Kunming Streamlined bus
Drum-ed Up Bus Adds New
Note Of Luxury In China
KUNMING - GIs here are literally riding around in leaky oil drums instead of hopefully waving curved thumbs at passing vehicles or sweating out time-defying rickshaw rides.
The oil drums, hump-happy and defective, were sliced, pounded flat and mounted on ordinary 4x6 GI trucks to fashion bus bodies worthy of Uncle Sugar Able manufacturers.
Getting the bumps and wrinkles out of the flattened-out drums posed a problem for Kunming's body builders. And the lack of modern grinding and polishing equipment in this metropolis was everything but encouraging to the success of the project. However, a Chinese-developed plastic solution was obtained and spread over the outside of the bus body with gratifying results, providing a hard, smooth surface with a definite affinity for paint.
Horsehair padded, leather covered seats were installed inside the bodies to add a final touch of luxury.
Instigators of the wheeled oil drums are Capt. Richard H. Frohock of Litchfield, Maine., and Lt. Albert V. Sparks of Everett, Pa., both Ordnance officers serving with the China Theater Services of Supply.
China's 'Fisher Brothers' not content to rest on their laurels, have made arrangements with a Chinese concern to build several additional buses from oil drums. However, a number of improvements on the original, which required 36 drums, will be added. namely, a changeable, illuminated sign to advise 'customers' of the bus' destination and departure time, automatic door latch and an easy window opener and closer.
The buses will be employed to transport troops between installations and the city. Which should relieve a lot of 'achin' backs.'
The legend of the picture says: 'Making one of its regular stops in front of the Town Club, Kunming's streamlined bus, the body of which was made from salvaged oil drums, brings a new note of luxury to China.'
