DISTINCTIVE SALOON VEHICLES.
Page 65
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Brief Details of Two Well-appointed Vehicles, with Strachan and Brown Bodies, Built for High-class Service.
THE high-class body products of Messrs. Strachan and Brown, Wales Farm Road, London, W.3, have achieved an enviable reputation in the commercial-vehicle industry, and of recent months the firm have built quite a number of bodies which are mounted on chassis used on long-distance passengercarrying services. Two of the most recent which they have constructed are shown in accompanying illustrations, and the interior views in particular serve to give a very good idea of the character of the appointments.
One of the vehicles, that run by Messrs. G. Longstaff and Sons, which was supplied by Messrs. Strachan and Brown to Mr. J. Lee, of Rothbury, is a 26-seater saloon, the basis of -which is the Renault 45 h.p. six-cylinder model. In this vehicle the seats are of the rigid type, and they are upholstered in moquette. Those in the forward part of the vehicle are arranged transversely, but at the rear they are built round the sides and end anti thus form a sociable compartment, the provision of a folding table in the centre aiding in this direction.
The interior woodwork is finished in polished mahogany, and the double roof is decorated with lincrusta, having an ornate design in gold. The garnish rail is inlaid and, at a point level with the cant-rail, parcel racks run from the front to the rear. Strachan all-metal drop windows are used at the sides of the vehicle, and they are protected by metal visors. An emergency door is built in the rear panel,' and can be' operated from inside the vehicle. There is a two-piece folding door at the front which serves as the entrance for passengers and its opening and closing is under the control of the driver. The rear of the vehicle is finished in limousine style and incorporates a large oval window in its design. Apart from the accommodation for light parcels in the interior, a portion of the roof is railed in for heavier luggage.
The vehicle is most distinctively finished, the body panels and waist-line being in two shades of blue, the -roof and upper structure in white and the mouldings in black. It is being used on service between Warkworth, Morpeth and Newcastle.
The basis of the other vehicle which we illustrate is a Leyland Lion forward control chassis, and, in this case, accommodation is provided for 32 passengers. Here again the seats are of the rigidback type, and are upholstered in moquette. At the gangway sides the seats are fitted with arm-rests, and all of them face in the forward direction.
This vehicle incorporates in its design the bodymaker's patent roll-top roof, and four sections on each side can be independently opened. This vehicle also has a two-piece one-man-controlledtype door at the front and an emergency door in the rear panel.
The body is of low design, the interior height being 5 ft. 6 ins. All the windows at the sides, with the exception of those of D-section, can be lowered; they are of the Strachan patent all-metal type. The interior garnish rail is inlaid, as is a panel in the front bulkhead, above which is a clock. On the roof of this vehicle a section at the rear is enclosed so that luggage can be carried and it can he reached by using a ladder which is detachable.
This smart vehicle has been supplied to Messrs. Wright Bros., of Burnley.