'ARB 816' Mystery 1930s bus in Scotland
Discussion
RB was a Derbyshire registration and ARB was issued around 1934-5 as far as I can tell from looking online. I agree the body looks like it could be Weymann. Given a lot of operators at that time bought locally ish built vehicles, were there any manufacturers based around Derbyshire at the time?
Eyersey1234 said:
RB was a Derbyshire registration and ARB was issued around 1934-5 as far as I can tell from looking online. I agree the body looks like it could be Weymann. Given a lot of operators at that time bought locally ish built vehicles, were there any manufacturers based around Derbyshire at the time?
I only know of one but I'm sure there must be more, Reeve and Kenning, here's link to one of theirs: https://www.flickr.com/photos/ian_simpson/30032863...ETA: ARB 816 not showing on either Chesterfield or Derby Corporation fleets but looking at the size of it I wouldn't expect it to (too small). I think it far more likely to have been a private hire vehicle.
Edited by Riley Blue on Tuesday 7th September 10:41
Thanks for all the comments so far.
They gave me a few ideas to follow-up on.
The wheels look a lot like the Ford, (a well known Model BB, above), but looking at the shape of their perforations, I don't think they are exactly the same. The perforations on the Ford look more flat-sided/triangular.
I went back to the documentary and got better screenshots, which shows that, whilst the Ford has a transverse-leaf front-end, this thing seems to have a more modern live-axle with longitudinal leaf-springs.
The dumb irons are quite straight/flat in shape and seem to project forward quite a long way.
This (British built) 1935 Dodge has similar wheels, and the hubcaps on the back wheels look like those on the mystery bus. The wings also have a similar strengthening rib (above the centre-line of the tyre), though the curve on the leading edge looks to be cut back more on the bus. The grille is totally different of course, as are the louvres on the bonnet sides and the pressing detail at the outside-edge of the upper bonnet panels.
Similar wheels are also found on Chevrolet and GMC trucks of the era, but this Dodge is the only one I could find with comparable mudguards.
The radiator shell could be a cut-down Thornycroft part, with the inner-edges (around the main openings) flattened-out – perhaps to clear the radiator and fan?
Perhaps the body started out on a Thornycroft, something like the one below, and the bonnet and grille were transplanted with it.
This (1931) Dodge has angled brackets holding the header tank, which looks similar to the brackets seen behind the grille on the bus..........
They gave me a few ideas to follow-up on.
The wheels look a lot like the Ford, (a well known Model BB, above), but looking at the shape of their perforations, I don't think they are exactly the same. The perforations on the Ford look more flat-sided/triangular.
I went back to the documentary and got better screenshots, which shows that, whilst the Ford has a transverse-leaf front-end, this thing seems to have a more modern live-axle with longitudinal leaf-springs.
The dumb irons are quite straight/flat in shape and seem to project forward quite a long way.
This (British built) 1935 Dodge has similar wheels, and the hubcaps on the back wheels look like those on the mystery bus. The wings also have a similar strengthening rib (above the centre-line of the tyre), though the curve on the leading edge looks to be cut back more on the bus. The grille is totally different of course, as are the louvres on the bonnet sides and the pressing detail at the outside-edge of the upper bonnet panels.
Similar wheels are also found on Chevrolet and GMC trucks of the era, but this Dodge is the only one I could find with comparable mudguards.
The radiator shell could be a cut-down Thornycroft part, with the inner-edges (around the main openings) flattened-out – perhaps to clear the radiator and fan?
Perhaps the body started out on a Thornycroft, something like the one below, and the bonnet and grille were transplanted with it.
This (1931) Dodge has angled brackets holding the header tank, which looks similar to the brackets seen behind the grille on the bus..........
I have only just seen the programme on Talking Pictures that featured this bus and by chance it was new to one of my local coach operators.
According to the PSV circle, ARB816 was a Dodge KB with a Willowbrook 20 seat bodywork that was new to Derbyshire coach operator J.H. Woolliscroft (trading as Silver Service) of Darley Dale, near Matlock.
Silver Service purchased it new in 1934 and kept it until 1952, when it is reported as having been sold to someone in Nottinghamshire for use as a mobile cafe. It therefore presumably became a mobile home sometime after that.
Unfortunately I do not have a photo of it in use with Silver Service, so the film is certainly extremely useful in seeing what this bus looked like.
Phil G
According to the PSV circle, ARB816 was a Dodge KB with a Willowbrook 20 seat bodywork that was new to Derbyshire coach operator J.H. Woolliscroft (trading as Silver Service) of Darley Dale, near Matlock.
Silver Service purchased it new in 1934 and kept it until 1952, when it is reported as having been sold to someone in Nottinghamshire for use as a mobile cafe. It therefore presumably became a mobile home sometime after that.
Unfortunately I do not have a photo of it in use with Silver Service, so the film is certainly extremely useful in seeing what this bus looked like.
Phil G
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