CULTIVATING THE PRIVATE-CAR APPEARANCE
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How a Dunoon Tour Operator .
has Attained Distinctiveness with a Commer Coach
TN our issue dated July 29th we pub
lished a description of a small Cornmer vehicle with a particularly fine appearance which was being operated by Mr, Michael Antonelli, of 46, George Street, Dunoon, for day tours in the Scottish Highlands. This operator has had considerable success, as is witnessed by the new Commer vehicle ordered by him which figured prominently at the recent Scottish Show. Many visitors were attracted by this vehicle and it
was, of course, referred to in our Show reports, but for the sake of those who may be interested in details of its design we have decided to publish a description of the various items of equipment which have been incorporated.
The coach body was built by Messrs. H. V. Burlington, at Newhouse Road, Marton, Blackpool. Although the chassis is of a type generally employed for 20-seaters, accommodation has besu provided for only 14 passengers. As the vehicle is to tour in hilly country where it is often cold, a heating system of Eto make has been installed. The maker of this system is the Central Plumbing and Heating Co., Ltd., of Alfred Street Works, Blackpool. So that passengers may enjoy sunny weather to the full and appreciate the
hilly scenery, -a Wain-Ian all-weather head has been fitted and the windscreen is also of Walman make, the manufacturers being Messrs. Wilfrid Overton, of Marsh Street, Walsall. Q.T. full-drop windows, made by Quicktho (1928), Ltd., of Point Pleasant, London, S.W.18, are employed.
Apart from cant-rail luggage racks of moderate size, no accommodation for luggage is provided, as the vehicle is used only for single-day tonne The springing of the Commer Invader chassis used for this vehicle is, of course, excellent. Mr. Antonelli has had Grilles air springs fitted to the frontaxle suspension so as to obtain the maximum of comfort. The tyre size is 32 ins. by 6 ins.
One reason why close-up front mudguards are fitted is to keep down-the overall width of the coach. The mudguards turn with the steering and are made secure by fitting a cross stay to the two
fixing stays. This gives excellent rigidity, which es, of course, necessary with this type of mudguard. The floor ia covered with rubber tiling supplied by the Leyland and Birmingham Rubber Co., Ltd., and all the interior fittings are by Messrs. Wilfrid Overton.
The exterior finish is in mottled shades Of blue, mauve and dark green, carefully executed, the bright metal parts, including cowl indicators, vizor and louvre frames, being chromium plated. Wheel disee and dumbiron cowling round off the specification nicely.
Most of Mr. Antonelli's tours are long ones running to 200 miles or so ; it is a common thing for a start to be made at 8 a.m., visitors getting back to their hotels about 8 p.m. For this reason unimpeachable seating comfort is indispensable. A popular tour of the Trossachs, including Lochs Long, Lo m on cl, Vennachar, Katrine and Earn, is
206 miles long. A tour in the direction of Oban, via Lochs Eck, Fyne, Awe and Etive (185 miles) is also a favourite, another Gold Line speciality being a circuit of the seven lochs, taking in excellent scenery of the Trossachs. Mr. Antonelli is already busy with his plans for 1931, and it was, of course, with a view to getting his arrangements made well in advance that he purchased the latest addition to his fleet before the end of this 3-ear.