Touring Specialist Expands
Page 67
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AN example of enterprise in the coaching business is afforded by James Smith and Co. (Wigan), Ltd., which in three year's has increased nearly ninefold the number of passengers carried on its tours.
Offering a selection of 20 tours ranging from five to 14 days, the company is adding two more trips in 1950a 17-day visit to France and another of equal duration to Italy. Forty-three vehicles will be operated on extended tours next year. When final figures are available it is estimated that the concern will have paid £220,000 to British and £65,000 to Continental hotels, whilst its cross-Channel ferry fees will probably be over £18,000.
The numbers of people taken on tours, this year, from the following towns in the north are:—Manchester, 6,193; Liverpool, 4,224; Warrington, 2,290; St. Helens, 1,200; Bolton, 1,200. It is estimated that 26,000 passengers will have been carried by the end Of the 1949 season.
The managing director of the corn.pany, Mr. F. Webster, has been striving to modernize bodywork and his efforts have resulted in the production of a body designed by Beacols, Ltd. The cab of this vehicle is of the fully fronted type having curved glas3 corner windows. Perspex windows are fitted in the front and rear domes.
The sliding roof exposes the whole length of the coach when open and a microphone is installed, thus ensuring thatthe cottnier's description of places passed en route can be clearly heard by the passengers.
Another feature is a drop-down" step incorporated under the emergency door. When the vehicle is used on the Continent the courier opens the emergency door and lowers the folding steps so that the passengers can alight on the pavement side.