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Where Coach and Bw Bodywork Could be Improved

7th February 1936
Page 84
Page 85
Page 84, 7th February 1936 — Where Coach and Bw Bodywork Could be Improved
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Which of the following most accurately describes the problem?

MOTHER and her tall daughter were sitting together on one of the cross-wise seats of a bus. 'It is wonderful what a comfortable seat you get with your penny ride nowadays ; very different from what it was when I was your age, Mabel," remarked the mother.

"The cushion and back are a dream," replied the daughter, "but why do they make the bottom of the seat, in front, so that there's .a sharp corner which catches your shins? "

" You exaggerate. Mabel," said the mother. "I've never noticed it. Those long legs of yours again, I suppose."

" Well, I think the bus maker could put a row of padding along that edge," commented the daughter.

Later in the day, two men were talking in the same has. An elderly lady had boarded the bus and, as the only vacant seat was in front, the bus had started again before she had reached her seat. She caught hold of the seat backs as she walked down the gangway, but, as the seats were occupied, her grasp was not very firm, also one hand and arm were engaged with handbag, umbrella and a parcel. One of the men, a Mr. Robert Dickson, stretched forward to assist the woman, who eventually subsided gratefully into her front seat.

"I say, Harry, old man," said Bob to his friend, "why don't they c30 put grab poles in all the buses? They are easy to hold, whether you are tall or short ; they are very convenient when you have to stand and I've noticed that conductors make frequent use of them when they are fitted."

"I expect it is a matter of appearance," said Harry ; "the bus looks more spacious and inviting without the poles. Then the bottom of the pole has to be bent into various shapes to fit snugly behind the seat, where sometimes it is in the way if you get out of your seat in a hurry."

Bob Has An Idea.

"Well, I don't see why the pole need be extended to the floor," replied Bob. " The bent foot cannot be wanted as a support and it is not very elegant. Why not stop the pole at the top of the seat back arid fasten it there? "

"I have seen poles like that," observed Harry, "and don't you think a full-length handle above the top of the seat back is very handy when you want to get up from your seat? "

" Yes, I rather like that pattern," answered Bob, who, after a pause, resumed, "By the way, I've got an idea."

"What is it, this time? Perpetual motion or another marvellous tin-opener? " queried Harry, with a smile.

"Nothing so complicated," replied Bob," but a little development of the poles and handles that we were discussing. Why not make the pole and handle in one, instead of as two separate items? "

" On all the seats? asked Harry.

" Oh ! no, only on alternate ones, with the long seat-back handle on the others," explained the would-be inventor.

"As you seem to be in the mood for pulling this bus to pieces, have you other suggestions to make?"

The bus was now nearly empty and Bob, before answering Harry's question, said, " Let's sit in front. Here's another idea. Why not make this iront window deeper, so that we can have a better view? You notice that the bottom line of it is several inches higher than that of the side windows."

" Well, you can see why that is so," asserted Harry.

"No," rejoined Bob.

"The front windows are shallower, because the driver's seat back is in front of one window and would hide the lower part of the glass, also the bottom line must be carried through, otherwise it would look lop-sided," explained Harry.

Wanderings on Windows

" I don't see that it matters; you might as well argue that there ought to be a driver's seat on both sides," replied Bob. "Then, why not have windows, in front, right up to the roof? The roof over the driver, also the driver himself, keep out some of the light, but the extra window space would make things brighter in front. After all, most of the passengers are looking forward, so that the front window space is quite as important as that of the sides.

" And," continued Bob, "the larger windows in front would be even more appreciated upstairs, with

nothing to obstruct the view. There I would make the bottom line of the front windows lower than that of the side ones. This. would be an advantage not only to the front-seat passengers, but to many others. Have guard rails, if necessary, and there would still be plenty of room for the destination indicator."

"Why not have windows in the roof of the upper saloon? " suggested Harry, catching his friend's enthusiasm.

"That would certainly be a good alternative," replied Bob, "and, of course, these roof windows could be fitted at the sides either as flat or curved panels. The side roof windows would be particularly suitable for coaches. Flat windows would not look so well, but would be less expensive and could be made to slide and used as ventilators."

The two men had reached their destination and, as they stood on the pavement and watched.the departing bus, Harry remarked: " We shall have to throw up our jobs and start a glass factory," " Not just yet," replied Bob, who had transferred his gaze to a passing coach, loaded with luggage at the back of the roof.

" Look at that roof. Why don't they design the whole of the roof,to carry trunks and cases? I've seen lockers in front 'and lockers at the back, but why not lockers from end to end? "

"It will come in time, I expect," replied his friend.

That night, when the bus was being cleaned, old Joe, who was sweeping the interior, wished that seats had no legs to impede his broom. Next day, he hapened to mention. the subject to his son, a promising lad who worked in a local engineering shop.

" Well, Dad, I don't see much to grumble about in the average bus," said the boy, " but FlI tell you how

it could be improved from your point of view."

" How? " asked the father.

"The seats could be supported from only the side of the bus, so as to give free space underneath."

"And pull the sides out of the bus!" commented Joe.

"Not with a properly designed bracket and framework ; also the stress on the side of the bus could be reduced considerably by having a leg on the gangway side. The leg would be hollow, with a sliding bolt to hold it to the floor. When the bolt is released the leg, being springmounted, folds up automatically under the seat."

" Sounds good, my boy, but there is one little snag."

"What's that, Dad?"

"One of those rate fixers would decide that I could do twice the amount of work during my shift! " c31


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