BusTalk

[Mr. Linsky]

It's difficult to date the attachment exactly except to say that the station wagon stage right is a new version Ford or Mercury 'Woodie' introduced in 1949.

That said, we're ready to look at the spotlighted subject of the frame which is fleet # 1139 - a 1939 ACF Model 31-S and one of forty-three likenesses numbered between 1101 and 1143 delivered in increments to the Philadelphia Transportation Company (PTC) of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania in that calendar year.

The little 31 passenger model 31-S, which was ideal for low volume and feeder routes, gained its power from a 425 cubic inch, 115 horsepower Hall Scott gasoline engine mounted horizontally underfloor amidships with its radiator and cooling fan under the windshield.

Of note is the fact that bus # 1143 of this order came through with an experimental air operated fluid coupling Spicer three speed automatic transmission that ACF dubbed as 'Fluidgear Drive'.

It seems as though the 31-S went over well with PTC with subsequent orders bringing their total to 159 out of the 425 that ACF built between 1939 and 1942.

I will have to allow our Philadelphia experts to pinpoint the location of the photo as that information was not made available.

Photo by windsor74 and is up for bid on eBay as item# 380421475939.

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