A COMPOSITE DEMONSTRATION VEHICLE.
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An Exceedingly. Novel Idea Adopted by Short Bros., Ltd.
TT must have occurred to many of
those who are concerned with the selling of passenger-carrying vehicles that their task could be made alot easier if it were possible to demonstrate the merits of a range of models built for definite classes of work. The selection of a suitable chassis may be a simple matter, but not necessarily so with the body, particularly in these days when a variety of typts incorporating many different styles of finish and decorative effects is available. Short Bros. (Rochester and 'Bedford), Ltd., Seaplane Works, Rochester, has appreciated this factor and with commendable enterprise has just built for demonstration purposes a special body—it is mounted on an Associated Daimler 416type chassis—which embodies several constructional methods and a host of different details in the matter of equipment and fittings.
It is really a composite suberStruc.ture and, although outwardly the body appears to be quite orthodox in design, its interior appointments are of a most varied character. To the uninitiated they might possibly strike an odd note, but there can be no doubt as to the value of such a vehicle for demonstration work._ The roof, for example, is composed of three sections, that at the front being finished with Lincrusta, having a pebbled grain effect with a frieze border, the wood mouldings being finished in green cellulose. In the centre is a section which is lined with plywood, stained and polished, and finished with polished mahogany mouldings. At the rear the roof follows the design of that type usually employed for regular service buses. this section is white enamelled and the hoop-sticks are disposed inside the body.
u40 In the matter of seats, a number of types is used and different forms of upholstery are employed: At the front, at the off side, is a parlour-coach-type seat upholstered in brown velvet and equipped with a double cushion. The back is covered with dark brown antique leather and fitted with a folding table and newspaper poCkets, as'well as
• a Gabriel ash-tray. The top of the table is Covered with polished imitation burr walnut. For carrying this seat an ovaltype pedestal leg is employed and the same method of moan-tin.. is 'used for the seats immediately behind. These are also of the parlour-coach type, but are upholstered in dark brown antique leather, the backs being covered with a brown hair carpet. In this ease a
Beclawat circular ash-tray is incorporated in the back of the seat. • The next seats, on each side of the central gangway, are of the L.L. type and have E.G.B.-type pedestal legs at the gangway ends only. In this Case the same method of upholstery is employed as for the seats immediately in
front. The fourth row of seats are of the .E.X. pattern, having three springsteel supports to each, the seat frames being supported on angle-iron legs at the gangway ends. The cushions and back rests are upholstered in dark brown' antique leather and thc upholstery for the back rests is fluted. In this case the backs are covered with brown hair carpet, having a leather edging: .
The last row of transverse seats is of the ILM. type, having reversible cushions. The backs are. of semi-bucket design, a plain form of upholstery being adopted. The backs of the seats are covered with leather cloth to match. This class of seat is mounted on a tubular pedestal leg at the gangway end. The seat over the off-side wheel-arch is of the LA:T.0.C. pattern, having a...detachable squab upholstered in dark. brown leather. The woodwork at the back is stained and finished in maho: gany colour and the legs and frameWork are of ash.
Several interesting schemes are adopted for the inside lining panels. Some sections are finished in polished oak-faced plywood, with mahogany garnish rails, garnish-rail eappings, pillar faces and cant rail, whilst in others lining panels are dispensed with and Frown leather cloth is employed. A distinctly pleasing effect is created in one section by haying the plywood polished in the natural grain and using oak mouldings.
Those who inspect the vehicle will have an opportunity for observing several different methods of window
operating gear. The body incorporates lights controlled by three distinct types of Rawlings gear, a Beclawet
pinchgrip type control and two of the standard Q.T.-type 'regulators, one having a fixed handle and the other a detachable handle. Two of the side lights are fixed.
The body is of the two-entrance pattern, there being a folding door hinged on the front bulkhead, this having a roller guide at the top only. This has eurved commode rails at each side of the entrance, these being of polished Duralumin. The rear entrance is also of the folding type and has straight-type commode rails covered with Doverite, the rails being white and brackets black.
The front portion of the floor, up to and including the fourth bay from the front, is covered with brown lino, the traps therein being edged with fluted aluminium angle and fitted with brass lift rings and budget becks. The floor at the rear is' covered with wooden slats of the longitudinal type, those over the rear axle being wide, and with transverse-type slats opposite the . rear entrance, these being narrow. The front bulkhead is divided into four by means of three pillars. One section has a fixed light and another is fitted with ,a small sliding light below the cant-rail line and a rectangular hitand-miss regulator above it. A further section has a fixed light and a rectangular hit-and-miss regulator above the cant-rail line. The pillars, waist rails, etc., are finished with polished mahogany mouldings, the lining panels being of polished oak-faced plywood.
A Nama air bell can be operated from two parts of the body and an electric bell with pushes is fitted in the cant rail. There are two types of parcels rack in the interior, one being over the centre windew in the rear bulkhead and having an ash-rail, the other being fitted above one of the off-side windows and having an aluminium rail. Two Airvac ventilators arefitted in the roof and 14 interior lights are used, these being of the C.A.V. type throughout and giving a wide choice of styles and finishes. In other respects, too, the detail equipment is most varied and comprehensive. The vehicle will shortly leave on a tour of Scotland.