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NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629 BusTalk's Offical Welcoming Committee
Joined: 18 Dec 2007 Posts: 22640 Location: NEW JOISEY
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Posted: Fri May 06, 2016 7:40 pm Post subject: NYCTA "Batwing" Fishbowls |
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Fellows:
If I am not mistaken, the first of the "batwing" Fishbowls entered service about 1966/1967.
Certainly, they were most distinctive of any bus then in the NYCTA fleet!
I am curious as to when the last was retired (1990's?), and if there had ever been any talk of applying "bat wing" advertising to any of the newer Old Looks.
Sadly, I never got around to take any photos but, at least, I still have the memories....too bad none were preserved.
Thanks in advance.....
"NYO"
Last edited by NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629 on Thu May 12, 2016 7:22 am; edited 2 times in total |
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NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629 BusTalk's Offical Welcoming Committee
Joined: 18 Dec 2007 Posts: 22640 Location: NEW JOISEY
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JimmiB
Age: 81 Joined: 19 Apr 2011 Posts: 516 Location: Lebanon, PA
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Posted: Fri May 06, 2016 9:01 pm Post subject: |
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Nice photos. I love the luncheonette in the last one. Classic Coke sign with art deco lettering.
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NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629 BusTalk's Offical Welcoming Committee
Joined: 18 Dec 2007 Posts: 22640 Location: NEW JOISEY
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Posted: Fri May 06, 2016 9:15 pm Post subject: |
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JimmiB wrote: | Nice photos. I love the luncheonette in the last one. Classic Coke sign with art deco lettering. |
Jimmy:
So many nostalgic elements date that wonderful old scene; how much of "vintage" New York was still part of the everyday scene, back then....how much we took for granted!
I also remember PSNJ/TNJ operating Fishbowls with "bat wing" advertising panels; again, VERY distinctive!
Where have the years gotten to....
"NYO"
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NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629 BusTalk's Offical Welcoming Committee
Joined: 18 Dec 2007 Posts: 22640 Location: NEW JOISEY
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Posted: Fri May 06, 2016 9:21 pm Post subject: |
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Here's a nostalgic scene I well recall from my younger days; here we see TNJ R321 (one of PSNJ's oldest Fishbowls) waiting to pull under the grimy shed of the old PS terminal at Journal Square (Jersey City), back in 1973.
Also, note GREYHOUND depot in the background (Sip Ave.)
Again, those huge "bat wings" indeed made for a VERY distinctive transit coach!
"NYO"
http://bus.nycsubway.org/perl/show?1505
(courtesy: bus.nycsubway.org)
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NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629 BusTalk's Offical Welcoming Committee
Joined: 18 Dec 2007 Posts: 22640 Location: NEW JOISEY
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Posted: Fri May 06, 2016 9:26 pm Post subject: |
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Another classic "Noo Yawk" street scene, snapped back in 1972.
Again, not only the Fishbowl, but the old-style store fronts also lend a distinctive nostalgic feel to the scene.....
http://bus.nycsubway.org/perl/show?1697
(courtesy: bus.nycsubway.org)
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B53RICH
Joined: 16 Apr 2007 Posts: 254
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Posted: Wed May 11, 2016 8:57 pm Post subject: |
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I never did get a chance to take photos as well, though I had planned to. Visiting grandparents in Miami back in 1970, the first day off the plane to my surprise was a Miami bus with batwings.
Here's a link I found of some sample photos of Miami buses with batwings:
http://www.miamidadetransit.com/800page.html
Also below, the only NYC Flxible (7753) with batwings, Collection of: Joe Testagrose:
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NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629 BusTalk's Offical Welcoming Committee
Joined: 18 Dec 2007 Posts: 22640 Location: NEW JOISEY
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Posted: Wed May 11, 2016 10:27 pm Post subject: |
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B53RICH:
WOW!!!!
That is one HANDSOME looking bus!
(that OTB ad is a classic unto itself!)
Did not that Miami (or any other city) operated "batwing" buses aside from New York (except for the PS/TNJ Fishbowls that then were running in my area)
Also, was not aware that any Flex New Looks were fitted out with "batwings"....sure looked mighty cool!
Man, to go back to the 70's, if even for only a day.......
"NYO"
Last edited by NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629 on Thu May 12, 2016 6:36 am; edited 1 time in total |
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NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629 BusTalk's Offical Welcoming Committee
Joined: 18 Dec 2007 Posts: 22640 Location: NEW JOISEY
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MaBSTOA 15
Age: 70 Joined: 27 Feb 2013 Posts: 1059
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Posted: Sun May 15, 2016 8:59 pm Post subject: |
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The Miami 800 series TDH-5302s had their bat wings added on the field.
The 400 series TDH-5304s had the bat wins applied at the factory. These buses had amber color lenses on the rear directional signals.
The 100 series T8H-5306A came with bat wings and water bumpers.
Likewise, the Flxibles in the 500 series and the 1-50 series also came with bat wings and water bumpers from the factory.
LA, New Orleans, Kansas City to mention a few also had fleets with bat wings. In fact NOPSI and Kansas City had AM Generals with bat wings!
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frankie
Age: 77 Joined: 01 Feb 2011 Posts: 747 Location: St. Peters, Mo.
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Posted: Sun May 15, 2016 10:21 pm Post subject: |
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I remember St. Louis Bistate has batwings on many of their Fishbowls, however the pointed end was at the bottom in the front and at the top in the rear - the complete opposite of those used in the NY area. Often low hanging branches were the kiss of death of a batwing if you got caught onto one.
Actually batwings were interchangeable with either side of the bus depending on where you wish to orientate the pointed end. If you were to swing around the end of the Bistate example a full 180 degrees horizontally and place it on the curb side, you would get the NY example with the point at the top.
Frankie
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NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629 BusTalk's Offical Welcoming Committee
Joined: 18 Dec 2007 Posts: 22640 Location: NEW JOISEY
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Posted: Mon May 16, 2016 12:01 am Post subject: |
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MaBSTOA 15/Frankie:
MANY THANKS for your interesting contributions (I had NO idea that "batwing" buses operated in that many cities!)
Frankie: LOVE the photo you posted....I can almost hear Judy Collins wistfully singing to her guitar, "Where have All The Fishbowls Gone?"
"NYO"
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frankie
Age: 77 Joined: 01 Feb 2011 Posts: 747 Location: St. Peters, Mo.
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Posted: Mon May 16, 2016 12:09 pm Post subject: |
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NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629 wrote: | MaBSTOA 15/Frankie:
MANY THANKS for your interesting contributions (I had NO idea that "batwing" buses operated in that many cities!)
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This photo should blow your mind! Factory installed on a baby fishbowl - in this case a TDH-3302A and operated by the Lawrence (Kansas) Bus Company. Of course, we affectionately called them batwings for obvious reasons, they were officially known as "Bus-O-Ramas" designed by Trans-Sign and made available in the mid-60's either as add-ons or installed at the factory.
Besides St. Louis and New York, they were also found in New Orleans, Houston, L.A., Dallas, Miami & Kansas City. I'm sure there are others.
Fishbowls were the most common to carry batwings and we know that Flxible new looks also had them, but how about a Grumman or a Western Flyer? NYC did add batwings to a handful of their newly acquired Flxible Grumman 870 models and Winnipeg had them on their Flyers. They do look good on the Flyers, but I'm not so sure with the 870's. What do you think?
Probably the second line to the song is "Recycled into Gilligs everywhere"
Frankie
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NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629 BusTalk's Offical Welcoming Committee
Joined: 18 Dec 2007 Posts: 22640 Location: NEW JOISEY
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Posted: Mon May 16, 2016 3:02 pm Post subject: |
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Frankie:
'nuff said!!
The Baby Fishbowl and Grumman 870 photos in particular REALLY knocked me for a loop..........WOW!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Thanks for taking the time to share these, my friend!
"NYO"
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NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629 BusTalk's Offical Welcoming Committee
Joined: 18 Dec 2007 Posts: 22640 Location: NEW JOISEY
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