Help identifying old bus 1920s/1930s

I reckon its a 1920's Saurer Charabanc.

Give it a sec to load the larger picture.

digital.slv.vic.gov.au/view/action/nmets...d1=true&usePid2=true

Looks like the link is broken. Don't keep us in suspense.

Lang

Gr8 bit pf Detective work By 70499
WellDun
[smiley=beer.gif] [smiley=beer.gif]

Clikity ....ClikClikClik
n clik on D little pic n wait


1920 "Saurer" Charabanc
Shows the staff in the open bus, which is parked in front of the steps of Parliament House, Melbourne
The charabanc was probably built by the James Flood Company. Algernon Darge is standing on the front off-side step.

cya

....not quite yet Swishy .. the front mudguards are too long, the coachwork is different, and the bonnet rises up to meet the top of the cowl ...

....it just appears to me to be something very similar....and anyway .. where are Galron's headlights??

Todays French lesson sez:
Charabanc iz French for coach with benches
Mr Floods V: of the body may vary from Europe V:
wheels look same etc




http://digital.slv.vic.gov.au/webclient/StreamGate?folder_id=200&dvs=1391116415342~354

WotSezU?
cya

Swishy,

I think you are halfway there.

Our mystery vehicle sure looks like it has a Flood body but the trucks are quite different.

Flood were also the Australian agent for ITALA but they usually had the big name across the radiator.

Lang

Looks like I had to pirate the pic to git er dun

Totally random. I always think people sitting in a Charabanc look like a mentally challenged group on an outing. Same for blokes sitting in a sidecar - no matter how intelligent you try to appear you can not disguise the fact you look like the rider's dog being taken for a ride.

Still searching for the Charabanc answer.

Here is a good little movie on Charabancs:

www.salife7.com.au/south-australia/place...limo---the-charabanc

And here is a nice Kiwi one:



Lang

IIRC, they were prevalent in UK, and the standard nickname was 'Chara'.
One reason why the passengers all look like stuffed dummies is the photographic technique of the era. No candid shots; they had to freeze for up to a minute for the exposure to be right. Look at your family album for the wedding-portrait photos of your ancestors. It is too hard to hold a smile for the duration, and that is why they all look so stern.

To take your mind back to the era, try 'Merry Oldsmobile'. The song dates from 1905, and is described as 'slightly suggestive':
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/In_My_Merry_Oldsmobile
A 1905 music-box version:

1909:
1927: (too modern):


I may have a copy of Flood 'Book of early motoring', but perhaps all I could do was admire, not afford. It may mention the variety of chassis for which the company built charabanc bodies.

Roderick B Smith
Rail News Victoria Editor

A few more "Chara" curve balls.

Just going through the Victorian Libaray photos came across some more uesless info using different search tags.

Body built at Tarrant Motors in Victoria. ?? Bottom left hand corner. Yes/No/Maybe?

I guy called James Flood keeps popping up. Will look further at a later time.
Who has this book? The James Flood book of early motoring, edited by Harold Paynting. Melbourne: James Flood Pty Ltd, 1968

Found another pic from 1915. Mildura.

Saurer Charabanc

Some info on Tarrant Motorbodies.

adb.anu.edu.au/biography/tarrant-harley-8747

All aboard for this bus ride...

Will have another looksie later.

Brad.