BusTalk

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

GW.B.:

Funny you should mention the Macy's parade.......

In a book I have on the 75th Anniversary of "THE WIZARD OF OZ", there is a full-page photo of the "Tin Man" balloon in what was, most likely, the 1939 parade, passing by a cross street.

Among the many large signs on the row of buildings is an electric sign, partially obscured; from what I CAN read:

'MIDTOWN BUS TERMINAL 300 BUSES DAILY TO ALL AMERICAN CITIES"

"NYO"

["TRAVEL BY BUS"]

[W.B. Fishbowl]

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

W.B;

Got it!

VERY interesting (and rare!) photo!

Too bad there are no street signs in view to pin down the location; odd, also, no street lights are visible (obviously, out of the photo on the right)

Am now wondering if that "QM" displaying"SPECIAL" might have been assigned to a charter for parade personnel, or, possibly, a deadhead re-route........

"NYO"

["GO THE MOTOR COACH WAY"]

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

Thought...........

Awhile ago, I'd mentioned the outstanding little book in the "IMAGES OF AMERICA" series, "CHICAGO MOTOR COACH COMPANY", by John F. Doyle.

Photo-wise, IMHO, it is an even better work than the FACCo book put out by Mr, Odgen; unlike the FACCo book, there are a number of photos showing drivers, dispatchers, supervisors, and mechanics, all "on the job".

Also, quite a few garage/paint shop photos.

Certainly, the Old Look photos are diverse and most interesting; there are also photos of other makes of buses affiliated with "motor coach" (as referred to by Mr. Doyle, who also shares many interesting personal memories of "motor coach" with the reader))

Also, some excellent streetcar photos, as well.

There are, towards the end of the book, several Fishbowl photos, as well as some outstanding photos of scratchbuilt model CMCCo buses.

I don't think that Your's Truly is alone in wishing that some "Noo Yawk" area author/bus historian would evenbtually do a similar "IMAGES OF AMERICA" book on FACCo.

We know that there are many historic FACCo photos in existence which we have (to date) never been seen, either residing in private collections, or simply stuffed in boxes in someone's closet or attic.


IMHO, there is still so much of FACCo's rich and colorful history that needs to be shared with the bus historians/enthusiasts of today..........

"NYO"

["GO THE MOTOR COACH WAY"]

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

Further:

What I would like to see included in a new FACCo book........

One chapter on the oft-forgotten "Jetson" Fishbowls.

More photos of drivers (on the job, laying over between runs; also, mechanics working on the buses)

The first African-American drivers/conductors.

While I'm up on the soapbox, another LONG-OVERDYE book for bus historians would be one dedicated to "Soface" and "stoa" (photos, maps, rosters, garage assignments, etc)........

"NYO"

["RIDE THE SURFACE WAY"]