BusTalk

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

The following is a bit off-topic (see previous post); making mention of MACKS with a/c reminded me of this..........

In 1945, GEORGIA POWER COMPANY (Atlanta) took delivery of a group of PULLMAN-STANDARD trolley buses; the last of these electric coaches (#1234) was fitted with an experimental a/c"pod" unit on the roof, making it the first trolley bus in the world to be air-conditioned.

The 100 PULLMANS were all supposed to be equipped with a/c, but the experiment with #1234 was not successful, so this ambitious plan was shelved.

In Dallas, between 1958 and 1959, roof-mounted air-conditioning units were installed on 50 of Dallas' 80 trolley buses..........

"NYO"

["AIR-CONDITIONED"]

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

From "WELCOME ABOARD THE GM NEW LOOK BUS" (McKane/Squier)...........

"........the New Look design featured unified heating, ventilation, and, when included as an extra-cost option, air-conditioning system........"

".........there were a large number of operators who bought first-generation New Look buses with air-conditioning. but, with the V-6 engine and the two-speed VH transmission, bus performance was sluggish; when the air-conditioning was in use, because the power was drawn from the main engine. In the future, many of these operators continued to buy newer buses, specifying V-8 engines with air-conditioning........"

From: "NEW YORK CITY TRANSIT BUSES"(Martin), in the MaBSTOA chapter......

".......the 480 TDH-5303's, new in 1966, were the first to have air-conditioning and billboard advertising........"

["OA"]

[W.B. Fishbowl]

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

W.B.;

As always, greatly appreciate the historical "input"; much of great interest, for certain!

Recall FACL's new Fishbowls, proudly proclaiming to the city that they were "AIR CONDITIONED" buses.....QUITE a novelty for transit bus operators in that day!

On a related note, we've seen pics of "Noo Yawk" buses with ad panels which covered the a/c grills during the off-season' when did these come into use, and (about) how many buses were equipped with them?

As always, appreciate info.....

"NYO"

["AIR-CONDITIONED"]

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

Gun Hill Road, 1973.

The a/c unit depicted here on this (unidentified) MaBSTOA Fishbowl looks as though there is a solid painted panel over the a/c grillwork (I'm guessing that this was the angle of the camera, making the grillwork look "solid"?)

https://www.nycsubway.org/perl/show?57233

(courtesy: nycsubway.org)

["MABSTOA"]

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

Brooklyn, 1981.........

https://www.nycsubway.org/perl/show?154434

(courtesy: nycsubway.org)

["M'"]

[W.B. Fishbowl]

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

W.B:

Ahhh, that explains it......I knew it wasn't an ad frame.

Any idea of when those a/c unit ad frames appeared and when they disappeared?

"NYO"

["MTA"]

[W.B. Fishbowl]

I would say ad frames on A/C's arrived about 1980, but it seemed they were largely confined to 'Dangerfields'; don't think I saw ad frames on A/C Fishbowls. But it seems to have been discontinued, in any case, within two years or thereabouts.

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

[W.B. Fishbowl]

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

[MaBSTOA 15]

Flxible number 7753 showing the a/c mounted ad rack

GM number 8447 with bat-wings and a/c. Note the metal cover over the a/c grill. Barely visible in this Daily News photo covering the February 1967 snow storm.

Btw, 8447 was out of the Amsterdam Depot and this time it was on route
M-104, Broadway towards the U.N.

I remember that the first winter for the bat-wing-a/c buses the condenser grills were covered with a sheet metal

(Will look for a better photo showing the cover of the a/c grill)

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

MaBSTOA 15:

As usual, OUTSTANDING items....thanks for posting here; really like the photo of the "Dangerfield" displaying an ad on the a/c panel!

"NYO"

["M-104"]