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The Original Chudbus, 1959
These pictures were been taken in 1959, just before we all went off to America and, it appears, the same day the people from Gaumont Cinema Newsreel came to film the story - a film we now show when we take the new bus on the road. They were taken in 1959, before we all moved to Highgate House and even before two of my sisters were born.
Sadly, we have no records or memories of what became of the original Chudbus. I posted the question onto an email forum, and I have posted the replies to date at the bottom of this page.
Mum (plus six children) with the bus in Hackleton, Northampton
Ensuring everything was ready for the trip
Being airlifted on or off the ocean liner, either before or after the holiday
Judging by the pennants in the window, I'd say this was taken on the way home. Anyway, it's on board the liner
Below is all we now know about the original:
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Sent: Friday, October 15, 2004 11:58 AM
Subject: Re: [OldBuses]: What is it and where is it now?
Hi Tim,
Great pictures! Thanks for posting this intriguing query.
My guess is that it's a pre-war AEC Regal (662 model if it has a petrol engine, or O662 if it's a diesel).
The registration ("ME") is from Middlesex, from sometime in the late 1930s I would guess. BME was in use in 1934, and it had reached SME by 1947. So around 1938 might be a good bet. Not many operators used "ME" registrations, as far as I can tell. They included Banfield, and Valliant, but I doubt if it's from one of those companies as they were coach operators, and the body appears to be for a bus - assuming it's the original body.
Actually it could well be the original body, as that very curvy fairing at the rear of the engine bay was typical of the mid-late thirties, but had rather gone out of fashion post-war - especially on a bus. The droopy driver's windscreen looks pre-war too.
I can't identify the body manufacturer. It could be one of several, such as Duple, Burlingham or Weymann - and Harrington's a good bet too. See this picture http://www.skylineaviation.co.uk/buses/dkt23.jpg of a Harrington-bodied Regal from 1937. Ignore the destination display (which was the operator's choice), and remove the windscreen sunvisor, but compare the rest of the front end. It's close.
Sadly, one thing is for sure - it doesn't still exist. I'm sure of that.
Anybody got any more thoughts about this wonderful machine ?
Dick Gilbert
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Sent: Friday, October 15, 2004 18:53 PM
Subject: Re: [OldBuses]: What is it and where is it now?
Well, not a Harrington I would say, but just to prove I'm not a one trick pony, how about Park Royal? The treatment of the bulkhead curve and the position of the hooter just below the headlamp were my first "triggers"
Regards,
Nick Webster
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Sent: Friday, October 15, 2004 18:53 PM
Subject: Re: [OldBuses]: What is it and where is it now?
That's a good proposal Nick. I go along with that.
Unfortunately I only have a list of Park Royal bodies from Oct 1938 onwards - and it's not there. I guess we need a list for about 2 years or so before that.
Any suggestion as to who the original operator might have been?
Regards,
Dick
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Sent: Friday, October 15, 2004 21:44 PM
Subject: Re: [OldBuses]: What is it and where is it now?
Tim,
Dad had a 1939 Ford Prefect that he converted to an estate. Reg Number was GME 808
Hope this helps,
David Wightman (USA)
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Sent: Friday, October 15, 2004 22:15 PM
Subject: Re: [OldBuses]: What is it and where is it now?
Hey ! That's good info. Seems to indicate that 1938 could be about right.
If Nick Webster is right about Park Royal bodywork - and it looks a very good suggestion - then the date must be prior to Oct/Nov 1938, as I have a list of all PR bodies from then, and GME 206 is not there.
Thanks for that David. The clues are starting to come together.
I'm now going to venture one more digit in the chassis number - 6622 _ _ _, but still more questions to be answered.
Dick
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So, with sincere thanks to Messrs Gilbert, Webster and Wightman, we think we have the type of chassis, the maker of the body, and the approximate date of manufacture, but we still don't know who was the original owner, or even its service history. Sadly, we now strongly suspect that it is no longer around.
If anyone has any further ideas, please email me as I'd love to hear from you.
Tim