Saturday, October 31, 2009

HAPPY BUS DAY! Yes, I'm sure you thought I would say "Happy Halloween"--but today is our ANNUAL MEETING and BUS DAY FUND RAISER at the Museum. Hope to be able to post some pictures for you in the near future.

Friday, October 30, 2009

One day before our ANNUAL MEETING and BUS DAY at the Museum.....are you going to be there??? You will be able to see the new display and weather-permitting (right now, rain is forecast) venture over to the Memorial Annex if you are not going on the bus trip to the Lancaster/Hershey area.

Thursday, October 29, 2009

To continue showing the pictures from our trip to Washington, DC, on Saturday--here are more coaches in the rain!

Wednesday, October 28, 2009

We spent Saturday in the Washington, DC, area and despite the downpours of rain--were able to take some pictures of coaches seen in the area....here are a few--Elite, Fullington and Klein.

Tuesday, October 27, 2009

As a followup to my blog on the Pickwick night coach--Bob Beard sent me this item. Thanks Bob!

Monday, October 26, 2009

It isn't too late--have you sent in your reservation for Saturday's ANNUAL MEETING and LUNCHEON....I know I sound like a broken record--but this is YOUR organization and we need YOUR SUPPORT! Hope to see you on Saturday.

Sunday, October 25, 2009

Before the Gump bus was put back into place, I took this picture of the newest section of the Timeline. If you would be interested in donating a section of the Timeline, please contact Bob Smith (rsmith5808@aol.com).

Saturday, October 24, 2009

JUST A WEEK away from our Annual Meeting and Fundraiser.....have you enjoyed the pictures of our big move??? If so, be sure to checkout the bus display and watch the new DVD on the TV -- yes, it shows the details of the BIG BUS MOVE after the AACA's Night at the Museum program--actually it is our own version of NIGHT AT THE MUSEUM!

Friday, October 23, 2009

Towards the end of the move, the Forrest Gump bus came in--this bus moves in/out under its own power so it is positioned by the door for easy access.

Thursday, October 22, 2009

More pictures from the move during Meet Week.

The Blue Bird came in towards the end of the move--again--under man and push power.

Wednedsay, October 21, 2009

Throughout our move -- what a glorious backdrop our Golden Eagle made---here are a few pictures taken before all the buses were moved back in.

Tuesday, October 20, 2009

As promised--here are some before and after pictures of the bumpers on the White. We were not able to paint them until the following evening--after the Museum visitors left (9 pm)--but considering what we had to work with--they came out pretty good! As you can see--the old bumpers show on the bottom pictures and the newly painted ones on top.

Monday, October 19, 2009

Wednesday evening (October 7) as we continued to move in buses after the NIGHT AT THE MUSEUM event--here are the pictures of the 1940 WHITE as it was moved in. The problem we encountered with the White--even though it had brand new upholstery and a new grey top---the bumpers looked horrible....you will see these pictures tomorrow. Right now, here are the pictures of the fellows getting it into place.

Sunday, October 18, 2009

Here's a nice photo from the archives of GM Coach Model TGH 3207 all lined up.

Saturday, October 17, 2009

ONLY 2 WEEKS until our 2009 Annual Meeting - have you sent in your reservation yet??

Are you planning on attending our Annual Meeting and Bus Day? We are just two weeks away from the event. Don't miss out--we will have a new line-up of buses on the floor and lots of new items in the gift shop.

Immediately following the meal, we will have our annual bus trip to view buses at Hershey Park, Lancaster, Red Rose Transit.

Friday, October 16, 2009

Back to the bus move-in last week--here are some more pictures--now, the school bus presented its own problems--old gas, not much gas, low battery--finally man and pusher power!

Thursday, October 15, 2009

Pickwick Stages was an interurban and long distance carrier based in Los Angeles whose origins can be traced to 1912 and which was an important element in a diver­sified holding company known as the Pickwick Corp. In the early days Pickwick operated Pierce-Arrow passenger car chassis, stretched and extensively reworked and equipped with locally-built open bodies. The rebuilding work and construction of bodies was undertaken at the­ company's own shops after 1924, when Pierce's model Z bus chassis came into use. Packard, White, Fageol and other makes were used too. Features introduced as early as the mid 1920's included reclining seats, kitchens and lavatories.

The first attempts to build up complete buses from purchased parts were apparently made in 1927, and the most spectacular example of this operation was the Nite Coach, first shown to the public in the fall of 1928. The Nite Coach was of all-metal chassis-less construction, based on longitudinal beams on which the body was mounted and from which the axles were hung. There were two levels and intermediate aisle from which passengers could enter 13 interlocking compartments, each accomm­odating two people. Each compartment had its own running water, dressing room, storage space, and folding berths, two lavatories and a kitchen being provided elsewhere in the bus (which operated with a crew of three). The purpose of the Nite Coach was to shorten travel times on long western routes by eliminating overnight hotel stops, and the concept was that the buses would be built and owned by Pickwick but leased to local operating companies, as with U.S. Pullman cars on the railroads.

Wednesday, October 14, 2009

Two BRILL-ACF buses from our archives....the one is an ACF Model H-17S (built in 1936) and the other is ACF Model P-516 (I couldn't locate the year on that one).

Tuesday, October 13, 2009

General Motors Futurliner now at the Museum of Bus Transportation - It began with the Streamliner and GM’s 1936 Parade of Progress, the brainchild of inventor Charles F. Kettering. The show was a tremendous success. Redesigned in 1941 and again in 1953, the 12 Futurliners and its band of Paraders were ready to hit the road, set up shop in a town near you, and showcase the marvels of science. Of the original 12 built, 9 have been found, 2 are being used for parts, 1 is for sale, and 1 is being lovingly restored by a group of volunteers.

The Futurliner is an imposing vehicle, 33 feet long, 8 feet wide and standing 11 feet 7 inches tall at the top of the driver's canopy. The driver's eyes are about 10 feet off the ground and in front of the axle. Dual tires on both the front and rear axles were another unique Futurliner feature that made power steering a necessity. Power was provided by a 302 cubic inch inline six-cylinder GMC gasoline engine driving a four-speed Hydramatic automatic transmission.

We are happy to have the Futurliner winter-over at the Museum of Bus Transportation. It is here opposite the Golden Eagle until the Spring. Don't miss seeing it!

Monday, October 12, 2009

Here's a 1948 ACF-Brill Model IC-41 used in The Andy Griffith Show, TV Series, 1960-1968

Sunday, October 11, 2009

There were 2 buses that came in under their own power--the Fitzjohn (and unfortunately, my camera had a blip in it and the pics I took of that are off in camera-land somewhere!) and the Altoona! You will see a little of what it takes to maneuver one of the bigger buses we have on display around the columns, etc. This bus also had an accelerator problem and we overcame that with Ed Wolf laying on the floor maneuvering the accelerator and Ken McNellis driving the bus! Now that takes dedication. Again, the bus needed to be BACKED into place. Sorry - no matter how hard I try--I can't get the pics in order--but you get the message--the first one being backed through the OVERHEAD DOOR.

Saturday, October 10, 2009

Have you sent in your reservation yet??? Are you planning on attending our Annual Meeting and Bus Day? We are just three weeks away from the event. Don't miss out--we will have a new line-up of buses on the floor and lots of new items in the gift shop.

Immediately following the meal, we will have our annual bus trip to view buses at Hershey Park, Lancaster, Red Rose Transit.

Friday, October 9, 2009

Here are a few more pictures from EARLY Thursday morning as we were moving the buses back into place. I think you will enjoy them. As you can see--there are several posts to maneuver around and none of these three buses came in under their own power--but we used "manpower" to move them!

Thursday, October 8, 2009

If you get the chance, today would be the day to stop by the Museum and see the new lineup of buses. Tuesday night all the buses except for the Trailways Golden Eagle were removed from the floor. Wednesday evening was the big "Night at the Museum" program for the AACA Car Museum....late Wednesday evening and into the early morning hours of Thursday, the MBT crew spent revamping the exhibit....see what's new and checkout the new layout.

Everyone who showed up (at 10 pm!) worked VERY hard and even though most buses don't come in/out under their own power--everything went fairly smoothly. Here's just one picture I took with the first bus coming in the door. As you can see--it is being pulled in with a small piece of equipment, More will follow in future blogs.

Wednesday, October 7, 2009

HOT OFF THE PRESS! Be sure when you visit the gift shop or the gift shop online that you get your copy of our latest book: New York Fifth Avenue Coach Company 1880-1965 by Board Member, Oliver J. Ogden. He has authographed the copies at the gift shop--this is the ONLY place you can purchase an autographed copy!

If you stop by the Museum this week (Meet Week) - you will also have a chance to meet Oliver--he will be there Thursday and Friday during the day.

Tuesday, October 6, 2009

HERSHEY CAR SHOW WEEK - Yes, I know that isn't the official name of the function--but around here, that's what we call it--the big show officially starts tomorrow (Wednesday) and continues through Sunday. The Museum will be open Thursday, Friday and Saturday evenings with extended hours. Please be sure to support your Museum during this busy week.

Monday, October 5, 2009

Here is a 1934 White Model 65A - and a little history of the company:

The White Sewing Machine Company, as it was originally called, introduced a steam automobile in 1900 and changed its name to the White Motor Car Company. Their last steam-engined vehicle was manufactured in 1910 and in 1912 they introduced a line of ambulances in association with their Ravenna, Ohio neighbor, the Riddle Coach & Hearse Company. Unlike their Riddle cousins, the White ambulance's coachwork was plain and utilitarian, and looked more like a delivery van than the beautiful coaches built by Riddle. All ambulances featured White's big 60hp six chassis which featured a wheelbase of 140". The bodies were supplied by Riddle and sold through the White dealer network until 1916, when White discontinued the 140" chassis.

Riddle-bodied Ambulances and Funeral Vehicles were produced and sold by White in a large number of styles from 1912-1914. The heavy duty 140" White was a popular chassis with other coachbuilders as well. G.A. Schnabel, National Casket Company, Pete Kief, and Hornthals were all satisfied customers during the early-to-mid teens.

The White Truck enjoyed much more success than the White automobile and just prior to WWI, the firm decided to concentrate on trucks. Automobile production ceased at the end of 1918 and White became one the largest Truck producers in the world. They manufactured the Standard Class "A" Truck for the U.S. Army during World War I. Trucks bearing the White name were being manufactured up until 1995, when their current owner Volvo decided to drop the White name.

White made no precedent-setting strides in bus design, their vehicles selling on durability and consistent performance. The company's first series-production 6­-cylinder commercial vehicle was the Model-54 bus of 1926: a 4-cylinder type with similar styling carried the Model-53 designation. In 1928 the company built an experimental gasoline-electric bus, which combined the big 6-cylinder engine with two rear-mounted G.E.C. electric motors.