the palais de dance

[FLY2 10,095]

Crikey, that's a difficult one. A Maudsley maybe or a Bristol? Rear entrance too, quite unusual. I reckon Stephen Ford is the man for this. 

[Merthyr Imp 729]

I wonder if it might be a Gilford.

[StephenFord 864]

I would say that it is East Midland (in the old colour scheme of chrome yellow, chocolate and cream, used until the mid 50s when they adopted all-over red - boring!). My guess is that it is a Leyland, from the days before the deep radiator was developed. Rear entrance single deckers weren't all that rare, and East Midland certainly had plenty of them over the years. What is more unusual is the outward opening swing door, which probably indicates that it's a coach, rather than a bus. Opening a sliding door as the bus came to a stop was fine, but you didn't want enthusiastic passengers (or conductors) throwing open a swing door, and clobbering unsuspecting folk on the pavement !

[Merthyr Imp 729]

StephenFord - do you think it IS a Leyland - the name on the radiator looks strange, almost lozenge-shaped. But I'm far from sure it's a Gilford - there were so many manufacturers in those days!

 

I wonder if Cliff Ton can make out the registration on the original photo.

 

Studying the photo - is that a roof rack towards the rear, with cases piled on it, or is it part of the building behind it?

[StephenFord 864]

It is a guess, and I could be totally wrong Merthyr. The radiator does look similar to a Gilford, but Gilfords apparently used Gruss-Springs (Don't ask - I'm not technical!) and these were always very obvious sticking out at the front.

[Merthyr Imp 729]

But not all Gilfords had Gruss Air Springs:

 

http://www.old-bus-photos.co.uk/?cat=221

 

Having said that, I'm not sure it quite looks like the Gilford lettering on the radiator either.

[StephenFord 864]

Just seen a picture of 1929 Guy double decker in Derby on facebook East Midlands Transport Remembered. The radiator looks rather similar. I wonder if this was a Guy? (We'd better finish this private discussion soon, or they'll start throwing things at us!)

[albert smith 769]

Before you do Stephen here's my ha'porth, I'm no bus enthusiast but I think it's the bands transport with the 'emergency exit' door open while the instruments are unloaded, are the 'roadies' carrying a drum?

[Cliff Ton 8,981]

I think that could be the explanation. Somebody's dance band playing at the Palais, and they use an old bus to transport the band and their gear.

[Chulla 4,941]

Can't agree with you Albert. The bus is right-hand drive, and usually pulls up at kerbs on the left side of the road. The door shown is the only one on that side, (no other door handles) so must be a rear-entry bus; which didn't matter if there was a conductor.

[Merthyr Imp 729]

Yes, probably not a particularly old bus when the photo was taken (must be some time in the 1930s), but perhaps it could have been in use by a dance band - if they really are boxes on a roof rack towards the rear.