BusTalk

[MaBSTOA 15]

Referencing the Fact and Figures pamphlet…

May 14, 1968… A two-way radio link between Transit Authority bus headquarters and buses in the street was placed in operation.

Most buses have public address systems and two-way radios putting the bus driver in contact with the Surface Control Center at 25 Jamaica Avenue in Brooklyn.

(May 21, 1965… The first two-way radio system in the subway was put into operation on the IRT Lexington Avenue Line)

The following is from my archives…

The first buses delivered with factory installed (or with provisions for) two-way radio and PA systems were the 480 MaBSTOA and the 202 NYCTA TDH-5303 with air conditioning and batwings.

(Besides the two-way radio & PA, these buses were also unique in that they had grab handles on each front door leaf, no standee windows, and only the NYCTA buses had parking lot heater connections)

The two-radio & PA system was initially manufactured by RCA and it had several components…

1. PA microphone on a gooseneck to the left of the driver
2. Two-radio handset below the transfer/coin tray
3. Radio control box with speaker below the handset and behind the farebox attached to the dash
4. Three speakers (one above the driver facing towards passengers & another on the door side above the last window just ahead of the a/c padded enclosure
One exterior directly aft of the front door and below the quarter window (on GM))
5. Roof top blister*
6. Two compartments directly behind and below the drivers seat

The illustration below is a scan from the “Operating Manual” for the buses mentioned above.

Comparing this manual with that of the Flxible 9000 series buses, it has no illustrations except for the foot controls and only half a page of instructions. While the manual for the Grumman 870 has nothing.

The older fishbowls (both GM and Flxible) were retrofitted with communication equipment.

My opinion is that the old looks, since they were close to retirement, probably had PA systems but almost no two-way radio equipment. I could be wrong.

There appears to be no rhyme or reason for the roof top equipment. Some had the blister (or bubble) while others had a “fin”. This was common on buses of the same model or even fleet number series whether they were new or older buses.

I will include photos of the different appearances as I develop my photo scanning techniques.

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

MaBSTOA15:

MANY THANKS for sharing this totally interesting historical info/illustrations regarding "Tee-Yay" bus radios; in today's hi-tech age of smartphones and texting, the early two-way "Tee-Yay" bus radios indeed seem quaint today!

I had the feeling that the radios on the buses did not become commonplace until later in the 1960's; I've only seen two photos of Old Looks equipped with the radio "bubble" on the roof.

I know the MACKS were never equipped with radios, as, by the late 1960's, they were all being sent to the scrapyard, anyway.

Again, THANK YOU for taking the time to share these interesting facts and illustrations......

"NYO"

[MaBSTOA 15]

Working our way into the bus...

Photo 1... prior to the retrofitting of radio equipment; no exterior speaker. Note Johnson "D" fare box

Photo 2... retrofitted exterior speaker... note black box behind and below driver seat (housing for radio components)

Photo 3... factory installed exterior speaker on Flxible (left) and GM (right)

[MaBSTOA 15]

Retrofitted exterior speaker on old look bus

[MaBSTOA 15]

This photo shows the two compartments behind and below the driver's seat. The upright is attached to the anodized aluminum modesty panel behind the driver topped with a glass pane.

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

.....again, EXCELLENT old photos and a lot of detailed information; I had totally forgotten about the exterior speakers.

Regarding Old Look #9098's exterior speaker:

I'm guessing that very few were so retrofitted, given that the very last of the Old Looks were gone by the early 1970's.

Again, thanks for taking the time to share still more fascinating historical bus info.....

"NYO"

[MaBSTOA 15]

Roof top blisters and/or fins...

Not unusual to see buses of the same model and/or number series with different roof top equipment

Here is a variety of models with blisters or fins

[MaBSTOA 15]

Even Grumman 870 and RTS had either blisters or fins

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

.......here again, is evidence of what I've long maintained: back in the " good old days", there was so much variety and diversity within the "Tee-Yay/"Em-Tee-Yay" fleets that it is no wonder why transit enthusiast were clicking away with their trusty Intsamatics almost non-stop!

Here in "Joisey" Your's Truly was not at all aware of bus radios until I started commuting on ACADEMY's rush-hour only "BOULEVARD EAST" run, back in the mid/late 1990's.

High-tech electronic wizardry has indeed, in so many ways, made our hobby, a virtually "ho-hum" pastime, a mere shadow of what once was.

Again, THANK YOU for these wonderfully nostalgic old photos....

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

Hillside & Merrick, 1985.....

https://www.nycsubway.org/perl/show?154842

(courtesy: nycsubway.org)

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

Stillwell Avenue Bridge, 1981.....

https://www.nycsubway.org/perl/show?154602

(courtesy: nycsubway.org)

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

Fulton St. Landing, 1981......

https://www.nycsubway.org/perl/show?153267

(courtesy: nycsubway.org)

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

ENY & Fulton, 1981.....

https://www.nycsubway.org/perl/show?153205

(courtesy: nycsubway.org)

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

Fulton & Alabama, 1981.....

https://www.nycsubway.org/perl/show?154465

(courtesy: nycsubway.org)

[NEW YORK OMNIBUS 2629]

Grand & Bordon, 1981......

https://www.nycsubway.org/perl/show?154871

(courtesy: nycsubway.org)