BusTalk

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

Interesting:

SEE PREVIOUS POSTS/LINK)

Out of all the US cities that once operated double-deckers,only FACCo and CMCCo operated "Queen Mary" types.

The following cities operated front-engined buses:

BRONX (SURFACE)

NEWARK(PSNJ)

BOSTON (BERy experimental)

BALTIMORE

PHILADELPHIA (PRT)

ATLANTA

DETROIT

CLEVELAND

LOS ANGELES

Toronto also operated double-deckers for a time.

Interesting to note that a tour company in San Francisco operated FACCo-type double-deckers during the 1915 Exposition......

"NYO"

["FARE-10 CENTS"].

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

Also:

The double-deckers once operated by PSNJ and SURFACE were later cut down to single-deck configuration, thus finishing out their service years as "conventionals".

Was always curious as to why the douole-deckers operated by "Soiface" were not purchased by FACCo.........

"NYO"

["WATCH YOUR STEP"]

[MaBSTOA 15]

I discussed the Philadelphia ex-FACCO Queen Mary in the following post

http://forum.bustalk.info/viewtopic.php?t=5830&sid=b5aaf1dffb92f1dfee1c3c98663ce384

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

An interesting thought..........

As we know, neither TA,"Soiface", or FACL purchased "New Look" MACKS.

Now, had production/delivery of the state-of-the-art Fishbowl not started in 1959, but, perhaps, began in 1961, one cannot help but wonder if the aforementioned operators might have purchased 'New Look" MACKS.

Recall, the MACKS rostered by the CTA were all either ex-CSL/CMCCo.

Then again, the CTA was legendary for their infatuation with their many hundreds of postwar "Oddballs", even with their many operational "quirks"......

"NYO"

["THE BOULEVARD ROUTE"]
'

[MaBSTOA 15]

The CTA not only had ex-CMC and CSL Mack post war models but in December 1956 thru April 1957 they acquired 100 Mack model C-49PGT. They were serial numbers 1727-1826. Propane powered with General Tire Corporation air suspension and the Mack ENDT-673 engine and 102 inches wide. They were CTA fleet numbers 7200-7299.

Mack only produced 207 Mack with the New Look front since it was an extra money option. 115 model C-47 and 92 model C-49 had the new look front.

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

MaBSTOA 15:

Did not know of this MACK purchase by the CTA; thanks for posting this info!

"New Look" MACKS were NOWHERE to be seen in my area, back in the 1960s (older models, however, were MORE than commonplace)

In fact, the first "New Look "MACKS I ever encountered were those ex-Yonkers buses being operated by "BLUE & WHITE" (North Bergen), back in 1974.

Here's an interesting "tidbit" from "CHICAGO MOTOR COACH COMPANY" (Doyle).......

"......in 1951, motor coach took delivery of eight 50-passenger Mack buses. Another 100 GM buses (the 700 series) were on order; however, the motor coach cancelled this order when they realized that they would be selling to the CTA....."

"NYO"

["153 CLARENDON"]

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

"AD"-lib...........

Interesting, also, that CMCCo/CTA buses were displaying exterior ads a number of years prior to "Noo Yawk's" buses............

"NYO"

["GO THE MOTOR COACH WAY"]

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

Further.........

In the "CHICAGO MOTOR COACH COMPANY" book (Doyle), there are a number of CMCCo/CTA buses seen carrying ad racks.

Interestingly, some buses were furnished with rectangular frames near to the driver's window, while others did not.

Also, some Old Looks (on the nearside) had ad frames amidships, with small frames behind the rear wheels.

Older single-deck YELLOWS also had ad racks installed in later years; the "Queen Mary" types, of course, never displayed ads.......

"NYO"

["153 JACKSON-STATE"]

[W.B. Fishbowl]

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

W.B.:

Interesting, that in London, double-deckers were always festooned with colorful ads, dating back to the omnibus days.

The older-model (London) double-deckers had open staircases; these stairways, too, displayed ads, making for very colorful sights, indeed.

In "Shik-aga" (as was the practice here oif course), there were also rear ads (recall the narrow ads displayed on the rears of Old Looks and "Pattons", beneath the windows........

"NYO"

['CTA"]

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

Also.......

As was once commonplace here in "Noo Yawk", "Shik-aga's" buses also carried dash ads............

"NYO"

"CTA"]

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

Also.........

The vintage photos of buses in other cities I've seen over the years show that the placement (and size) of exterior ad racks quite often varied from city to city; however, some companies (more or less) followed the overall pattern of "Noo Yawk".

And, yes, a number of cities had busess sporting the small ad frames behind the rear wheels.......

"NYO"

["DOWNTOWN ONLY"[

[MaBSTOA 15]

Also the bus used in the Saint Valentine's Day Massacre in my opinion and am ninety nine point nine percent sure it was neither an ex-CMC or ex-FACCO double deck bus.

Why you ask? Because neither company had a front door and the square ad rack above the destination sign on the right side clearly seen in the smaller photo was not used in either Chicago or New York.

However both the front door and ad rack were common on the Los Angeles Railway double deck buses. Besides Fageol they did have Yellow Coach models as well.

http://www.imcdb.org/vehicle_209021-Yellow-Coach-Z-63-1924.html

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

MaBSTOA 15:

GREATLY appreciate this info....QUITE interesting!

In the circa-1940 "OUR GANG" short,"GOIN" FISHIN'", an elderly open-top double-decker features prominently (veteran character actor Paul Hurst played the harried conductor.

The bus was lettered "INTER CITY"; this bus, obviously, was from Los Angeles..........

"NYO"

["732"]