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MODERN EQUIPMENT

for the

PUBLIC SERVICE VEHICLE

EQUIPMENT for public service vehicles can be classified under three main headings. There are components essential to the construction or use of the vehicle, such as windows and seats ; those items made necessary by law, examples being firstaid outfits and fire-extinguishers, and those conducive to passenger comfort, such as ash-trays and heaters.

This article is intended to serve as a guide to purchasers of all these types of equipment, and its comprehensiveness is such that it should be filed as a work of reference. We deal with the components in alphabetical order.

With the object of preventing door rattle, a fault which it is difficult to prevent under arduous service conditions, E. G. Brown and Co., Ltd., markets a device known as the Rola, which incorporates rubber rollers. Another silencing device is made by G. Beaton and Sou, Ltd.

A quasi-humorous article In last week's issue of The Commercial Motor emphasized the need for efficient ashtrays on long-distance coaches. Popular devices of this type are marketed by Beckett, Laycock and Watkinson, Ltd., the Cooper-Stewart Engineering Co., Ltd., and S. Smith and Suns (Motor Accessories), Ltd.

Most long-distance coaches and some buses are now equipped with clocks. Various patterns are available, some for dashboard mounting and others for fixing to the front bulkhead. Of the latter pattern, much success has been achieved by an attractive clock sold by S. Smith and Sons (Motor Accessories), Ltd. Other companies supplying clock's are the Cooper-Stewart concern, A. Arnold and Co., and North and Sons, Ltd.

In view of the announcement of the Minister of Transport that he is considering the advisability of making regulations concerning the use of direedon indicators on motor vehicles, this subject becomes of increased importance. Suppliers include Powler and Co. and the Cooper-Stewart concern.

One of the most important items of equipment in the bodywork of a passenger vehicle is the destination indicator. It is difficult to strike a happy medium in providing easily readable lettering and ample information, with out the indicator being too large and unsightly, but this task is being successfully accomplished, notably by the Equipment and Engineering Co., Ltd., and the Whitley Tool Co., Ltd.

Several makers have turned their attention to the construction of sliding doors and necessary equipment for passenger vehicles. In some cases this type is used even at the rear. G. D. Peters and Co., Ltd., has had a great deal of experience of sliding-door manufacture and produces power-operated models for road vehicles, as well as for railway trains. Mountings for sliding doors are made by the Beckett, Laycoek and Watkinson concern, which also makes the popular Beclawat recessed door handles. Door fittings are obtainable also from Messrs. Hallam, Sleigh and Cheston, Cooper, Webb, Jones and Co. and G. Beaton and Son, Ltd.

A type of bell for drivers that is replacing the old type, employing a rope running through the bus, is the Numa (Equipment and Engineering Co., Ltd.).

Under the Road, Traffic Act it is necessary for a public service vehicle to carry a fire extinguisher and equipment of this type is obtainable from several concerns at competitive prices.

One of the most popular makes is the Pyrene (Pyrene Co., Ltd.), whilst the products of liderryweather and Sons, Ltd., and the Valor Co., Ltd., arc also finding much favour. Efficient models of various sizes are also marketed by S. Sraith and Sons (Motor Accessories), Ltd., and Romac Motor Accessories, Ltd.

Another item of equipment made .ompulsory for public service vehicles is a first-aid outfit. • A neat design of folding step for fitting to a coach body, to permit access to the roof luggage space, is made by Messrs. Albert Jagger.

There are few greater discomforts in travel than the cold. The coach operator's task in securing a suitable heatiug device is simple, for there are some half-dozen makes available, perhaps the most popular being the Clayton De wandre (Clayton Dewandre Co., Ltd.). V. Burlingham, Ltd., recently evolved an interesting system, whilst other makers are A. W. Chapman, Ltd., Cooper-Stewart Engineering Co., Ltd., Messrs. John Kay and Graham and E. D. Abbott, Ltd. The last-named concern has just entered this field, for which reason we have singled it out for special mention.

The Norris-Abbott system, as it is correctly designated, employs the heat of the exhaust gases to raise the temperature of water in pipes through which it circulates through the body. The " boiler" consists of a copper cylinder which forms a water jacket on a branch of the exhaust pipe, at a convenient distance below the manifold. To this two pipes are connected—one above and one below, the former being the outward duct and the latter the return.

From the former, water is conducted to a .-piece and travels thence upwards through the floor along two pipes and back to a similar Y-piece attached to the main return pipe to the heater. The system is fed from a one-gallon tank fixed beside the dashboard.

From the exhaust manifold a short length of pipe conveys the gases to a large Norris two-way valve ; to one branch of this the main exhaust pipe is

connected, from the other a pipe of the same bore leads to the heater.

The Norris valve is controlled from the dash by a light shaft incorporating a small universal joint and transmitting motion to the spindle of the moving member of the valve through a.pair of small bevel wheels.

The area of radiating surface is stated to be about 10 sq. ft., and there is no indication of the existence of the apparatus noticeable within the saloon.

Well-established makers of horns are Clear-Hooters, Ltd., which has, this year, introduced several models specially for commercial-vehicle work, the Cooper-Stewart concern, S. Smith and Sons (Motor Accessories), Ltd.' Klaxon, Ltd, O.A.V.-Bosch, Ltd., and Scintilla, Ltd.

One of the provisions of the Road Traffic Act is that passenger vehicles shall be illuminated during the hours of darkness and many attractive interior lamps are available. In this connection, the names of J. and R. Oldfield, Ltd., and the Equipment and Engineering Co., Ltd., come readily to mind.

Fine woven-fabric straps for securing luggage in the roof container are marketed by Small and Parkes, Ltd. These Straps have prongless buckles. The law has also been a "good thing" for rear-view-mirror makers, amongst which one may mention Be...zon and Stone Ltd. (Trioscope), Cooper-Stewart Engineering Co., Ltd., J. and R. Oldfield, Ltd.; Romac Motor Accessories, Ltd., and S. Smith and Sons (Motor Accessories), Ltd. Various mountings are provided.

Although, perhaps, panelling is not equipment in the strictest sense of the word, the Tucker Armoured Plywood Co., Ltd., has such an established connection with the commercial-motor business, and in particular with the coach and bus side, that one cannot pass over the company's well-known metalfaced plywood without a brief reference. Sundeala panelling is another popular product (G. D. Peters and Co., Ltd.).

Much could be written on the subject of seats and their equipment, but space precludes. Amongst the makers of steeltube seats are Cox and Co. and Aceles and Pollock, Ltd. Seats of modern de sign, but of the most orthodox type, are produced by Neste, Ltd. (sales agent.

Equipment and Engineering Co., Ltd.), G. D. Peters and Co., Ltd., Lace Web Spring Co., Ltd., Siddall and Hilton, Ltd., and Lamplugh Spring Seats, Ltd., whilst Messrs. W. L. Thurgood propose to form a separate company to market their new sliding-back non-chafe seat, which is of a most interesting design. E. G. Brown, Ltd., produces pressed steel seats. Fittings for sliding seats are obtainable from Messrs. Hallam, Sleigh and Cheston and A. W. Chapman, Ltd., whilst Weathershields, Ltd., makes the Easyride adjustable fitting.

Turning now to seating material, the name of David Moseley and Sons, Ltd., comes readily to mind in connection with Moseley Float-on-Air cushions. Sponge-rubber is marketed for seating by Sorbo Rubber-sponge Products, Ltd., whilst the Dunlop Rubber Co., Ltd., has developed the use of seating mate rial made from latex. Hair material

is produced by Rapid& Padding and Curled Hair Manufacturers, Ltd., and

the Hairlok Co., Ltd., I.C.I. (Rexine), Ltd., is one of the best-known upholstery manufacturers.

Most speedometer makers market models specially designed for commer cial-vehicle work. The British-Thomp son Houston Co., Ltd., has just produced an ingenious new electrical type which was described in our issue dated September 23. In the speedometer business,-S. Smith and Sons (Motor Acces sories), Ltd., is another important concern, whilst the Cooper-Stewart Engineering Co., Ltd., and North and Sons, Ltd., also efficiently meet the demand for this type of equipment.

'Ventilating louvres are now standard equipment, and much of this busineas has been secured by Beckett, Laycock and Watkinson, Ltd., which is justifiably proud of its Continuous Ventilouvre. The British Flettner extrac tor (Equipment and Engineering Co., Ltd.) is of the revolving type, whilst the Colt (0. D. Peters) is a stationary de sign based on sound scientific principles.

The Airvac is another well-known pattern, whilst Messrs. Thos. P. Headland are featuring a new device known as the Saloon Boon. E. G. Brown and Co., Ltd., also makes ventilators.

Turning now to windows, Qiiichtho (1928), Ltd., has recently made two additions to its wide and popular range of Q.T. regulators. One is a two-lever c54

balance (illustrated herewith) which is specially suitable for small windows in coaches and buses, as well as for taxicabs and lorry cabs, and is easily operated. The other model is of the half-drop type, which is rapidly gaining vogue. In the Equipment and Engineering Co.'s design of drop window the capping rail bears against the whole length of the glass. Compact sliding windows are produced by Messrs. Albert Jagger, Beckett, Laycock and

• Watkinson, Ltd., and Auster, Ltd. A popular make of half-drop light is the Widney Stuart (Hallam, Sleigh and Cheston). As well as from these concerns, window channelling, etc., may be obtained from G. Beaton and Son, Ltd.

As the Rawlings Manufacturing Co., Ltd., has just produced a new type of balanced window, which has not before been described, we single this out for special reference and illustrate it here

with. To the bottom frame of the window are linked two arms, carrying, at their lower ends, rollers running on ball bearings. The arms are connected to one another by two powerful tension springs. In the space below the window are two guides on which the rollers run.

Thus, as the window is depressed, the rollers are forced apart against the tension of the spring. By this means the weight of the window is balanced and a small effort suffices either to raise or lower it. Four shallow recesses formed in the guides retain the window fully open, fully closed and in two intermediate positions. Windscreens of various types are oh-. tamable from Auster, Ltd., Cox and Co., British Steel Frame Co. and Albert Jagger, Windscreen wipers, tubing, blades, etc., can be obtained from Klaxon, Ltd., Ross, Courtney and Co., Ltd., CooperStewart Engineering Co., Ltd., Romeo Motor Accessories, Ltd., C. G. Yokes, Ltd., Ward and Goldstone, Ltd., Scintilla, Ltd., and British Motor and Industrial Equipments, Ltd.

The following is an index of names and addresses of concerns associated with coach equipment.

E. D. Abbott, Ltd., Farnham, Surrey. Accles and Pollock, Ltd., Oldbury, near Birmingham. Airvac 'Ventilators, Honeypot Works, Darlington. A. Arnold and Co., 122, St. John Street, London, E.C.1. Auster, Crown Works, Barford Street, Birmingham.

Beckett, Laycock and Watkinson, Ltd., .Acton Lane, London, N.W.10. Benton and Stone, Ltd„ Bracebridge Street Birmingham. Boots, Nottingham. British Motor and Industrial Equipments, Ltd., Speedway House, St. Nicholas Road, Sutton, British Steel Frame Co., 193, Cambridge Road, London, E.3. British Thompson-Houston Co., Ltd., Coventry. Brown Bros., Ltd., Great Eastern Street, London, E. E. G. Brown and Co., Ltd., West Road, Tottenham, Landon, N.1.7. Burroughs, Wellcoine and Co., Snow Hill Buildings, London, RCA. H. V. Burlingham, Ltd., Newhouse Road, BlackpooL C.A.V.-Bosch, Ltd.. Acton, London, W. A. W. Chapman, Ltd., Ranelagh Gardens, London, S.W.6. Clayton Dewandre Co., ltd., Lincoln. Clear-Hooters, Ltd., Hooterland, Lombard Street, Birmingham. Cooper-Stewart Engineering Co., Ltd., Long Acre, London, W.C.2. Cooper, Webb-Jones and Co., Stockwell Works, Walsall.

Dunlop Rubber Co., Ltd., Fort Dunlop, Birmingham.

Equipment and Engineering Co., Ltd., 2, Norfolk Street, Strand, W.C.

Fassett and Johnson, Ltd., 86, Clerkenwell Road, London, IL Cl. Fowler and Co., 53, New Barley Street, Manchester.

Hallam, Sleigh and Cheston, Widney Works, Begot Street, Birmingham. Hairlok Ca., Ltd., 39, Highgate Road, London, N.W.5. Thos. P. Headland, la, Pear-man Street, London, &E.1.

(Rexine), Ltd., Milbank, London, S.W.1.

Albert Jagger, Centaur Works, Green Lane, Walsall.

John Kay and Graham, 260, Main Street, Bridgeton, Glasgow. Klaxon, Ltd., 36, Blandford Street, London, W.1.

Lace Web Spring Co., Ltd., Sandiacre, near Nottingham. Lamplugh Spring Seats, Ltd., Bushey Mill Lane, Watford.

Merryvreather and Sons, Ltd., Greenwich Road, London, S.1110. David Moseley and Sons, Ltd., Chapel Field Works, Tipping Street, Ardwick, Manchester.

Nests, Ltd., Brunswick Square, Tottenham, London, 15.17. North and Sons, Ltd., Whippendell Road, Wa,tford.

J. and R. Oldfield, Ltd., Warwick Street, Birmingham.

0, D. Peters and Co„ Ltd., Windsor Works, Slough. Pyrene Co., Ltd., Great Weal Road, Brantford. Quicktho (1928), Ltd., Point Pleasant, London, S.W.18.

Rapido Padding and Curled Hair Manufacturers, Ltd., Angel Works, Angel Road, London, N.18. Rawlings Manufacturing Co., Ltd., Larch Road, London, S.W.12. Roman Motor Accessories, Ltd., The Hyde, Hendon, London, N.W.9. ROSS, Courtney and Co., Ltd., Ashbrook Road, Upper Holloway, London, 15.19.

Scintilla, Ltd., 14, Clerkenwell Close, London., E.G.!. Siddall and Hilton, Ltd., Sowerby Bridge. Small and Parkes, Ltd., Hendham Vale Works, Manchester. S. Smith and Sous (Motor Accessories), Ltd., Cricklewood Works, Edgware Road, London, N.W. Sorb° RubberSponge Products, Ltd., Woking.

W. L. Thurgood, Park Road, Ware. Tucker Armoured Plywood Co., Ltd., Creek Mill Ply Works, Crayford, Kent.

Valor Co., Ltd., Bromfard, Erdington, Birmingham. C. G. Vokes, Ltd., 95-97, Lower Richmond Road, London, S.W.15.

Ward and Goldstone, Ltd., Frederick Road, Pendleton, Manchester. Weathershields, Ltd., 48, Moor Street, Birmingham. Whitley Tool Co., Ltd., 7, Lemuel Street. London, S.W.18.