BusTalk

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

HAD to share this link (regarding bus history in Toronto)...........

https://www.blogto.com/city/2011/05/what_ttc_buses_used_to_look_like/

Note the FACCO-style "Blunderbuses", as well as the Old Looks, three-piece rear window Fishbowls (also, trolleybuses!)......REAL buses, and NOT insipid "BINOs' ("Buses In Name Only") here!

GREAT collection of photos!

["TTC"]

[W.B. Fishbowl]

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

W.B.:

Correct you are.

Indeed, FACCO indeed DID build some "Blunderbuses" for Toronto.

Regarding the fronts of the BRILL trolleybuses; the models you are referring to (with front ends that somewhat resembled WHITES) would have been the Model 44; the more streamlined "C-44s" duplicated the "C-44" transit buses.

Ottawa had the smallest fleet of trolleybuses in Canada after the War, rostering only 10 CCF-BRILL TC48As.

Postwar, Ottawa operated a diverse fleet of buses, including Old Looks, CCF-BRILLS, FORDS, and PREVOST transits.............

"NYO"

["TTC"]

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

"Imitation the sincerest form of flattery?"

In the immediate postwar era, PREVOST built a number of transit/suburban buses that clearly were inspired by the postwar BRILLS.

Even the "Euro-style" windows were clearly BRILL-inspired.............

"NYO"

["THE DIAMOND LINES"]

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

The end of an era was upon FACCo..........

It was just about this time in 1946 when FACCo announced the conversion of the #4 from the last of the elderly open-top "Blunderbus" double-deckers to new, single deck TD-4506s, built by "Gee-Em".

Also, it was the end of the line for conductors on FACCo's buses.

Today, in 2024, the once oh-so-sleek-and-modern 4506s are now distant memories, just like the lumbering, yet ever-so-charming, old "Blunderbuses" they themselves replaced...........

"NYO"

["GO THE MOTOR COACH WAY"]

[W.B. Fishbowl]

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

W.B.:

Back in its heyday, whoever thought that the day would come when the fabled FACCO would be relegated to the history books?

Even "Soiface", and, yes, "stoa" are now but fond memories.........

"NYO"

['RIDE THE SURFACE WAY"]

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

Interesting..........

In William A. Luke's "HIGHWAY BUSES OF THE 20th CENTURY", there is a rare photo from 1910 showing a FACCo-type "Blunderbus" (no builder given) being used by the famed U.S. GRANT HOTEL in San Diego, to transfer passengers to and from the railroad depot.

What made this bus different from its FACCo cousins was that the upper deck featured a mesh grill, running around the front and sides, to protect passengers...........

"NYO"

["FACCo"]

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

Note the photo in this article depicting an early Parisian De Dion double-decker; also, take notice the massive (more atkin to an early motorized military vehicle!) rear tires of this early bus, totally unlike FACCo's early double-deckers.

Note, also, the unusual "enclosed" upper deck.........

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bus_transport_in_France

["DE DION"]

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

Further:

I'd commented on those HUGE rear wheels on that early DE DION is Paris as also doing "double duty" on a French military vehicle during WW2 (incidently, well over 1,000 London "GENERAL" buses were shipped over to France during WW1, for military operations; also, a number of Parisian buses were likewise "drafted")...........

"NYO"

["GENERAL"]

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

On this page you will find two postcards featuring FACCo buses; the first (circa-1910s) features an early DE DION; the second card (1930s/early 40s) features a number of "Queen Marys".

Note also the early New York motorized sightseeing "wagon".

Note also the postcard showing two prewar TWIN COACHES running through the international bus tunnel, between Detroit and Canada......

www.celebrateboston.com/postcard/buses.htm

"NYO"

["GO THE MOTOR COACH WAY"

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

Interesting.................

YELLOW, first and foremost, was the builder most associated with FACCo for many years,the company eschewing the other builders of the day.

Now, on the other hand, FAGEOL supplied both "El-Ay" and Atlanta (the Atlanta were gas-electrics; electrical gear supplied by GE) with double-deckers.

ACF supplied double-deckers to "Dee-Troit" and Cleveland.

Cannot help but wonder of FACCO ever had any interest in perhaps purchasing FAGEOL (or ACF) buses.............

"NYO"

["FIFTH AVENUE COACH COMPANY"]

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

"Soiface" 6-wheel double-deckers..........

Recall these big six-wheelers were later cut down, and operated (for ST) as single-deck buses, until they were retired?

I've always wondered why (as double-deckers) they were not sold to FACCo, when "SOIFACE" found double-decker operation not to their liking..........

"NYO"

["SURFACE TRANSPORTATION"]

[W.B. Fishbowl]

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

W.B.:

I think you are right, and, indeed, it would make sense why "Soiface" was not interested in selling the six-wheel double deckers to FACCo (too, IF there HAD been an offer, would FACCo have been even interested in these buses?)

Makes sense to me.

Just imagine these lumbering six-wheelers as part of the "upper crust" FACCo fleet........

"NYO"

["FIFTH AVENUE COACH COMPANY"]