BusTalk

[W.B. Fishbowl]

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

W.B.:

Thanks.

This is "in sync" with the most "recent" GRUMMAN photos at nycsubway.org being from that time span..............

"NYO"

["GRUMMAN"]

[Cyberider]

The other predominant bus at the time was the RTS. To my eye, that bus had more appeal than the Grumman.

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

[Cyberider]

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

Cyberider:

Baltimore's MTA also had the original "slant back" RTS; to this day, they are STILL regarded as the WORST buses ever to operate in the city.

The a/c's barely worked (if at all) and, with sealed windows (and only roof pop-up hatches for ventilation) these ill-fated buses became rolling saunas during the summer months

Drivers and riders alike LOATHED them

In fact, passengers waiting for their bus would let an RTS pass them up, so that they could ride on a Fishbowl or Flxible with WORKING a/c!

"NYO"

["5 BALTIMORE & GAY"]

[Cyberider]

I guess that's why the slant backs didn't last long!

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

[W.B. Fishbowl]

It's possible our MTA heard about Baltimore's negative experiences with the "slant back" RTS's (a.k.a. "Quasimodos") and waited until they were straightened out before they committed as they would - and did.

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

[Cyberider]

The Phoenix Old Looks had the "box and duct" AC and, as I recall, they worked rather well, even in our heat. We didn't have any of the factory-equipped AC Old Looks but I think all of the Phoenix Fishbowls were factory AC.

As for the slant back RTS's, I think many of them were rebuilt with straight backs and openable windows.

Long Beach, CA was an early adopter of the RTS with slant backs. I think the SCRTD was not. Phoenix also did not have any.

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

Cyberider:

You are correct on the retofitting of early RTS with new a/c packages.

In "OLD LOOK TRANSIT BUSES" (Luke/Metler) there is a photo of a "SUN VALLEY" Old Look suburban (a 4509) which, interestingly enough, not only has a roof duct, but also, the more modern a/c unit at the rear.

This was (from what I gather) a "custom" job, as it was reported that the a/c was not added until 1964; the bus itself dated to 1952............

"NYO"

["GM"]

[Cyberider]

NYO,

I took a look at that photo. Too bad there isn't a rear shot. I'm rather certain that it wasn't one of those factory AC's put on the newer Old Looks. Wish I'd taken photos of those buses. Maybe the film and processing was too expensive for my budget then. Some of those 1952 buses made it well into the '80's.

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

Cyberider:

Virtually all of the suburban Old Looks here in NJ (and there were hundreds!) were gone by about 1977, when the new NJDOT Flex New Looks were being delivered.

The lone exception were those running for "SOMERSET"; when they were retired in the very early 1980s, they were then the very last suburban Old Looks operating for a New Jersey carrier............

"NYO"

["SOMERSET"]

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

Here's a timeless photo of a "SOMERSET" Old Look suburban working a charter; until later in the 1960s, this company was still operating at least a few ACF-BRILL C-44s (man, they were STUNNING in the "SOMERSET" paint!)

https://www.nycsubway.org/perl/show?154519

(courtesy: nycsubway.org)

["NEWARK-141"]