THE REGENT'S RETURN

Steve Richards chronicles the history and restoration of a "piano-front" bus which was found in a field more than 20 years after being taken out of service

- Steve Richards

With the rapid expansion of the city of Birmingham between the world wars and the need to serve the ever-growing suburbs beyond the tramway network, Birmingham’s bus fleet saw major growth during the 1930s. In February 1931, Birmingham Corporation Tramway & Omnibus Department (BCT&OD) issued tender documents for the supply of 60 new double-deckers. The corporation was already operating double-deckers built by the London bus chassis builder AEC, and so this supplier found itself with an additional order for 60 buses.

The corporation took the opportunity to try out new technology and so, anxious to support industry within Birmingham during difficult times for the economy, the order would see 20 built by Metropolitan-Cammell Carriage, Wagon & Finance Co (MCCW) at Washwood Heath, Birmingham. These would be revolutionary metal-framed bodies employing tubing by Accles & Pollock of Oldbury, West Midlands. The belief, correctly, was that the newly designed metal frames would give longer trouble-free service and would thus be money well spent, albeit at an extra £80 per body. The larger portion of the body-building work went to Short Bros of Rochester, Kent and this was for 40 traditional wooden-framed bodies.

One of the batch which had its body constructed at Washwood Heath was fleet number 486. It was delivered to Harborne Garage where it entered service on 4 December 1931.