Bedford 7SB CAC 'wraparound screen'

[LocoLes]

Imagine my surprise to see this 'new' exhibit at the Tasmanian Transport Museum Society at Glenorchy on my visit 27May17. What must be one of those well kept secrets [what a great find!], this classic Bedford is representative of a large number of the CAC bodied vehicles owned by private operators and MTT etc. My visit coincided with members skills to manoeuver a stubborn gem into the bus shed. No doubt plenty of work to be accomplished but the vehicle is under cover and one day will even compare with the similar Driver's 7SB in Melbourne! The TTMS site indicates the bus once plied the Launceston-St Marys route. Here are my photos taken that day, well done all!
Loco Les

[LocoLes]

7SB Cont.


Loco Les

[system improver]

The chassis of this bus is a Bedford SB3. GMH marketed the bus as the 7SB, referring to its design (or model) rather than the chassis. Bedford never made an SB7 chassis and they always put the number or letter after the SB and not before ( e.g. SBG, SB1, SB2, SB3, SB5, etc.) Unfortunately, we have no information why GMH referred to the body as the 7SB. GMH's nomenclature did rather confuse things in Australia when all sorts of body manufacturers erroneously referred to their design on a Bedford SB3 chassis as the 7SB. Anyway, here are two pictures of the same bus taken more than 40 years ago. I don't know the operator but my guess is that his name began with an "M".

First, a Ken Flood photo taken in Launceston:


Then, a Bruce Tilley photo, I guess taken at the operator's depot:

[CCCC]

Wow great find , must have been stored well over the years.
Now this is the kind of postings we need.
Sorry would only allow me to thank you once.

[Tas Bus Nut]

From my understanding, initially with Brown on NE Coast, then passed to Redline before being sold to Derwent Valley Lines (last shot @ Glenora School)

[captainch]

once again your museum has SAVED another gem for a small intimate museum you are putting some of the main land museums to shame i'D BE ASKING YOUR LOCAL FEDERAL MEMBER about grants to restore the bus with young people & older tradesman for which money is available to do such things to teach young peole a trade were I was living the state govt gave you $20.000 to employ a young person for a couple of months.Good luck to you all your a credit to your members.

[CCCC]

once again your museum has SAVED another gem for a small intimate museum you are putting some of the main land museums to shame i'D BE ASKING YOUR LOCAL FEDERAL MEMBER about grants to restore the bus with young people & older tradesman for which money is available to do such things to teach young peole a trade were I was living the state govt gave you $20.000 to employ a young person for a couple of months.Good luck to you all your a credit to your members.

Yeah not sure how it works down there but a community group Im associated with in NSW we get older unemployed locals sent to us as so they can get their volunteers hours up so they get their benefits.
You would think it comes under the FEDs so might be another avenue for help.

[CCCC]

So is this a stainless skirting or polished aluminium , or was it just a silver pained fancy bit of steel sheeting on these.

[system improver]

So is this a stainless skirting or polished aluminum , or was it just a silver pained fancy bit of steel sheeting on these.

Aluminum - in the "art deco" style. The CAC bodies, which were built on the Bedford OB, SBG and SB3 chassis from 1946 to 1961, all had this feature. However, the design was by GMH and not CAC and an American designer was brought in to oversee the work. It is a clear reference to GM designs in the late 30s in the US where the art deco style was most popular.