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A TOURIST AGENCY RUNNING LUXURY COACHES,

7th August 1923, Page 22
7th August 1923
Page 22
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Page 22, 7th August 1923 — A TOURIST AGENCY RUNNING LUXURY COACHES,
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A Type of Vehicle used by Messrs. Cook and Son, on Select Service in California.

THE NAME of MesSrs. Thomas Cook and Son is knoWn to most people in this country in connection with the organization of pleasure tours and tight-seeing expeditions, and as a tourist agency the company have built up areputation which is respected the world over. The mention of the term "Cook's Tour" is usually accepted as a 'hall-mark, and is Sufficient in itself to indicate to the tourist that his requirements Will be properly met.. Much of this popularity has been gained by keeping abreast of the times and by securing for patrons the . benefit of the most up-to-date travelling facilities.

The manner in which Messrs. Cook set eut to give comfortable and :convenient travelling to tourists is indicated by a series of tours—designated parlour-car tours—which the American company have recently inaugurated in Southerh California. These tours, which are proving extremely-popular, are conducted in luxurious and well-appointed saloon buses of the type shown. in two of our illustrations. The chassis which is employed is the Fageol—a type largely used for bus work in the States—and the body, although built on roomy and well-proportioned lines, only provides accommodation for 12 people, so that each passenger is assured the maximum comfort.

Before proceeding to a brief description of the Well-equipped interior we will deal with the outstanding details of the chassis. Let it be said, in the first place that the manufacturers of the Fageol! safety coach thassis, as it is termed, claim that it is designed and constructed expressly to meet passengercarrying requirements.

The -engine is a four-cylinder Fageol. Hall-Scat., with a bore of 44ins, and a stroke of 5 ins., and its S.A.E. rating is .28.9. Its speed is controlled by an enclosed governor, so that its maximum output is 1,800 r.p.m., at which speed 62 h.p. is developed. The cylinders are cast en bloc, and have-overhead. valves, both inlet and exhaust being operated by a single camshaft. Lubrication is on the forced-feed system, -the lubricant being forced through a drilled crankshaft to main and connecting rod bearings, and to the camshaft by gear pump. The cooling water is circulated by Con trifugal pump. Carburatien is attende4 to -by a

Zenith instrument, and a Delco ignition, starting and lighting set is used.

The power is transmitted lo s. BrownLipe clutch of a heavy-duty pattern, which forms a unit with the engine, and then through a four-speed-and-reverse gearbox of the same make to a Thnken rear axle with underslung worm. Direct drive is obtained on third speed, and the various gear changes are controlled through a centrally disposed lever. The brakes are of ample dimensions, both those for service and emergency purposes being of the internal-expanding four-shoe type acting on the rear wheels. Special attention has also been given to the question of springing, and, apart from the orthodox leaf springs, special air springs consisting of pistons working in cylinders are disposed behind the front. bumper bar.

The frame is of solid build, being of 6-in. pressed-steel channel, and it is strengthened by nine cross-members.

The steering is of the worm and nut non-reversible type.

The wheelbase of this Fageol chassis is 18 ft. 2 ins., and the track of both front and rear wheels 5 ft. 10 ins. One of the reasons that the chassis is most suitable for passenger work is because it possesses a. low centre of gravity, which is secured by disposing the frame members as low as possible, the rear axle being cleared by arching both above and below the casing.

We now come to the body, which represents the latest in American practice for select touring service. The near side, which is the right-hand side in the States, is provided with four doors, which give access to a most spacious interior furnished with eight wicker chairs, of 1 he type illustrated on this page, and at the rear a seat extending round the rear body panel and accommodating four passengers.

The individual seats are, it will he seen, of a comfortable pattern; and their backs can be adjusted. A special feature is the vacuum cups with which the legs of each chair are equipped. These cups are so rranged that the chair is held firmly in position when occupied, and, moreover, they absorb minor vibrations not damped by the ordinary chassis springs. So soon as the passenger rises from the chair the suction cups cease to function, thus enabling the individual chairs to be moved to any desired position..

The upholstering is carried out in Russia leather, the separate seats having well-sprung cases at the back and on the seat as well as arm-rests.

The actual superstructure of the body The special type of individual wicker seat used in the Fageol coaches run by Messrs. Cook and Son In California. Suction cups which secure the seat in position when the passenger is seated are fitted to the legs. When not being used the chair can be moved to any desired position. conforms more or less with accepted practice. In one respect, however, the design differs in so far as the doors do not stop at the frame, as is usual, but extend downwards to the running board, and thus make for easy ingress to and egress from the body interior: Drop windows, which completely disappear into the door panels or the body sides, are provided.

It will be noticed that a special baggage compartment is fitted at the rear on the coach we illustrate. This compartment is the only overhang behind the rear axle, so that the minimum weight is disposed at a vulnerable part.

Several of these Fageol safety coaches are being raft by Messrs, Cook's 'oil tours up to 250 miles, thus duplicating in a measure a service which has already gained.. much favour in Great Britain. The longest trip which figures on ths company's programme is that from Lo Angeles to San Diego and back, a round trip of about 250 miles, which occupies two days.

Nottingham Motorbus Develop.

ments

The Nottingham Corporation has al length embarked upon a more up-to-datr policy in the matter of passenger traffit by adding, within the last few days, tr its previously-attenuated service withir the city several new 'buses to undertak( journeys between Nottingham am Beeston, 'the4l,argest township in tin

immediate neighbourhood of the capital of the county.

-Vehicles of the standard type, each capable of accommodating 38 passengers, have been brought into use on a 15minute service, and, whilst the facilities thus afforded are certain to meet with adequate apprecation from Beestonresidents, they will also be of great advantage to those engaged at the neighbour ing Government ordnance depot atChilwell, which, during the period of the war, constituted one of. the largest centres in the country for the production of projectiles, and still furnishes employment for a considerable number of hands in dealing with stores which have been collected from widely scattered areas.

The buses are being run under special powers acquired by the corporation, and

that they can be rendered a paying proposition, private enterprise, in relation to catering for Beeston's requirements, has already demonstrated. The hope is now entertained in Nottingham that this expansion of the Corporation's policy may be followed by much needed extensions ot motorbus services within the city itself, which will do much to relieve the present congestion.

Tags

Organisations: Select Service
Locations: San Diego, Lo Angeles

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