis range are extensively employed for ambulance work, Vauxhall Motors Ltd. a couple of months ago intro: duced a modified form of suspension designed for such duties. This feature is to be found on the Lomas stand (95) where this maker's B-type body is to be seen on the Bedford-I chassis. In this case, the interior arrangement provides for the Lomas easy-loading stretcher-mounting tray to be placed on the near side.
Lomas on Thames
A Lomas ambulance for the Great Yarmouth authority, shown on a Thames chassis, is normally used for one stretcher and five sitting cases. The seats can be replaced by a stretcher if necessary, a new form of gear being incorporated by which the tray is smoothly and noiselessly extended to give extra stretcher support. A design of considerable practical appeal is the Lomas Junior, on the Bedford CAL 8-ft. 6-in. wheelbase 15-cwt, chassis which, with a turning circle of 37 ft., is easy to handle in confined places. The twospeed windscreen wipers that are standard are always a desirable fitting for this class of work. Liberal dimensions of the Lomas .1-type body give excellent sitting and stretcher accommodation, in this instance the layout being adaptable to take four recumbent patients if desired.
As might well be expected from a service for which this year's president of the Institute of Public Cleansing is responsible, the vehicle built for the Bristol authority, shown on the Appleyard stand (133), has many attractive features. The chassis is a Morris FG series 30 cwt. and the body is built up on outriggers, instead of on crossmembers, so permitting a 4-in, lower floor level for the interior. The chassis employs Dunlop Prieuride air, suspension. Exterior panelling is in stuccopattern aluminium, which obviates any need for painting. Moulded glass fibre is used for the roof, and the colour-impregnated interior panels are of similar material.
A valuable fitting for emergency use is a swivelling searchlight, mounted above the "Ambulance" sign on the cab roof and controlled by a recessed handle inside the cab. The attendant can enter the saloon from the cab by means of a sliding door in the bulkhead. This manufacturer's light-metal stretcher unit, consisting of a trolley with a detachable stretcher carrying an adjustable head-rest and telescopic handles, is located on the near side. Opposite is a bench seat
with folding arm-rests. A springloaded plastic blind can be extended down the centre when it is felt desirable to separate seriously sick cases.
This design is planned to accommodate a stretcher case and seven seated patients, with the alternative of two recumbent and two seated.
By the introduction of a lantern roof, Wadharn Bros. (Coachbuilders), Ltd., have achieved a height of 5 ft. 10 in. in the gangway of the ambulance on the Morris FG chassis, which will undoubtedly add appreciably to the ease of working. Since the lantern section is translucent, the effect of the additional inches is considerably enhanced.
Wadham have concentrated with success on plastics bodies for ambulances. All of the Wadharn bodies ' are built in colour impregnated plastics. Sliding doors are a good practical feature of the cab on the FG model, and the step arrangement rnalces for easy entry. The design is so arranged that a sliding door can be incorporated in the bulkhead for direct entry from cab to saloon. Both the model already mentioned and the smaller Wadham ambulance on the Morris LD Series Ill, with Dunlop Pneuride suspension, are dual-purpose. The offset differential on the latter model assists in the provision of good headroom.
The Morris LD 5, with, of course, the offset differential that permits a lowering of the gangway, forms the basis of the Kenning body that is destined for the West Riding County Council (Stand 75). Convertible bench seat-stretcher gear is provided on both sides. A near-side door is located at the front of the patient's compartment. Laminaire suspension is featured on this model.
In parts of the world where they are not blessed with health services on the British pattern, there is perhaps the greater ,call for casualty ambulances for use by industrial organizations, or local public bodies, and for that
reason it would have been of interest to see the Goggomobil K.700. This machine was unfortunately not in evidence on Stand 82 at the opening of the Show, and there appeared to be some doubt whether it would arrive in the week. Here was a change from the orthodox pattern of the British market,
unit being one that appeared to offer distinct possibilities to undertakings vvhere an element of clangor makes the presence of a stand-by ambulance a .desirable feature.
Clearly, a light outfit of this nature could also fill a niche for remote com munities. For stand-by duties there could be particular advantages in the use of the twin-cylindered air-cooled engine. Photographs and drawings show that the limited space in this little vehicle is used to the fullest, a specially arranged rack making it possible for the single stretcher to slide right forward, leaving the patient under the direct supervision of the driver.
In those cases where it might be thought necessary, a seat behind the driver can be provided for a 'doctor or attendant.