News & Events

Visit to the London Transport Museum Depot and the restoration of a London bus

Oct 31 2021

In an earlier Newsletter, reference was made to the prevalence of De Dion Bouton buses on the streets of London in the period 1906-8. Slightly more than 250 chassis with either the 24hp or the 30hp engine were delivered from Puteaux. An example of a 1906 model resides in the London Transport Museum and those of us who visited the Depot, were able to have a close look at the flitch plate chassis which is in remarkably sound condition. It still retains its solid tyres, axles and suspension. Both the engine and transmission are missing. The museum does have a 35hp De Dion Bouton engine that was fitted to a 1912 vehicle, but this has mechanical valves rather than the atmospheric inlet valves on the original. 
Serious thought is now being given to the complete restoration of the vehicle. we have been able to locate chassis diagrams for the 24hp omnibus, and it is clear that the engine is very similar to the 24hp passenger vehicle unit fitted to the Type AP of 1906, and the combined gearbox/differential casing is the same as that fitted to the 1905 Type AD., AO and AP vehicles of the same year.
 

1906 London Bus

1912 35hp (110mm bore x 150mm stroke) De Dion Bouton engine

1906, 24hp chassis