COACHBUILDERS AND COACH OWNERS.
Page 65
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A Southport Firm Who Build the Bodies of the Vehicles They Put Into Service.
MEM illustration of a Reo Pallman
saloon coach which appears on this page is of outstanding interest by reason, of the fact that the vehicle is owned and rim by the firm who built the body. This is the old-established firm of Messrs. W. Manning and Sous, Birkdale, Southport, and the coach is one of a fleet of similar machines which they have in use. This particular coach shown has covered well over 25,000 miles and testimony to the efficiency and reliability of Reo products is to be found in the user's statement that the repair coats for the vehicle have been only 25s. Furthermore, the front tyres have not yet been replaced.
The vehicle is built to seat 26 passengers, and full-width seats, which are well upholstered and have well-padded hack rests, are employed. This form of construction. certainly makes for rigidity in the body structure, a factor which is of much importance when a door leading to each row of seats is used.
A feature of the coach is that windscreens are fitted in front of each row, thus overcoming the inconvenience caused to passengers through dust and draughts when .travelling at good speeds. These shields are not of glass so that no danger can arise from breakage. It will thus be seen that passengers are given adequate protection in good weather, whilst in wet or doubtful weather the hood can be raised and if the occupants wish to he corn. pletely, en.clased side screens can be brought into use between hood fabric and elbow rails.
The vehicle is very suitable for touring work, and is 'provided with sufficient baggage space to enable 20 suit- cases to be accommodated in one large locker. It has a low load-line and the chassis is equipped with four-wheel brakes, thus making it a particularly safe type for traversing tortuous and steep roads, sometimes off the beaten track, which often lead to places rich in scenic and historic intetest.
Messrs. Manning and Sons ran 'tours to London during last year and they are contemplating sending coaches to the same destination during eery week-end of the forthcoming, season.