Grace's Guide
British Industrial History
Grace's Guide is the leading source of historical information on industry and manufacturing in Britain. This web publication contains 136,336 pages of information and 219,114 images on early companies, their products and the people who designed and built them.
Fischer
From Graces Guide
Fischer was an American petrol-electric bus and was the first motorbus bought by the LGOC.
The bus was made by the Fischer Motor Vehicle Company of Hoboken, New Jersey. The company set up a London office, under the name of the Fischer Motor Vehicle Syndicate at 9 Charing Cross Road. The syndicate’s secretary was Horace George Thornton.[1]
The Fischer hybrid bus was shipped to England on 2 April 1903 having been tested successfully in New York, including a run along Broadway. The London General Omnibus Co had ordered a total of 10 Fischer hybrids.[2]
Its petrol engine drove a generator, which fed two electric motors.
It was very heavy and at 7ft 5in wide exceeded the permitted width of 6ft 6in (1.98m). After a debate, the London County Council not to raise any objection to the Fischer bus.[3]
However, the Metropolitan Police refused to licence the bus and in October 1903 the LGOC asked to have it taken back and to be refunded the cost.[4]
1902 June. Description of the omnibus.[5]
See Also
Sources of Information
- Ian Allan - British Buses Since 1900 - Aldridge and Morris