Nu komen we bij de Alfa Romeo Bussen met een grotere afmeting. De eerste hierboven komt uit 1935, maar als ik me niet vergis heb ik nog oudere. Het is een fantastische variatie aan te gekke ontwerpen uit verschillende deccenia. Geniet ervan.
ALFA ROMEO 350A VIBERTI FORSE
Alfa Romeo 110A interurbani carrozzati Caproni, costruiti nel 1950 per l’ATM di Milano
Alfa Romeo 110AF SIAI
Alfa Romeo BUS 902AS Siccar
Alfa Romeo Mille 8021 ANM Napoli small
Alfa Romeo 140A Articolato
Alfa Romeo 430RE Autobus Fiat 626 RN
Alfa Romeo 900 nell’allestimento Gran Turismo GT
Alfa Romeo 110AF Piaggio
Alfa Romeo 430 A carrozzato da Barbi
Alfa Romeo 500 EIAR
ALFA ROMEO 902 AU E 902 AS 1957
Alfa Romeo 900A SICCAR
Alfa Romeo Mille Pistoiesi
Alfa Romeo 900A Lungo 1958
Alfa Romeo 1000 (Mille) Aerfer FI 711.2 OCREN trolleybus in Naples
1904 eröffnete Fritz Gaubschat in Neukölln (damals noch bei Berlin) eine Fahrzeugschmiede für Pferdewagen. 1922 wurde der Betrieb erweitert. Man baute nun Omnibusaufbauten auf Fahrgestellen von Büssing, Henschel, Mannesmann-MULAG, VOMAG oder der Daimler-Motoren-Gesellschaft. Sein erster Aufsehen erregender Aufbau war der 1935 auf einem Büssing-NAG aufgebaute Stromlinienbus für die Firma Jensen. Er verfügte über 95 PS und bot 33 Personen Platz. Ausser diesem Bus baute Gaubschat eine weitere Anzahl von Bussen mit Stromlinienaufbau für die RAB-Schnellreisebuslinien der Deutschen Reichsbahn.
Büssing-NAG 375 T – Baujahr 1935
Gaubschat GMBH Berlin Buse
Bekannt wurde Gaubschat jedoch durch seine Omnibuszüge. Bereits 1937 wurde der erste Buszug auf der IAMA in Berlin vorgestellt. Es handelte sich dabei um einen Omnibus der einen zwangsgelenkten Anhänger, der bei Biegungen und Kurven der Hinterachsspur des Motorwagens folgte, mit sich zog. Die Idee dazu stammte aus Italien von der Fa. Macci. Dessen Mitarbeiter Ambrogio Baratelli besaß das Patent hierfür. Gaubschat erwarb die Nachbaurechte. Zwischen Motorwagen und Anhänger befand sich ein Faltenbalg. Dadurch konnten die Fahrgäste sich zwischen Motorwagen und Anhänger während der Fahrt bewegen. Sofort erhielt diese Kombination den Namen “D-Zug der Landstraße”. Der Name war auch nicht so abwegig. Konnte man doch mit wenigen Handgriffen den Anhänger vom Zugwagen lösen. Die Durchgänge an Motorwagen und Anhänger wurden, wie bei D-Zugwaggons, mit Doppeltüren geschlossen. Somit konnte der Motorwagen auch als Solofahrzeug genutzt werden.
1941 Gaubschat
Gaubschat baute nun mehrere dieser Omnibuszüge, unter anderem auch für die Deutsche Reichsbahn. Zu den größten Zügen gehörten dabei die fünfachsigen Züge auf dem Büssing-NAG-Dreiachsfahrgestell 900 N. Mit Anhänger war dieser Zug 22 Meter lang.
Büssing-NAG 900 N mit Gaubschat-Aufbau für die KVG-Sachsen – Baujahr 1938
Gaubschat-Omnibuszug mit DRP-Faltenbalgverbindung der Deutschen Reichspost noch mit Hakenkreuz
Während des Krieges musste Gaubschat – wie allgemein üblich – Rüstungsaufträge ausführen. Das bremste natürlich die Weiterentwicklung des Omnibusbaues. Nach dem Krieg stand dann auch zunächst die Reparatur von Straßenbahnwaggons an erster Stelle. Ab 1950 verließen dann aber schon wieder die ersten Omnibuszüge die Gaubschat-Werke in der Neuköllner Karl-Marx-Straße in Berlin. Teilweise auf gebrauchten Fahrgestellen aufgebaut, dafür aber mit “Klimaanlage”, Radio und Bar im Heck.
Ein Büssing-Zug aus dem Jahre 1950 der von der Fa. Bayern Express auf der Strecke Berlin – München eingesetzt wurde.
Eine Werbeanzeige aus dem Jahre 1951
Gaubschat Geisterbus Heck alt
100 weitere Omnibuszüge bestellte die Deutsche Bundesbahn 1952/53, obwohl abzusehen war, dass der Gesetzgeber keine Omnibusanhänger mehr zulassen würde. Das war auch ein Grund mit, dass Gaubschat auf der IAA 1953 einen17 m langen Gelenkbus vorstellte. Gaubschat unterschied zu dieser Zeit zwischen Omnibus-Gelenkzügen (mit Busanhänger) und Gelenkbussen (mit nichtselbstständigen Nachläufer). Inzwischen entwickelte sich auch eine enge Zusammenarbeit zwischen Gaubschat und der BVG. Zusammen mit Orenstein & Koppel (O & K) der Vereinigen Werkstätten Wittenau (VWW) entwickelten die Berliner Verkehrsbetriebe (BVG) Aufbauten für das Büssing Fahrgestell 12000 T. Davon unabhängig entwickelte Gaubschat zweiachsige Eindeck-Linienbusse und nach 1953 auch Doppeldecker.
Gaubschat-Doppeldecker 1956 -Die hinteren Türen wurden später nachgerüstet
1953 Gaubschat Gelenkbusse
Durch die Aufträge der BVG geriet die Firma aber immer mehr in die Abhängigkeit der BVG. Eine der letzten eigenständigen Entwicklung war der elektrische Oberleitungsbus in selbsttragender Bauweise 1956.
Obus-Henschel S 56 AEG – Baujahr 1956
Dazu kam noch der Büssing E 2 U 60 aus dem Jahre 1961, der ebenfalls für die BVG bestimmt war.
Büssing E 2 U 60 – Baujahr 1961
Der letzte Großauftrag war dann die Karosserierung für die BVG SD-73 Prototypen. Als 1975 die Serienausführungen die Werkshallen verließen, waren noch 95 Menschen, von ehemals 1000, bei Gaubschat beschäftigt. Als Helmuth Gaubschat, der Sohn des Gründers, 1975 starb, kam was kommen musste, die Firma musste Konkurs anmelden. Man hatte es wohl versäumt, einen geeigneten Nachfolger zu finden. Der letzte Bus der die Werkshallen verließ, ging wieder an die BVG. Es war auch gleichzeitig der 1000ste Gaubschat-Bus.
Gaubschat Omnibuszüg Durchgangsmöglichkeit wie im D-Zug
Gorkovski Avtomobilny Zavod (Russisch: Горьковский автомобильный завод; [Gorkovski Avtomobilny Zavod]; “Automobielfabriek van Gorki”) of GAZ (ГАЗ) is eenRussische autofabriek in Nizjni Novgorod en onderdeel van de groep GAZ. De fabriek startte in 1929 als NNAZ, een samenwerkingsverband tussen Ford en de Sovjet-Unie. De naam veranderde toen de stadsnaam van Nizjni Novgorod werd vernoemd naar Maksim Gorki. Van 1935 tot 1956 werd daar de toevoeging imeni Molotovaachter geplakt (letterlijk “vernoemd naar Molotov“).
Geschiedenis
Omdat het vijfjarenplan van 1928-1932 grote nadruk legde op de tot dan toe weinig ontwikkelde autoindustrie, sloot de Opperste Sovjet in 1929 een overeenkomst met deAmerikaanse autoproducent Ford, waarvan een productiefaciliteiten werd geïmporteerd en licenties werden overgenomen voor de eerste modellen.
Het eerste model van de fabriek was de gemiddeld geprijsde Ford Model A, die eerst werd verkocht als GAZ A en Ford Model AA onder de naam GAZ AA. De “A” productie begon in 1932 en liep tot 1936, waarbij 100 000 exemplaren werden gebouwd. De A werd opgevolgd door de modernere GAZ M1, die grotendeels gebaseerd was op de Ford V8 en werd geproduceerd van 1936 tot 1942. De letter M stond voor Molotovets (“van Molotovs trots”), wat de bron vormde voor de bijnaam van de auto; Emka (Эмка).
Door de ervaring met de A en M1 wisten ingenieurs bij GAZ hun eigen automodel te ontwikkelen onafhankelijk van Ford. In 1942 begon de productie van de GAZ M2, een auto die bedoeld was voor de hogere klasse, die in beperkte oorlogsproductie bleef tot 1946. De carrosserie van de M2 werd in beperkte productie vanaf 1941 op eenvierwielaangedreven onderstel geplaatst en in kleine hoeveelheden verkocht als de GAZ-61, waarmee het mogelijk de eerste vierwielaangedreven personenauto ter wereld was. Tijdens de oorlogsjaren werkten ingenieurs bij GAZ aan de ontwikkeling van een nieuw automodel, dat in productie moest worden genomen, wanneer de vijandelijkheden waren beëindigd. Dit model, de GAZ-M20 Pobeda (“overwinning”), was een laaggeprijsde gestroomlijnde, fastbackachtigesedan die in productie kwam in 1946 en door GAZ werd geproduceerd tot 1958 en onder licentieproductie door het Poolse FSO tot de jaren ’70. Daarnaast werd de GAZ-72, een vierwielaangedreven versie van de GAZ-M20 Pobeda, op kleine schaal geproduceerd.
Hiernaast werden tijdens de oorlogsjaren ook de Chevrolet G7107 (met hijsinstallatie) en G7117 geproduceerd uit onderdelen die uit de Verenigde Staten werden geïmporteerd als onderdeel van de Lend-Lease Act. GAZ maakte ook de GAZ-12 ZIM, GAZ-21 en GAZ-24 Volga en de limousines GAZ-13 en GAZ-14 Tsjaika.
Geheel van karakter veranderde de fabriek met de overname door de metaalfabrikant Oleg Deripaska. Deze schoonzoon van president Jeltsin en vriend van president Poetin ontsloeg de helft van het personeel, zette drastisch het mes in de arbeidsvoorwaarden en introduceerde een Japanse stijl van leidinggeven. De arbeidsomstandigheden zijn abominabel, maar de productie is flink gestegen.
Moskvitch (Russian: Москвич) (sometimes also written as Moskvich, Moskvič or Moskwitsch) was an automobilebrand from Russia produced by AZLK from 1945 to 1991 and by OAO Moskvitch from 1991 to 2002. The current article incorporates information about both the brand and the joint-stock successor of AZLK for the sake of simplicity. Moskvitch-400, nearly a copy of the Kadett K38 Moskvitch-400, nearly a copy of the Opel Kadett K38 OAO Moskvitch was a privatized venture name given to the former factory in order to avoid legal issues after the fall of the Soviet Union in 1991. Since the factory had no assembly branches outside Russia after 1991, its name is largely used today to refer to the building located in Lower Eastern part of Moscow and abandoned since 2006. The word moskvitch (Russian: москвич) itself translates as “(a) Muscovite” into English. It was used to point out the original location of the cars manufactured outside of Moscow.
Early history
In 1929 the construction of Moscow Automotive Plant began with initial production of 24,000 vehicles. In 1941 the plant was evacuated to Ural and the entire production converted for the manufacture of the military equipment at the dawn of World War II. After the war, the USSR acquired an entire Opel manufacturing line from Brandenburg in Germany. A factory called MZMA (Moskovsky Zavod Malolitrazhnykh Avtomobiley, that is, Moscow Compact Car Factory) started in 1947 to manufacture an automobile called Moskvitch 400 based on the Opel Kadett. Further models were developed by Soviet engineers. In 1969, the factory changed name to AZLK (Avtomobilny Zavod imeni Leninskogo Komsomola, which means Car Factory in the name of the Leninist Communist Youth Union). The Moskvitch failed to get type approval in the UK. Moskvitch cars were never meant to be a fashion statement. They were sturdy, reliable on substandard roads and were offered at an affordable price. The 1960s and early 1970s were the glory days, when the cars were exported to many countries throughout the world. Demand always exceeded production, so people had to wait a long time for a new car. Until the 1980s all Moskvitch cars were compact rear-wheel drive saloons and estates with solid rear axles suspended by leaf springs. The Moskvitch was also produced in Bulgaria (see Moskvitch (Bulgaria)) between 1966 and 1990 on the basis of complete knock down (CKD) kits.
Introduction of the Aleko
1986 saw the unveiling of a radically new (by Soviet standards) model, known as the Aleko-141. It was powered by the VAZ-2106 1.6L in-line four-cylinder engine, which had by then amassed an acceptable track record powering a number of LADA models. Aleko was a front-wheel drivehatchback different from any model the factory had made previously. It was larger and more luxurious, made with comfort, safety and aerodynamics in mind. The body was built on the basis of Simca 1307, while longitudinal engine placement and torsion-crank rear suspension and McPherson strut front suspension was inspired by Audi 80/100 family, while taking into account the larger size of the Moskvitch and Lada engines . The 1.8 liter gasoline engine for the new car was planned, but never materialized, as was also the case with a diesel version. The car was a major improvement over previous generations, but the fall of the centralised economy, below-par quality and inadequate management ultimately brought the factory to bankruptcy[citation needed]. The factory, which had been renamed to OAO Moskvitch (Moskvitch Joint Stock Company) in the early 1990s, filed for bankruptcy in 2002 and ceased production. The factory remains idle and abandoned, everything left as it was in 2002. Unfinished bodyshells remain on the production line in various stages of completion, while furniture, computers, office supplies, and documents remain in the plant’s administration building. Several attempts to restart production have been made over the next 3 years, but none were successful. Recently, a portion of the abandoned plant was acquired by OAO Avtoframos, a 38%-62% joint venture between the City of Moscow and French automaker Renault SA. In 2005, Avtoframos commenced assembly of Renault Logan sedans from imported complete knock-down kits (CKDs). The presence of Avtoframos brought new life to a small part of the facility, but the majority of the sprawling plant remains abandoned, apparently still owned by the dormant Moskvitch company. The bankruptcy of OAO Moskvitch was officially announced in 2006 and the company was liquidated the following year. Since 2009 owner of brand Moskvitch is German automotive company Volkswagen. In 2011 Volkswagen extended its brand ownership rights until 2021.
In de jaren 60 werd een overeenkomst tussen de Belgische importeur N.V. Sobimpex en Moskvitsj getekend, waarbij overeengekomen werd de auto in België te assembleren. Er werd een aparte firma, Scaldia Volga AS, opgezet om de productie waar te nemen. In de praktijk kwamen de auto’s compleet aan in de haven van Antwerpen, enkel met de versnellingsbak in de kofferbak en zonder motor. In Brussel werd aanvankelijk de Perkins dieselmotor ingebouwd, later vervangen door een Rover-motor en in de jaren 80 Indenor (Peugeot).
Hoewel de benzinemotor in België en Nederland steeds leverbaar bleef, werd de nadruk gelegd bij de dieselversie. In Nederland was de Volga diesel vooral populair bij taxibedrijven. Eind jaren zestig waren Volga’s regelmatig te zien in onder andere Rotterdam en Groningen.
Tegenwoordig is Scaldia-Volga de importeur voor Lada in België
The ZIM-12 (Russian: ЗиМ-12) was a Soviet limousine produced by the Gorky Automotive Plant from 1950 till 1960. Inspired by the 1948 Cadillac Fleetwood 61 and the 1947 Buick Super, the car was built to serve mid-rank Soviet Nomenklatura, but was also readily available as a taxi and ambulance. Unlike its successors, ZIM was the only Soviet executive class full-size car that was actually made available for private ownership. A total of 21527 examples were built.
The ZIM abbreviation stands for Zavod imeni Molotova (Russian: Завод имени Молотова). Prior to 1957, the GAZ factory was officially named as Gorkovsky avtomobilny zavod imeni V.M. Molotova, or the Vyacheslav Molotov Gorky automotive factory, in honour of the Soviet Foreign Minister. All of the models carried the prefixM. However for a car of executive class, a new catchy abbreviation was introduced, and in the style of American car fashion that the vehicle was inspired by, the ZIM was used laboriously to decorate the car: the hubcaps, the bonnet, the radiator grille, even the horn button on the steering wheel. However, the Soviet Minister’s career was abruptly finished in May 1957, when he lost a political fallout with Nikita Khrushchev. Following his downfall, the country underwent a renaming spree, with cities, streets, ships and factories being hastily rid of the fallen politician’s name. ZIM, which was in production, from the summer of 1957 was hurriedly re-christened as GAZ-12, and all of the badges and adornments replaced by the new abbreviation. Moreover, right up until the perestroika the car was officially named labelled only as the GAZ-12, whilst unofficially it was almost exclusively referred to as the ZIM.
In 1890, Jacob Gillig opened a carriage and wagon shop in San Francisco, California, and was joined by his son Leo in 1896. The original shop was destroyed in the 1906 San Francisco earthquake, but reopened as the Leo Gillig Automobile Works manufacturing automobile, hearse, truck, and bus bodies.
In 1920, Leo’s brother Chester Gillig joined the company and introduced and patented the “California Top” roof construction style consisting of a hard-top roof and sliding windows. The company’s name was changed at this time as well to Gillig Bros. In the late 1920s, Gillig starting producing pleasure boats and heavy trucks, and produced their first school bus in 1932. In 1937, Gillig introduced their first transit-style (flat front) school bus, and in 1938 the company moved to Hayward, CA. In 1957, Gillig purchased Pacific Bus division of Kenworth Truck Company, and by that time the company was devoted almost entirely to the production of school buses. In 1959, Gillig pioneered the diesel-powered rear-engined transit style school bus with the release of the C-series Transit Coach, and within five years the C-Series accounted for three-quarters of all of Gillig sales figures. In 1967, Gillig produced the highest-capacity school bus ever produced, the 855-D, which had a passenger capacity of 97 pupils.
In 1969, Herrick-Pacific Steel purchased the company and changed the name to the Gillig Corporation. During the time they built school buses, Gillig earned a reputation for being one of the “safest” buses ever built due to the near total absence of recalls. The only recall for a Gillig-built school bus was in 1979 for rear-end axle separation issues.
In 1977, Gillig decided to branch out into the manufacture of transit buses and teamed up with Neoplan to build a series of European-styled transit buses that had the option of propane fueled engines. However, the partnership with Neoplan lasted only until 1979, and in 1980 Gillig introduced the Phantom, a heavy-duty transit bus based slightly upon their previous round-body school bus platform. A State of California tax-free subsidy helped early sales, and sales were later buoyed by low bidding on contracts and specializing in serving smaller transit agencies. This strategy has proven to be successful, as the Phantom became one of the longest-lasting transit models in existence. Production of the Transit Coach School Bus ceased in 1982, but a school bus variation of the Phantom was offered beginning in 1986, but production stopped in 1993 when Gillig exited the school bus market altogether.
The Spirit, a late-1980s attempt at a medium-duty bus, did not sell well and was discontinued after a few years. In 1997, Gillig entered the low-floor bus market with the Advantage (originally called “H2000LF”, and is currently called the “Low Floor”). Like the Phantom, the Low Floor was first purchased largely by rental car companies for use at their airport facilities, but transit sales increased as the model matured.
Currently, Gillig produces around 1,200 to 1,300 buses a year.
On August 1, 2008, Gillig became a Henry Crown company under CC Industries, Inc. CC Industries will operate Gillig in the same location with the current management team.
Also, the Phantom model has been discontinued from manufacturing after 28 years from Gillig.
Alternative fuels
In 1992, Gillig began producing an LNG fueled version of the Phantom in an attempt to produce a low-emissions transit bus, but this was later discontinued. The only LNG Phantoms in existence currently operate shuttle service at Los Angeles International Airport and Dallas-Fort Worth International Airport.
In 1996, Gillig introduced a diesel-electrichybrid powered Phantom, which they produced until 2006. The Low Floor bus is now offered in a hybrid powered version as the company continues to focus its efforts on “clean diesel” technology.
In September 2011, Gillig introduced an alternative fuelBRT model with a CNG propulsion, which is their first CNG-powered bus produced and first production natural gas buses since 1998. Long Beach Transit used purchased a pilot bus in 2011 and placed an order for 63 more in 2012, bringing the total to 64 buses.
Although Gillig has never built an electric trolley bus (ETB), in 2001-2002 the company supplied 100 body/chassis shells to Seattle‘s King County Metro Transit for the latter to equip as trolley buses. More than just shells, these Phantom buses were shipped by Gillig complete in almost every way (including interior fittings such as seats) except lacking any propulsion equipment and other ETB-only features such as trolley poles. The Seattle transit agency, Metro, removed the propulsion packages from its old fleet of 1979-built AM General trolley coaches (G.E. traction motor, Randtronics chopper control, and electronic card cage), which the Gillig vehicles were purchased to replace, and shipped them to Alstom (in New York) for refurbishment. After receiving the refurbished propulsion equipment back from Alstom, Metro installed it in the new Gillig Phantom bodies, along with Vossloh-Kiepe pneumatically operated fiberglass trolley poles.
The origins of the Gilford Motor Company can be traced back to the post First World War period, when E. B. Horne set up in business to sell former military chassis, principally of Garford manufacture. Many of these chassis were from continental battlefields were they had been left, and Horne imported them to England. Once at his works, a dingy stable yard in Holloway, London, they were completely stripped down and overhauled, the engines were re-conditioned and the completed chassis re-sold.
By 1925 the business had been incorporated as E. B. Horne & Company Limited, and, along with his partner V. O. Skinner, Horne decided to manufacture chassis to their own design. Initially it had been planned to produce a low-loading passenger chassis, but the first production vehicles appeared in May 1925 and were conventional lorry chassis, marketed under the trade name of ‘Gilford’. It is presumed that this name was chosen, so as to resemble ‘Garford’, which was a well-tried, reliable chassis.
1928 Gilford Motor Co
The first three chassis were fitted with American Buda engines, manufactured at the company’s English works at Wembley in Middlesex, although, as with all Gilford models, the engines were described as ‘Gilford’. Throughout their short existence, Gilford never manufactured anything, but assembled ready-made parts supplied by other firms.
Sales were initially slow, which was perhaps as well for the Holloway site did not have the capacity for rapid production of chassis. Around October 1925, Horne introduced the drop-frame bus chassis, which immediately became more successful than most of its competitors. The chassis frame was only 1ft 11ins in height compared to the standard 2ft 9ins on goods chassis, and, with a 15ft wheelbase, the finished vehicle could accommodate up to 26 passengers in comfort. The Buda engine was again the powerhouse, whilst the steering was of the cam and lever type, the best that could be obtained at the time. A new design of radiator was introduced with the name ‘Gilford’ prominent.
1929 bakers Gilford 1660T Wray body
In 1926 Horne & Company brought out a six-cylinder engined version of their passenger chassis. Advertised as the Lowline Safety Coach (and designated LLC) it completely superseded the four-cylinder model. Buda again manufactured the engines. The wheelbase was available as either 15ft or 16ft 6ins, which resulted in the reclassification of the available models as LL15 and LL166, a designation that persisted on most Gilford models to the end.
On the 6th November 1926, the Gilford Motor Company Limited was registered, with Horne and Skinner in control.
Around this time the country was beginning to come out of a period of depression and the demand for commercial vehicles, and in particular motor coaches, was rising. The Gilford Motor Company was working at full capacity and their name was becoming more widespread and well known in coaching circles, with a reputation for quality and speed. To deal with the sales of new and second-hand vehicles, provincial depots were set up, including one in Belfast, which resulted in an early order for six 30-seaters from Downpatrick Motor Services, and another one in Dublin. With the increasing interest in the company’s vehicles, it became apparent that larger premises were required and on 19th December 1927 the whole of the production was moved to the newly acquired Bellfield Works, in High Wycombe. Shortly after, on the 28th December 1927, Gilford registered a new subsidiary company called Wycombe Motor Bodies Ltd., which fronted their entry into coachbuilding. It, too, had its headquarters at the Bellfield Works.
1929 Gilford 166SD Clarke B26F … new March 1929
The bodybuilding concern was intended to produce a standard body for each type of chassis and, subsequently, a high proportion of Gilford chassis were fitted with Wycombe bodywork. In order to gain some bodybuilding experience, a number of elderly Dennis chassis belonging to the local Penn Bus Company were re-bodied. All Wycombe bodies (with the exception of just two) were of the wooden-framed type; the first of any new type being completely hand built with jigs being made of the component parts, which were then manufactured by an outside contractor and assembled in the Wycombe works. Bodies were assembled separately from the chassis and were held until a suitable chassis was available before mounting. The whole vehicle was then sent for painting. The vast majority of bodies were finished with cellulose, Wycombe being among the pioneers of this method, instead of the usual paint.
In May 1928, Gilford introduced new designs, designated the 15SD and 166SD for the normal control chassis (the SD stood for ‘Standard Drive’, and the numerals represented the wheelbase of either 15ft or 16ft 6ins), or the 15OT and 166OT for the forward control models (OT stood for ‘Over Type’ and were Gilford’s first forward control chassis). The 15ft models retained the Buda engine, but the 16ft 6ins models were equipped with a new 36 hp side-valve engine, produced by the Lycoming Manufacturing Company in America, and was, arguably, the most successful engine used by Gilford.
The Wycombe designed bodies for the new range were rather square in design, with a canvas hood option on the normal control models as an alternative to the fixed roof with sliding section and quite a number of the earlier models were fitted in this way.
Towards the end of 1928, Gilford introduced a six-wheel chassis, a design that was becoming popular at the time. The 6WOT (6-Wheel Over Type) did not sell in any great quantity, but was once again fitted with an American manufactured engine. The six-cylinder side-valve unit was built in the USA by the Wisconsin Motor Company, but it was fitted to the 6WOT without modification, resulting in excess heat from the exhaust manifold being transmitted to the drivers cab.
1929 Gilford Ad
In the spring of 1929 the 15SD model was discontinued in favour of a smaller chassis (the CP6), with 13ft 3ins wheelbase. Later, in November of that year, Gilford took a stand at the 1929 Commercial Motor Exhibition with a view to introducing their new range of chassis. The new vehicles, which were broadly a development of the 166OT and 166SD models, had a larger wheelbase of 16ft 8ins and were, consequently, designated 168OT and 168SD. At the same time Gilford introduced their first double-deck vehicle, with a wheelbase of 16ft 3ins the model was designated the 163DOT (Double-deck Over Type). The 163DOT was bodied by Beadle with a lowbridge 50-seat body with sunken side gangways on either side of the upper saloon. It was painted in the livery of Borough Bus Services, whose fleet it later joined. Always prone to problems it remained the only 163DOT built. All three models used the Lycoming side-valve engine, but with a slightly larger 37.2hp capacity than previously used. The 168OT and 168SD proved very successful, owing largely to their greater seating capacity.
The Gilford Motor Company Limited was, by now, a public company, and the profit for the year amounted to around £40 000, out of which a dividend of 33% was paid on each of the 280 000 shares of 5 shillings held in the company. As it turned out, this was to be the zenith of the Company’s fortunes.
1929 Gilford Coach
The following year, 1930, the AS6 was introduced as a replacement for the CP6, with seating capacity of around 20 passengers. The vehicle was lively and reliable and quantities were sold, particularly to rural bus operators who required a small capacity coach chassis. For the first time, Gilford introduced a chassis specifically designed for goods work, designated the DF6 it, too, sold in quantity.
Throughout 1931 the 168 models continued to be produced, and another new type, the 168MOT was introduced. The ‘M’ stood for Meadows; the first British engine used on a Gilford chassis. Sadly, the engine proved unreliable and was often replaced after a few months in service. This led to the model’s unpopularity and it was discontinued by the year-end.
1929 Gilford Hera Wycomb Body
At the 1931 Olympia show, Gilford unveiled, for the first time, the double-deck version of the front-wheel drive bus that they had spent literally thousands of pounds developing. It resulted in an extremely low height vehicle, which stood just 12ft 11ins high, with the normal centre-gangway. The chassis frame was dispensed with altogether and the strength of the bus was contained in the structure of the body. The body was constructed by Wycombe Motor Bodies and this, and a front-wheel drive single-deck vehicle exhibited at the same show, were the only two metal-framed bodies built. Despite the advanced design and the amount spent developing them, there were no prospective purchasers, and this in part was responsible for the downturn in the Company’s financial position towards the end of the year, with a loss of over £28 000 being registered.
By 1932, other manufacturers were eroding the Gilford passenger chassis market, and with limited finance, Gilford turned its attention to developing vehicles for the goods market. Another double-deck chassis was shown at the Scottish Motor Exhibition in November 1932. Named the Zeus, it was officially classified 163D (16ft 3ins wheelbase Double-decker), and was equipped with a Vulcan 45.02hp petrol engine – the ‘Juno’. The prototype front-wheel drive double-decker was converted into a trolleybus for experimental purposes, with electrical gear being substituted for the engine, but otherwise basically unaltered. Although no customers were forthcoming for the trolleybus, at least it did operate in service for a short while, on loan to Wolverhampton Corporation in November and December of that year.
1929-1938 Gilford CP6 C26F seats
Despite an enormous amount of publicity and being well received by the technical press, the Zeus once again failed to capture the passenger chassis market, although another newly introduced chassis – the ‘Hera’, designated 176S (17ft 6ins Single-decker) sold fairly well. This, however, did little to revive the Company’s fortunes, and in 1933 it was announced that the High Wycombe works was to be sold and the Company was to move into a much smaller factory in London, known as Brentside Works.
Sales did no better in 1934, when two orders from Western SMT for 40 vehicles represented 40% of the total annual output, and by 1935 output was little over 1 vehicle per week. On the 29th November 1935 the company went into receivership, with liabilities of over £21 000 against assets of just under £6 000, which when the issued share capital of £100 000 was taken into account made the total deficit over £116 000. On the 31st December 1935 the Company was wound up and the Gilford Motor Company passed into history.
1930 Gilford Motor Company MY 57 Colour
The main reasons for the Company’s failure were outlined at a meeting on the same day and included the high costs of developing the front-engined bus chassis; the high proportion of bad debts incurred by the Company (Gilford chassis were often sold on deferred-payment terms and in the cut-throat coach business of the thirties smaller operators who purchased these vehicles were unable to pay, which resulted in many of the chassis being re-possessed); and lastly, the formation of the London Passenger Transport Board, which took away many of Gilford’s best customers, and indeed, the fleet of over 200 Gilford’s inherited by the LPTB made them the largest ever operators of Gilford vehicles.
Beste Lezers, ik begin dit blog hier omdat ik eerst een ander blog heb gehad met een betaald domein. Nu wilden ze na minder dan een jaar al nieuwe betaling en mijn ervaringen met de bereikbaarheid waren ronduit slecht. Idem met de beantwoording van vragen enz.
Kortom ik begin opnieuw alhier. De oude naam was hottransport.net, de nieuwe myn transport blog.
De maker ben ik Hot, en in het begin zal het gaan om het herplaatsen van blogjes die ik al eerder op hottransport net geplaatst had, maar zo gauw ik de oude vastgelegd en overgebracht heb komen er nieuwe bij. Ik werk op dit moment aan blogs over bussen, en doe dat in verschillende talen, en had een enorm aantal volgers, maar ik denk dat die snel zullen volgen.
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Myn Transport Blog 