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Headlights and FACC double deckers
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NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629
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Joined: 18 Dec 2007
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Location: NEW JOISEY

PostPosted: Mon Jun 15, 2015 5:18 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

"THE BUS WITH THE WORLD-WIDE REPUTATION" (obviousy, a gas-electric "demo" coach)

Both Atlanta and Detroit operated gas-electric double-deckers; the sleek "bullet" headlights tell us that this bus is a mid-20's ACF.

On these buses, at least (unlike those operated by FACC) headlights were "de riguer"......

http://www.prints-online.com/p/164/tour-bus-1920s-4486387.jpg

(courtesy: printsonline.com)


Last edited by NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629 on Mon Jun 15, 2015 5:30 pm; edited 1 time in total
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NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629
BusTalk's Offical Welcoming Committee



Joined: 18 Dec 2007
Posts: 22278
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PostPosted: Mon Jun 15, 2015 5:27 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Here is an interesting page on Detroit's double-deckers.

As you can seen here, the ACF's that once ran in Detroit were far from succesful, unlike FACC's buses.....

http://detroittransithistory.info/Misc/Double-deckerBuses.html

(courtesy:detroittransithistory.info)
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NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629
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PostPosted: Mon Jun 15, 2015 5:43 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

No. 301 was a 1917 FACCO, seen here at 5th and 40th.

Like headlights, mudflaps (fenders) were a long time coming to Fifth Avenue buses!

http://norman.hrc.utexas.edu/NYJAgal/web/NYJA000614.jpg
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NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629
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PostPosted: Mon Jun 15, 2015 5:57 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Rare front/rear views of a 1908 FACC bus, obviously prior to entering service ("no frills", for sure!)

For all of its primitive appearance, this archaic vehicle presents a tough, no-nonsense look is formidable even over a century later.....

http://www.coachbuilt.com/bui/f/fifth_avenue/oo1908_Fifth_Ave_02.jpg

(courtesy: coachbuilt)
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NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629
BusTalk's Offical Welcoming Committee



Joined: 18 Dec 2007
Posts: 22278
Location: NEW JOISEY

PostPosted: Tue Jun 16, 2015 10:21 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Here's a WW1-era photo showing a FACC bus packed to the gills with gallant "Doughboys"......

http://web.mta.info/nyct/facts/images/ggbwwi.gif

(courtesy: web.mta.info)
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NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629
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PostPosted: Tue Jun 16, 2015 10:28 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

A Toronto double-decker from 1922, clearly a "one man" bus.

Had the FACC considered eliminating conductors early on, thier buses might have resembled this one.....

http://www.blogto.com/upload/2011/05/2011513-Double-decker-bus-1922.jpg
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NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629
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PostPosted: Tue Jun 16, 2015 2:29 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

A very early De Dion (1907) w/ a Type-C BRILL body.

Interestingly, if you look closely, it appears that acetylene headlights are bieng used on this bus.

The same photo appears on page 7 of Mr. Ogden's book on the FACC; in that photo, the headlights are more easily viewed......

http://www.coachbuilt.com/bui/f/fifth_avenue/oo1908_Fifth_Ave_07.jpg

(courtesy: coachbuilt)
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NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629
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PostPosted: Tue Jun 16, 2015 2:39 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

No headlights or front fenders/mudflaps for No. 512, but this 1919 FACC Type "A" does has provision for protecting upper deck passengers when rain is falling.....

http://www.coachbuilt.com/bui/f/fifth_avenue/oo1919_Fifth_Ave_02.jpg

(courtesty: coachbuilt)
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traildriver




Joined: 26 Mar 2011
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Location: South Florida

PostPosted: Sat Jun 20, 2015 3:14 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629 wrote:
Both Detroit and Cleveland once operated double deckers with tandem rear axles; this hulking vehicle operated in Detroit.

Like thier FACC counterparts, the Detroit coaches were not equipped with headlights......

http://www.detroittransithistory.info/images/DMB-636_460x280.jpg

(courtesy: detroittransithistory.info)


That's an interesting looking model....wonder why they didn't maximize capacity by extending the upper deck forward to match the lower level front of bus? Looks like they could have fit in one or maybe two more rows of seats in that space....perhaps it would have restricted the visibility of the driver too much....
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NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629
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PostPosted: Sat Jun 20, 2015 3:31 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

traildriver wrote:
NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629 wrote:
Both Detroit and Cleveland once operated double deckers with tandem rear axles; this hulking vehicle operated in Detroit.

Like thier FACC counterparts, the Detroit coaches were not equipped with headlights......

http://www.detroittransithistory.info/images/DMB-636_460x280.jpg

(courtesy: detroittransithistory.info)


That's an interesting looking model....wonder why they didn't maximize capacity by extending the upper deck forward to match the lower level front of bus? Looks like they could have fit in one or maybe two more rows of seats in that space....perhaps it would have restricted the visibility of the driver too much....


traildriver:

I was thinking the same as you; but, perhaps, as you said, it might have affected the driver's visibility.

Many folks associate US double deckers with only Fifth Avenue (well, that's not at all surprising, considering how famed they were, thanks also the the film industry!) but these same folks would be surprised to know that they once ran in several other US cities, including Baltimore, Chicago, Cleveland, Detroit, and Los Angeles.

Had the double-decker concept stayed strong for the FACC after the War, it certainly would have been quite interesting to see modern, rear-engined GMC double deckers rumbling up and down the Avenue (now THERE's an interesting PHOTOSHOP project for a rainy day!) Shocked Rolling Eyes Laughing

"NYO"


Last edited by NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629 on Sat Jun 20, 2015 6:10 pm; edited 1 time in total
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NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629
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PostPosted: Sat Jun 20, 2015 3:53 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

Here's a scene from the 1930 Laurel & Hardy short, "HOG WILD".

This bus would have looked right at home operating for the FACC.....EXCEPT...(take note!).......it is equipped with HEADLIGHTS! Shocked

Many early Hal Roach shorts and silent comedies featured LA double deckers (and trolleys).....

http://www.imcdb.org/vehicle_26832-yellow-coach-Z-AAAM-354-1928.html
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NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629
BusTalk's Offical Welcoming Committee



Joined: 18 Dec 2007
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PostPosted: Sat Jun 20, 2015 4:07 pm    Post subject: Reply with quote

The 1940 "OUR GANG" short, "GOIN' FISHN' " is a must-see for all of us who love the old "open toppers"!

The bus (obviously an ex-LAMCCo bus) is lettered "INTER CITY", and features prominently in the short; slow-burning character actor Paul Hurst plays the harried, harrassed conductor (some great engine, air brake, and buzzer sounds in this fun flick, as a bonus to bus fans!) Wink

"NYO"
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yc720_06



Age: 86
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Location: Glasgow, Scotland, UK

PostPosted: Fri Feb 19, 2016 8:28 am    Post subject: Reply with quote

Was a Tilling Stevens "demo", not an ACF
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