BusTalk

Mr. Linsky · Posted: Wed May 11, 2011 12:49 pm Post subject:

Vern,

According to Mack production records The Motor Transit Lines CT as demonstrated in this thread was registered as a 1937 Model 6-CT-3S.

Registrations are almost always determined by the chassis and not the body.

In this case however it wouldn't have really mattered because the front and rear clips were provided by Mack and made the coach unmistakably a Mack product.

Regards,

Mr. 'L'

HwyHaulier · Joined: 16 Dec 2007 Posts: 932 Location: Harford County, MD

Mr 'L' -

Thanks! Agree. Often we would see vehicles wherein the MVA of record, issuing the Registration, relied on named chassis builder.
With highway trucks, I've noted the practice with "glider kits". Original chassis designation prevailed.

Something that muddies the waters? Examples where some of the builders would conspicuously place its own marques. An example
of that the GAR WOOD product (need to get back to the few photos)?...

..........................Vern.....................

Mr. Linsky · Posted: Wed Jun 01, 2011 2:08 am Post subject:

I've often talked about the Flxible Clippers especially in conjunction with my various pieces on New York's Carey Transportation - a one time premiere connection carrier from Manhattan to all three major metropolitan airports, and an avid Flxible customer.

The choice of power plant for their sleek lightning fast coaches was an old fashioned but beefed up Buick straight eight 'Fire Ball' engine even though other more powerful motors were available.

Pictured is a circa 1952 ad appearing in Bus Transportation Magazine touting what power plants were available but for some strange reason omitting an also optional GM 6-71 Detroit Diesel (I can't imagine why!).

Enjoy,

Mr. Linsky - Green Bus Lines, Inc., Jamaica, New York

traildriver · Joined: 26 Mar 2011 Posts: 2459 Location: South Florida

HwyHaulier · Joined: 16 Dec 2007 Posts: 932 Location: Harford County, MD

Mr 'L' - T.D. -

My recollections of same era. Last of these FLXIBLES recall riding, on the O'HARE - LOOP services in Chicago.
Same operator may have also run "lines" serving MIDWAY, too...

........................Vern.................

traildriver · Joined: 26 Mar 2011 Posts: 2459 Location: South Florida

Yes, Continental Air Transport was to Chicago as Carey was to NYC. Both old well respected companies. They were originally Frank Parmalee's carriage company transferring passengers between the various Chicago railway terminals. They are now known as GO Airport Express.

JUSXTREME96 · Joined: 20 Jun 2011 Posts: 37

Mr. Linsky · Posted: Tue Jun 28, 2011 12:29 am Post subject:

Found this very interesting cover of a Mack Brochure touting their 1930 to 1940 line.

While the top early thirties Model 'CL' and the bottom late thirties Model 'CW' are interesting, the center bus has very particular meaning for me.

It is fleet number G517 - a 1935 Model 'CX' and one of thirty-five (G501 to G535) delivered to Green Bus Lines of Long Island City, New York in August of that year.

You might say that these little 30 passenger cab over engine coaches were almost custom built for Green Line as only fifty were produced.

These were the only group of buses ever to be delivered to the company in the livery shown and were the last to carry a 'G' prefix with the fleet number.

Some of the 500's were sold to Avenue B and East Broadway in the late forties.

Sorry for the quality of the photos which were borrowed for educational purposes only.

Mr. Linsky - Green Bus Lines, Inc., Jamaica, New York

Q65A · Posted: Tue Jun 28, 2011 6:06 am Post subject:

Interesting that GBL was a major Mack customer pre-WWII, but did not purchase postwar Macks.

Mr. Linsky · Posted: Tue Jun 28, 2011 2:49 pm Post subject:

Bob,

Green Bus Lines was considered to be a very major Mack prewar customer with 217 on the property between 1933 and 1943 (this does not include a handful of odd Mack's that were worthy of keeping as a result of acquisitions of other companies along the way).

Funny things happened immediately after the war though; Triboro, a devout ACF client suddenly switched to GM, Jamaica and Surface, both devoted to Twin, switched to Mack (although Surface did received their first Mack orders just before the war), North Shore, another Twin devotee, went to GM, and East Side and Comprehensive as well as Green Line went from Mack to GM.

In Green Line's case, I can tell you that their last shipment of Mack's (10 Model CM's in 1940) had paint defects and they wanted to return the buses for complete repaints which Mack refused to do but did give them credits which do show up on my rare company spread sheets.

This episode must have soured the relationship with Mack because Green Line canceled a standing order for the first available Macks after the war.

Regards,

Mr. 'L'

Q65A · Posted: Tue Jun 28, 2011 5:56 pm Post subject:

Thanks for those details, Mr. L!

jkdelz · Age: 32 Joined: 07 Jul 2011 Posts: 1

Hi this is my first post here. By the way I'm John.

I've found this, in an old bus photos site. They are some old, some newer & some famous music stars bus photos. Pictures below were taken at year 1942 and the 2nd one was on 1943.

This one was the famous bus before in Santa Fe Trailways.

This one was the first bus built by Americans in 1901.

- Mr. John Kramer low floor minibus

"Intellectual growth should commence at birth and cease only at death." - Albert Einstein

Q65A · Posted: Thu Jul 07, 2011 6:05 am Post subject:

Nice histroic pix, John!
Thanks and welcome to BTN!!!

frankie · Posted: Thu Jul 07, 2011 10:44 am Post subject:

Welcome to the forum John. Good to have you aboard for the ride! The top two are Aerocoach buses and the bottom one is a .... hmmm! I think it's a Mack. LOL

Frankie

Mr. Linsky · Posted: Thu Jul 07, 2011 2:43 pm Post subject:

jkdelz,

Yes, I second or third the motion in welcoming you to BusTalk - we look forward to your valuable input and contributions.

The Mack that you posted was indeed one of the first built by the fledgling company and was a 20 passenger convertible sightseer dubbed 'The Manhattan'.

While it is unclear as to whether it was fabricated at the original carriage shop on Atlantic Avenue in Brooklyn or at the company's later (1905) factory in Allentown, Pennsylvania, it is certain that it was the first to be sold and was sold to a gentlemen in Brooklyn for use in sightseeing around Prospect Park.

#9, as it is known officially, now makes its home at the Mack Truck Museum in Allentown.

Regards,

Mr. 'L'