Chassis make and designation – Daimler CK (built 1919) Chassis number – 2686
Engine make –Daimler Engine type – Sleeve-valve petrol (5.1 litre) Body make and model – Dodson (built 1922) Body No. – 6708
Seating configuration – B26R
Date of first registration – April 1927
Former owners – Vectis Bus Company, Cowes, IW April 1927 to March 1929
Southern Vectis, Newport, IW March 1929 to 1933
Hill’s Furniture Store, Ryde, IW 1933 to December 1935
Mr. Dorling-Townsend, Ashey, IW December 1935 to June 1966
Current owner – J.A. Golding, Wellow, IW since June 1966
1927
DL5084, a Daimler CK type, was delivered to the Vectis Bus Co. (Dodson Bros.) in April 1927. The chassis was older though, having been built by Daimler for an unknown operator in 1919. Vectis Bus Co. purchased the chassis as a ‘reconditioned’ unit, at much cheaper price, in April 1927.
In 1922, five Vulcans with 24-seat Dodson bodywork were purchased; however, they only lasted 4-5 years before being sold, probably to Jolliffe of Somerton for scrap or resale as lorries. The bodies on these chassis were fit for further service so local coachbuilder, Margham, of Newport was employed to recondition three bodies for further service. DL5084, requiring a body to enter service, received one from Vulcan 11 (DL2907) and took its fleet number also. The ‘new’ bus entered service as a 26-seater in April 1927. Originally the bus would have had solid tyres, although these were quickly changed for pneumatic ones. Imagine going to work or the shops on this – no low-step entry here! – or climbing the ladder at the back with heavy suitcases to reach the luggage rack on the roof. The Dodson fleet passed to the Southern Vectis Omnibus Company Ltd. in March 1929, when the new company was established with the Southern Railway’s influence. No 11 survived until 1933, latterly in green SV livery rather than the earlier Vectis livery of saxe blue and red, with a white roof. Upon withdrawal, DL5084 was sold to Hill’s Furniture Store of Ryde, although for what purpose is unknown.Sold by Hill’s in December 1935, it was purchased by a Mr. Dorling-Townsend, and was taken to Ashey, IW, minus its engine and was converted to living accommodation. During this time, the steering gear and most interior fittings were removed and furniture was added. A stove was also fitted – explaining the large hole below the windscreen where the flue pipe passed through. The owner then decided to build more permanent accommodation – a bungalow – and lived in the bus whilst doing this. Upon completion of the new house, he left the bus and it then become home to hives containing several hundred bees, which easily could fly in and out of the collapsing bodywork. A large tree had also grown up through the vacant engine bay.
It was in this state that it was rescued by its present owner, John Golding, in June 1966. The builder’s timberwork was fitted at this stage to hold it all together and it was then towed to Wellow, IW, where it was stored until entering the museum in March 1988. A complete rebuild will be necessary and many parts have been acquired to assist with this, including an engine from another ex-Vectis Daimler (DL5413) and steering gear and solid tyred wheels from a similar bus that operated in Yorkshire.