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Crown Archives – Selected Photo Roundup

No Entries Found

Hall-Scott Truck Chassis

Bill Morgan, on Facebook asked: “Is that the 1953 450 Steel Truck Demo for Ivers? 52023, Job # 6023”

PBM’s Tom Shafer replied: “Hi Bill, I have never found a match for this chassis, and it may have ended up being made into a school bus. The front end does not match that of the Ivers truck, which had the Tanner-type windshield and curved corners. Note that this one has the normal, 4 piece windshield.”

(Special) Cross View Mirror Visibility

These photos show Dick Whittington’s photographic process for highlighting the area of the photo that’s visible to the cross-view mirror. Yellow film was applied to darken the rest of the photo. The black and white photo show the result.

Photo folder is marked 12/53. December 1953?

Fleet – L.A. City Schools

Bus drivers posed in front of their fleet.

Delano Joint U.H.S.

As noted by Louk Markham, this these are 1930s fleet photos.

Army Tank Automotive Center (ATAC) Ambulance Conversion

Army Tank Automotive Center (ATAC) Ambulance Conversion Walter Reed Hospital, Washington DC

Duarte-Sightseeing & Slim Holt Coach

Our Crown Corp sales records show 4 different coaches delivered in 1967 & 1968:
* 35170 A-743-11 (Intercity A.C.)
* 35171 A-743-11 (Intercity A.C.)
* 35479 2A-743-11 (Intercity)
* 35480 2A-743-11 (Intercity)
All were running Cummins 743, and the last two were dual-axels.
It notes that Duarte’s U-Drive & Tours, Ltd. was in Hawaii.

Highway Post Office

While the research is not yet complete, we speculate that this was one of the tandem 2AD-426-11 HPO’s created for General Highway Services – Continental Western lines. If so, it would be one of these VIN numbers:

35044
35045
35094
35227
Another possibility is that it could have been an HPO created for Indianapolis & Southeastern Trailways, Inc. If that is the case, then it would be VIN number:

35231

Mobile Library

See Also Exterior:
https://pacbus.org/archives/crown/photo-lookup/photo/6107

El Rancho USD Mobile Library

Based on our archive records, we believe this was an AD-743-11 built for El Rancho Unified School District VIN 35125 running a Cummins 743.
Our Crown Corp sales records note the coach is fleet #37, so it’s not certain if that is this mobile library.

See Also Interior:
https://pacbus.org/archives/crown/photo-lookup/photo/6105

Yellowstone Park Company

Hewlett-Packard Instrumentation – Neely Mobile Lab

US Air Force Band

Photo 07 identified this as RD-568-11 (568 is the correct model nomenclature for 8V71 Detroit Diesel)

Utah Parks Company

Goodall’s Charter, San Diego

Additional Info:

  • Lawsuit Goodall’s Charter Bus Service, Inc. v. San Diego Unified School Dist. (1981)
  • Stolen Goodall’s Charter Bus (October 1993)
  • DBA Airport Commuter Service
  • Facebook post
  • HPO Dallas TX

    Highway Post Office

    none

    Almost all of Warren Bowen’s Crown photos start with the photo series 100.##.##, so this is unusual in that it starts with 511.

    Front Panel Die Stamping Press

    Photograph of the manufacturing process. Specifically the stamping of the front fender.

    Crown Machine Shop

    These Crown Machine Shop photos were probably taken at different times because they photo-id numbers don’t match and there is a mix of Dick Whittington and Warren Bowen photos. If we had to guess, we’d say that these were from the period of time when Bowen was taking over from Whittington.

    Crown Parts Store

    Streached Out Ford Transit

    While a lot is known about Crown photographers Warren Bowen and Dick Whittington, we know little about this LA-area photographer J. Soto.
    These photos are mixed in the Crown photos from Dick Whittington, but their connection to Crown nor Whittington are unknown.

    Roberts Ilima Tours

    US Air Force Mobile Avionics Lab

    Barshow & Baleria Metro

    Barshow & Baleria was a coach builder in San Jose, Calif, so it’s not clear if/how this is related to Crown.
    Folder is dates 9/1953.

    San Dieguito Union High School

    US Marine Corp Air Station El Toro CA

    Crown Shop Interior Final Assembly

    Field Service Crew

    Photo folder is marked 1953. Shows the service team.

    Wayne Accessible Bus

    This is a fun little accessible bus. It is a Wayne “Special Needs” bus built on a Ford chassis and sold by Crown.
    It has seatbelts, but no wheelchair placement nor lift.
    This sure is cute, but it certainly wouldn’t pass muster for todays special needs tranport requirements.

    Wayne Custom High Headroom

    Photo folder is marked 11.53. November 1953?

    Tulare City Schools 13-Row Custom

    Intercity Demonstrator

    Possibly Associated Charter?

    Wayne-Marmon Herrington

    Wayne body schoolbus

    Nava Hopi Tours

    Crown “silversides” touring coach.

    Aparently Nava Hopi was operated out of Flagstaff, AZ and operated tours to the Grand Canyon:
    https://azdailysun.com/nava-hopi-bus-tours-shuts-down/article_9f9d6183-18e3-5ecf-8065-09c24d054925.html

    Chicago Gray Lines

    It’s a pretty good guess that this #411 similar to #415 found in the Crown Build/Sale records:
    record/1698

  • Builder: Crown
  • Build/Delivery Year: 1956
  • Model Name/Number: A-590-11 Skyview
  • Build Chassis Serial # (Builder): 33493
  • Full VIN (Government): 33493
  • VIN (Last 6 digits): 33493
  • Builder Body/Job/Production #: 7551
  • Engine Make/Model: Hall Scott 590
  • Delivery Customer: Chicago Gray Lines, Inc
  • Customer Fleet #: 415
  • Mid-Continent Coal Basin Mines

    No records of this have been found in the Crown Sales/Build records, but here a nice story about the operation:
    The Life and Times of William D. Jochems

    Crown Dry-Wall Action

    Shows how the walls were constructed to keep them dry and free of rust.
    This Whittington photo was used later by Warren Bowen to create an composite illustration of the Dry Wall system… See photo “Bowen – 100-388-1”

    Northern Pacific Transport Co. – Entrance Door & Paneling

    Crown supercoach model a – 779 built for the Northern Pacific Transport Company. 41 passengers on recliner seats with approx. 36 inch centers. Solex glass, graduated density in side sash.

    We had initially narrowed this down to three buses (1954-33083, 1957- 33699, and 1963-34651). Bus some of these photos were taken in 1957, which eliminates the 1963 coach as a possibility.

    Northern Pacific Transport Co.

    See Also 43-41-xx Northern Pacific Transport Co.

    Wet Wall Results

    Old Crown Body (Side panels removed)

    Airport Transit

    38-54-01 Interior from Rear (missing)
    38-54-02 Interior from Front
    38-54-03 3/4 Right-Front
    38-54-04 Rear Right Baggage
    38-54-05 3/4 Left-Rear

    Based on Sales/Build records, this is probably one of the 3 coaches sold to Airport Transit in 1953.

    Barshow & Baleria Ford Metro for Alum Rock USD

    Crown Corp acted as a sales dealer for multiple other coach builders, including Barshow & Baleria.
    The folder is dated 9/1953

    Mexican Bus (Third One Built)

    33-27-01 – 3/4 view right-front (missing)
    33-27-02 – 3/4 view left-rear
    33-27-03 – Front view
    33-27-04 – Interior (seats up)
    33-27-05 – Interior (seats down)

    11-Row Custom

    The folder for these photographs has some interesting notes. First, it lists this as “obsolete”. Next, it mentions that this was built with “distressed merchandise”. Finally, it mentions Bid Buster and the years 1951-1952. We are trying to figure out who that is, and if this identifies the coach as those years.

    Mexican Bus (2nd One Built)

    Western Trail Stages

    This bus was once owned by Pacific Bus Museum’s Ralph Cantos and was featured in movies.

    Gene Autry

    31.38.01 3/4 from right-front (missing)
    31.38.02 3/4 from left-rear

    Kalama School District

    This is an interesting bus. Note that there is only one red light on both the front/back. And look at the neat square stop arm.

    Custom V.A. 450 Chassis

    Engineering study of the 450 Chassis

    Grant Union High School

    These photos are unnumbered and do not have a photographers mark. They were mixed in with the Dick Whittington collection.

    Grant Union High School (Sacramento)

    Note says “See 1946 (22-64-2)

    Wheelchair Elevator on Wayne Body

    Side lift elevator for Handicapped children – On Wayne Body

    Rio Linda 1954 Custom

    See also this, seemingly unrelated, photo that has the same id numbering prefix (49-145-05):
    https://pacbus.org/archives/crown/photo-lookup/photo/6245

    10-Row Custom (Pilot) obsolete (Muroc) 1952

    San Diego Marine Corps Recruit Depot

    Folder says 1952 on it

    Fife Public Schools, Wash.

    Fife Public Schools, Wash. 8/1952

    We have serveral Fife coaches in our Crown Sales/Build records which allowed us to identify this exact bus as VIN: 32907 Year:1952 Fife School District #9.

    Supercoach School Body

    We only have this one 3/4 view from the front-right, but the enclosing folder mentions these other photos:
    -100-2-1 – Full Front
    -100-2-2 – Full Rear
    -100-2-6 – Full Left Side

    Engine I.H.C. 450 Vertical 1952

    This engineering photo of the International Harvester Red Diamond RD450 gasoline engine.

    These engines were installed amid-ship, vertically, as illustrated in this other engineering photo series.

    Cross Town Lines

    Some photos are missing

    Mexican Bus (1st One Built) 1952

    Shoreline Public Schools Wash

    Washington State District 412

    Tanner Motor Tours 1952

    This is an unusual photograph, in that it has been marked up with pencil and ink pen. The note says new 955 (September 1955?) Owner and seems to be describing the new paintjob it is to receive.

    Additionally, the folder includes the following notes:

  • Complete 13-26
  • 22-4-05 internal dash
  • 22-4-06 internal to rear
  • 22-4-07 exterior right-front
  • 22-4-08 exterior left-front

  • Ford Transit Display Bus

    This series is from Crown Coach Show Car Leasing. It is a Ford Transit Display bus.

    Meier Transportation Co. Fleet 1952

    Kent Public School District No. 415

    La Conner School District No 311 Wash 12/1951

    Klamath Falls Ore

    Includes Bend Ore.

    Bend School District No 1 Oregon

    Lincoln County School District Oregon

    This photo is actually a “composite” paste-up of two different photos. The Lincoln schools bus was cut out and pasted on top of the background of Klamath Falls photo 19-43-3.

    This was how “Photoshopping” was done before the days of Photoshop. 🙂

    South Bay School District No. 304 Wash

    Citrus Union High School & Junior College

    These photos were found separated from their folder…

    Lynden School Dist. No. 504 Wash

    Sunnyslope School District No. 102

    This July 1950 photo of Washington State Sunnyslope School District is interesting in that it was taken by a photographer named Hal Coops of Industrial Photo Service.

    The other photos in the same folder have no photographer marks/#’s and simply say “Local Photo”…

    Crown Super Coach Chassis A-504

    Zillah School District No. 205 Wash

    Kalama School Dist. No. 402 Wash

    Includes build specifications sheet…

    Crown Super Coach Chassis A-504 1951

    Engineering photos

    Mercer Island Schools Wash

    Exclusive Distributor in Washington State: Mercer Island Motors, Mercer Island Wash.

    Tanner 1951

    We have records for Tanner Motor Tours buses #121 and #125, but not #123.
    Note on folder says this 1951 is “Same as 1952 model”.

    Crown Super Coach Chassis A-779

    This series of engineering photos of the A-779 is an interesting collection that illustrates the photographic process. This includes original images and final composites.

    Crown Super Coach Chassis A-779 1951

    These engineering photos show the chassis for the A-779 numbered 32639, which was built for Kern County Union High School in 1951.

    Super Coach School Bus 1951

    There are a lot of great photos in this series; full-front/side/rear as well as interiors.

    Crown Super Coach Chassis

    Miscellaneous 1950 Crown Super Coach engineering photos by Dick Whittington.

    Upper Skagit Valley Schools Wash

    Engine H.S. 504 Horizontal

    Riverside City Schools Fleet

    This single photo shows Riverside City School’s fleet. A detail was pulled from this photo to highlight the buses at the end of the row.

    International Horizontal 450 Engine

    Class A School District Idaho

    The folder for this series of photos lists 8 photos. Unfortunately all have been misplaced except #7.

    08.04.04 3/4 left-front
    08.04.05 3/4 right-front

    08.04.07 interior to front (dashboard)
    08.04.08 interior to rear (Full rear door open, back end)

    Shoreline Public Schools District 412

    Naches Valley School District JT. 3 Wash

    Eureka High School District

    Highland School Dist. 203 Wash

    Includes Dick Whittington photo as well as fleet snapshots by unknown photographer. (Presumably someone from the school district.)

    Fleet El Monte U.H.S.

    Folder identifies a second set of photos (24.46.1), that seem to have been misplaced, showing the fleet again in 1952.

    Covina Union High School Fleet 1950

    This photo is one of a pair. This 1950 Dick Whittington photo shows the Covnia fleet in 1950. Image 62-12-3 is a Warren Bowen photo of the fleet taken in 1956.

    Montebello Municipal Bus 22 – LA Library Collection

    1943 “Metro”-style coach with entrance door behind the front wheels, and exit door near the rear.

    Rosslyn Hotels

    Los Angeles ODT

    501 East 7th Street, Los Angeles

    Carter’s Ink Company #6

    Rolling Sanctuary – Zion Hill Baptist Church

    This is a pamphlet created by the Zion Hill Baptist Church in Los Angeles to introduce their new Crown Coach, dubbed the Rolling Sanctuary.

    Crown Cargo Coach – LA Library Collection (Photocopy)

    Atlantic Richfield Co (Arco) Convertible – Warren Bowen (Photocopy)

    VVE 045 license plate is about 1967 or 1968. Divided bumper (`1949-1953) and 3×1 ½ bars on side indicate that this is probably a conversion of an older bus.

    This bus was a 1952 Crown A-504-11, serial 32729, delivered originally to Alhambra SD in January, 1952.
    It was cut down and re-seated in 1967 for Atlantic -Richfield (the new merger of Richfield and Atlantic Oil companies) and is assumed to be an oil field tour bus. Richfield signs were still up at gas stations until 1970, when the still-familiar blue ARCO sign came in. – Tom Shafer

    Crown Cargo Truck Wedgewoodf Gas Ranges – LA Library Collection – Warren Bowen (Photocopy)

    1951 Crown truck cab built for Rheem Mfc. Co., with matching trailer. Truck box and matching trailer built by Trailmobile.

    1942 Los Vegas Needles Phoenix Stages – LA Library Collection – Dick Whittington (Photocopy)

    1942 Crown Super Coach

    US Air Force Fleet

    Gray Line of the Black Hills

    Gray Line Hawaii – Golden Grayliner II

    Grayline Hawaii named these buses:
    Golden Grayliner I (1958)
    Golden Grayliner II (1958)
    Golden Grayliner III (1959)
    Golden Grayliner IV (1959)
    Golden Grayliner V (1960)
    Golden Grayliner VI (1961)

    Roesch? – 40′ Deck-and-a-Half

    “The unmarked 40 footer is a 1959 delivered to Roesch in San Bernardino, the only 40 foot deck and a half not delivered to Tanner Motor Tours (who had 8 delivered 1957-58). So, the total of these 40 footers was 9. One survives at the LeMay Museum in WA, and there may be more survivors around, who knows… Roesch also bought a single deck 1959 40 footer in 1959 as well.” – Tom Shafer via Facebook

    Red-EO-Tape (Red Skelton Video Production)

    “1960 – Red Skelton opens the RED-EO Video Production Company in Hollywood at the old Charlie Chaplin Studios. His 3 camera TK-41 Mobile Unit has the first live color cameras in the city.”
    Source IMDB

    General Highway Services – HPO 50 Dallas TX

    This bus is clearly marked #50, which our records show being built in 1966: https://pacbus.org/archives/crown/record-lookup/record/2708

    But this photo is clearly marked 10/22/1963… Perhaps our records are confused and it’s actually this bus: https://pacbus.org/archives/crown/record-lookup/record/2477

    Postal Servies, Inc – HPO 268

    Lockheed Missiles & Space Co

    Northern Pacific Transport Company (7/30/1963)

    Crown Delivery Cards

    These delivery cards have been digitized and the data contained on them have been added to the Crown Record Lookup.

    Interior of Goodall’s coach – 1964

    There are no exterior photos, so its not clear which carrier this was for…

    (Eastern)??? Arizona Junior College -1964

    (Eastern)??? Arizona Junior College

    Don Burns Racing – Garden Grove CA (Photocopy)

    This photocopy is a bit of a mystery. We don’t know who the photographer was or when the photo was taken.

    That is a Highway Mail Sorting truck ,or so we heard, that would travel between rural towns after picking up in a central location and deliver the sorted mail to the proper burrows. It was in Canada when your Dad got it he used it and we used it for about 4 years holds one car and would two a trailer. We ran the Can Am and some IMSA with it.
    – from the brother of the driver

    This is one of the rare curved windshield HPOs delivered to Motor Express Rentals in Los Angeles.

    Only a few HPOs were made with curved windshields, all in 1957, as far as I know. I’d say about 6, 5 of which went to Motor Express Rentals, and one to U.S. Truck Lines of Delaware. The fleet numbers were 122-125 for the former, and 120 and 121 for the latter, so I’d say that they were probably the same type.

    I haven’t found info on any other companies that had this feature, which was optional on school buses and standard on intercity and tour coaches from Crown.

    – Tom Shafer

    Riverside CA – Unknown CFE Member (Photocopy)

    3 HPOs on Rail Cars – LA Library Collection (Photocopy)

    HPO 118 LA Library Collection (Photocopy)

    Ilima Tours Sightseeing 1/27/1966

    1940s Ford Chassis

    LA County Sheriff Prison Bus 1970

    Oceanside Transportation System

    Knickerbocker Transportation – color – remake

    This is a 5×7 color photo. On the back it says “remake”. The colors have faded.

    Los Angeles County Sheriff (5/1970)

    Naval Mobile Guidance Facility (1970)

    35′ Highway Post Office (HPO)

    Grand Teton Lodge Company 6/13/1966

    The Grayline Sightseeing 1966

    National Reactor Testing Station #154 (Arco)

    Arco

    Crown Carriage 1916

    Highland Transportation 1921

    Original Stage Lines 1923

    Photo taken in front of Crown Carriage Co 7th St L.A. Calif.

    Mack Chassis 1923

    Wooden bus body on a Mac chassis at the Crown factory in 1923

    Alhambra City HS 1924

    Crown Biplane 1920s

    In addition to buses, Crown also made biplanes.

    REO Speedwagon Chassis 1930

    Rosslyn Hotels 1935

    Rosslyn Hotel was located in LA and was still standing in 2010

    All American Sleeper Coach 1936

    The All American Bus Lines was a transcontinental bus line that was not financed by railroads.

    Supercoach DE-8 Culver City Lines 1935

    Paramount Pictures Ford Camera Car 1936

    Dodge Ambulance Conversion 1936

    Crown built this custom ambulance conversion on a Dodge Sedan in 1936 for Crippen Ambulance Service.

    225 in Dodge 8/25/1938

    One of the last “conventional” style buses built by Crown. This 49-passenger body was built on a Dodge 3-ton truck chassis with a 225-in wheelbase.

    Rear Engine Crown Demo 1939

    SV – 999-07 Rear Engine Crown Demo 1939

    Crown Stretch Limo 1940

    1940s air-conditioned drawing

    City of Phoenix 1942

    Bremerton-Tacoma Stages ODT 1943

    Tanner Motor Tours 1947

    Super Transport Chassis Demo 1950

    Firecoach Demonstrator F001 1951

    LA Police Department 1954

    Two Crown Security Coaches built in the 1940s for LA Police Department

    San Joaquin County Sherrif 1950s

    San Joaquin County Sheriff

    Highway Post Office 10/1959

    HPO built for the US Postal Service

    GMC Chassis 1917

    Visalia Union bus #1 built on a GMC chassis

    Tustin Union HS 1918

    Crown Corp Fire circa 1900

    Photo says “Fire across the street from Crown Carriage Co.”
    Negative says “Water test”

    Los Angeles Tornado 1930

    On March 15, 1930 a rare tornado his Los Angeles.

    Lompoc Unified Bus 5 lift gate 1953

    Lopoc Unified School District shows rear lift gate built by the Parts & Service Division of Crown.

    GMC Van wheelchair 11/1/1968

    GMC Van wheelchair 11/1/1968

    GMC chassis Ward Body Wheelchair 1974

    A Ward school bus body on a GMC chassis with wheelchair customization by Crown for Taylor Bus Service.

    San Jose Unified fleet 1957

    San Jose Unified’s 1957 fleet of 7 Supercoaches, including staff.

    LA City School Bus fleet 1955

    LA contractor fleet, City School Bus System, fleet of 22 of 86 Supercoaches.

    Madera Union High fleet Sept/22/1959

    Madera Union High fleet (LM C13-P7)

    Palos Verdes fleet 8/2/1963

    Palo Verdes Peninsula Unified School District’s 30+ coach fleet.

    Mercer Island School District 400 1959

    Mercer Island School District #400 in Washington state. Fleet of 10 buses.

    Oxnard School District fleet 1961

    22 Crowns + 5 other buses at Oxnard School District

    1956 Crown and Gillig Comparison (LM C8-P47)

    The Gillig Brothers used many of the same off-the-shelf components as Crown. Steward Warner gauge panels. Ross Cam and Lever steering. Air door control. Exterior rear-view mirrors. Sun visors.

    Crown Emergency Door Patent #2229273

    2,229,273
    EMERGENCY DOOR ACTUATOR FOR
    Murillo M. Brockway, Los Angeles, Calif. Application July29,1938,SerialNo.222,071

    Crown Roof Vent Patent USPTO #2294363 (LM C8-P8)

    My invention relates to a vehicle body construction and has particular reference to a body construction for coaches, buses and the like in which a novel means is provided for ventilating and cooling the interior of the body.

    Crown Dry Wall Patent #2668735

    Crown Custom Chassis – Model A-450 (Vertical)

    1950 IH Red Diamond 450 Gasoline Engine (LM C8-P31)

    1950s Hall Scott Installation (LM C8-P43)

    Mid 1950s composite of a Crown Supercoach Model A-779 with it’s amidship Hall Scoott horizontal installation.

    1953 Admidship Installation (LM C8-P44)

    This shows a 1950s amidship Supercoach with 3 narrow belt rails.

    1941 front drop frame (LM C8-P9)

    1941 front dropped frame, mid-engine chassis with unique driveline to mounted radiator fan.

    1945 Rear-engine hercules RXLD (LM C8-P13)

    1949 Big Bear R-450-10 (LM C8-P25)

    Big Bear Elementary School #4 in Southern California mountain now with chains on rear tires.

    1949 A-450-11 Red Diamond Edgemont School (LM C8-P27)

    Edgemont School District No. 342, fleet #2 shown here in Washington state, with Mount Rainier in the background.

    Utah Parks Company 1959 (LM C10-P41)

    1959 Utah Parks Company new sightseeing coach picture with predecessor White open-air touring bus.

    Post Card See California First 1953 (LM C7-P4)

    Open-air Ford Transit bus modified by Crown in 1953.

    Wide-Trac Jeep prototype ~1960 (LM C3-P11)

    This aluminum body “Wide Trac” Jeep was developed for Kaiser Industries for consideration by the US Army in ~1960.

    1962 Lockheed Missiles Space (LM C10-P59)

    A variation of the Crown “Super Transport” truck series. This is one of 3 A-590-11s built for Lockheed Missiles Space. They were the property of the US Air Force, but operated by Lockheed.

    1932 First Crown Supercoach (LM C8-P2)

    The first Supercoach in 1932.

    1934 Artists Drawing Super Coach (LM C8-P?)

    Artists Drawing Super Coach

    1936 Anaheim Elementary School (LM C8-P5)

    This 196 Supercoach was built for Anaheim Elementary School. This was one of the first integral-build all-steel bodies and chassis structure.

    1936 Supercoach Salinas (LM C8-P6)

    Rear “boat tail” view of a 1936 Supercoach built for Salinas Union High School and Junior College.

    1941 RXDL Citrus Union High (LM C8-P10)

    1941 RXDL model built for Citrus Union High and Junior College as fleet #3. It was later sold to Glendora Unified School District.

    1938 Supercoach El Monte (LM C8-P7)

    1938 rear-engine Crown Supercoach with conventional bus in front of El Monte Union High School

    1942 Supercoach Vallejo (LM C8-P12)

    World War II era rear engine Supercoach built for Vallejo Unified School District in 1942.

    1946 rear-engine Arcadia City (LM C8-P15)

    This 1946 rear-Hercules-engine R-404-9 Supercoach built for Arcadia City School District as #12. This is one of the first coaches to have the three vertical “trident” arrows on the front.

    1946 front-engine Avenal High (LM C8-P14)

    This 1946 front-engine Supercoach built for Avenal High School-LUHS District.

    1946 front-engine Avenal High (LM C8-P14)

    This 1946 front-engine Supercoach built for Avenal High School-LUHS District.

    1948 Experimental sash and front end for Guy Embree (LM C8-P22)

    This is an 1948 experimental bus built for Guy Embree buses. It has a new-style front and sash.

    1970s Simplified Supercoach prototype (LM C8-P77)

    In the late 1970s, Crown developed this prototype that sought to simplify the appearance and lower manufacturing costs. These changes were not accepted by customers and did not move forward.

    1970s extended rear light cluster (LM C8-P78)

    Rear view of 1970 prototype with extened light cluster, new trunk door, and emergency exit concepts.

    1984 Chino Location (LM C8-P782)

    In 1984, Crown moved to the former Freightliner plant on Monte Vista Avenue in Chino, CA… 30 miles east of the previous plant. This is a photo of the corporate offices.

    2A-38-426 84 passenger (LM C8-P84)

    In the mid-1980s, Crown developed model 2A-38-426 as an 84-passenger 2-axel (not tandem) coach to compete with Bluebird and Thomas buses.

    MIT Super II Design (LM C8-P85)

    In the late 1980s, Crown retained the Massachusetts Institute of Technology to design a “new and improved” front an rear end caps for the Supercoach II. The goal was to be able to produce coaches that would be more adaptable to alternative fuels, and bring some design aspects into the present… and to lower production costs.

    Super II Demonstrator 2R-38N-552 (LM C8-P86)

    This 2R-38N-552 model was a 38-foot 84-passenger model. It was built as a “Super II” demonstrator. The end caps were made of a composite material, and were the only primary body change. It was esentially the same coach between the axels.

    Garden Grove #100 1951 (LM C7-P2)

    Ford Transit Bus “Streached” by Crown

    Wayne Supermatic Windshield

    This neat little collection of Wayne Supermatic Windshields was found in the Crown archives. This file seems to have started with a note from the desk of Crown’s Vice-President of Engineering Chas. Koors.

    Wayne All Metal Drawing

    Found in Crown Photos archives

    Lompc Union High Crown #6 ~1949

    Lompoc Union High School

    Dry Wall Illustration and Photo (LM C8-P30)

    This composite illustration of the Dry Wall System is based on an earlier Dick Whittington photograph (49-145-05).

    1×1 Swivel Seats

    Unknown source or date

    Kalamazoo Coaches – 154 1×2 Seating (Ford Transit?)

    Reclining Low-back 2×2 Seating

    Curved Back 2×3 Seating

    3×3 Seating

    Side Bench Seating with Center Row

    Snapshot of 1952 Custom Coach 52009 9/1997

    Raymond Loewy – Post War Greyhound Bus 10/28/1944

    This is one of the Raymond Loewy concept designs for a Postwar Greyhound bus. This was the starting point for what became the Highway Traveler GX-1 double-decker concept.

    Various Ikarus Snapshots

    A mix of different Ikarus photos from different places

    Landier Transit Co GMC T-14 1940

    Tulare Ford Transit #6 and #8 (8/1939)

    This is a neat set of Ford Transits customized by Crown

    March Field #2 on Ford Transit 1/1939

    March Field, Riverside CA

    March Field #3 Ford Transit 9/1939

    March Field #3 Ford Transit Mercury 95 motor Demo Service 9/1939

    March Field Personnel Bus #4 1938

    Earl V Lewis – March Field Personnel Bus #4 1938 Wayne Ford

    Ward Ford Coachette

    Ward Ford Coachette and Coachette Transit

    Gray Line San Francisco Sky View

    From the Ron Medaglia Collection

    Redlands Public Schools Fleet

    Fleet photos are always great to see, including this series of photos for the Redlands Public Schools.

    Wayne Model Lineup Promotional Photos

    This series of photos in the Crown Photos Archives shows the 1960 lineup of Wayne models.

    This includes buses built on GM/Chevy, International, Ford and Dodge chassis.

    Tim Brockway 1920’s

    These 1920’s photos were given to Louk Markham by Tim Brockway, great grandson of the Crown founder.

    While only a couple of these photos are clearly marked as Crown, it is our understanding that Crown was involved with the build/modification of each of these vehicles.

    We know from history that they built many custom truck bodies before buses.

    * 1921 Adams Shipping #6
    * 1921 Adams Storage Co
    * 1921 Arrowhead Spring Water
    * 1921 Crown United Parcel Service Truck
    * 1921 Mobile Meat Market (REO?)
    * 1922 Crown Olsens Bread Body
    * 1923 Bishops Chocolates Refrigerated
    * 1923 GMC Truck
    * 1923 Lang Transportation

    Oakland Neighborhood Church Fleet

    Bowen – Oakland Neighborhood Church Fleet

    Polaroids of 1954 Crown at 5-7-1988 Rodeo

    Unknown – Polaroids of 1954 Crown at 5-7-1988 Rodeo

    Norwalk Accessible 1960 (LM C8-P56)

    1960 Wheelchair accessible bus

    40′ high-level Crown Supercoach 3/4 right front

    Bowen – 100-301-1 40′ high-level Crown Supercoach 3/4 right front 9/27/1966 (Goodall’s?)

    El Segundo USD Ford 09-B

    This is a 1940 Ford Transit built as a School Bus by Crown

    Camp Pendleton Marines

    Postal Special Services
    Camp Joseph H. Pendelton
    U.S.M.C.
    Oceanside, California

    North Park School District Colorado

    We’re sure the North Park School District Colorado Wildcats enjoyed this bus, complete with 2×2 reclining seats.

    1936 Paramount Pictures

    1936 Crown built for Paramount Pictures

    WFAA-TV 8 Dallas Morning News – Ampex Video Truck

    This is a great collection of negatives, for which there were not prints. These are low-resolution scans from the 4×5 negatives.

    WFAA-TV Channel 8 Television Service of the Dallas Morning News. Videotape Cruiser.

    Ikarus Electric Trolleybus 6/3/1980

    We know that Crown Coach partnered with Ikarus to import and Americanize their long articulated bus. But we recently came across a 6/3/1980 photo negative in the Crown Photo Archives of an Ikarus Electric Trolleybus.
    There was some confusion when we first found these photos, because they sure didn’t seem like photos taken in Los Angeles by Warren Bowen.
    We have since found the negatives and confirmed that these are not original Bowen photos, but instead Bowen photos-of-photos copies.
    This makes a lot more sense because the coaches don’t have the Crown logo and the cobblestone and building architecture resembles Hungary more than Los Angeles.

    Edit: See updates below based on Facebook comments from Gellért Patthy and Mark Ambus.

    Los Angeles City School Fleet 1940s

    Crown Elephant Marketing Publicity Photo

    Bowen – 100-416-xx Crown Elephant Marketing Publicity Photo 8/26/1975 (LM C7)

    Mounting Fire Engine’s Engine

    What do you call the engine inside a fire engine?
    A fire engine engine?

    Fleet in front of the NBC Studios building in L.A. at Sunset and Vine.

    “Crown ‘reconditioned’ 12 Ford Transits for Asbury’s takeover of Burbank City Lines in 1949
    The operator was Asbury Rapid Transit owned by the Asbury family. By 1950 the owner was A.J. Eyraud, Jr.”
    – Eli Bail “From Railway to Freeway” page 159

    Morenici High School Arizona

    Morenici High School Arizona 1/20/1976 (LM C10-P51)

    Covina Union High School Fleet

    Covina Union High School Fleet 1950

    Simi Valley Union Grammar School

    1927 Simi Valley Union Grammar School (4×5 negative copy of print 1977c)

    Compton Union High School

    1927 Compton Union High School (4×5 negative copy of print 1977c)

    Reedley Joint Union High School District No. 2

    1917 Reedley Joint Union High School District No. 2 (4×5 negative copy of print 1977c)

    Beard Motors Commercial Job 1837

    Beard Motors Commercial Job 1837 10/1930

    Crown Factory Arial Drawing

    Crown Factory Drawing

    US Army Engineer Division – Saudi Arabia

    US Army Engineer Division – Saudi Arabia 11/1979

    Cahill & Gabraith Giftwares Delivery Truck

    Hemet USD Mobile Library built on a Chevy chassis

    Check out this Crown Mobile Library built on a Chevy chassis.

    This set of photos from our Crown Archives is dated 9/27/1966 and is for the Hemet Unified School District.

    Crown Maintenance & Parts Building and Staff

    Crown Maintenance & Parts

    Crown Factory Arial Drawing

    Crown Factory Arial Drawing 7/22/1968

    First Crown Transit-Style Supercoach Glendora Elementary Schools

    “Here is the first Crown Supercoach school bus (1932). This was the world’s first transit style school coach, built with the student entrance door ahead of the front wheels. This innovative design enhanced student safety at the bus stop.” Louk Markham

    Demonstrator later sold to Glendora Elementary Schools as a 1933

    Crown Super II

    This series of 2×2 color slides of the Crown Super II is a gorgeous set of photos taken from every imaginable angle.

    This collection was in the Crown Archives, but the collector and photographer are unknown.

    A.C. Brill – Extended Land Cruiser

    This neat little artifact is quite the enigma. Who can decipher all the little clues to help us figure out what we are looking at?
    * Which photographer used id MC.999.10
    * Who is Brad Watts>
    * Why is there a Brill in the Crown archives?
    * Who is artist DS?

    Atomic Energy Commission Hi-Level

    Various black and white photos and color negatives of these deck-and-a-half coaches

    San Jose Unified Bus Fleet and staff

    (This) fleet is San Jose Unified, about 1957, when they bought 3 new buses. The earliest 2 came over from Almaden Union Elementary SD’s fleet. This angle gives a little more idea of what is on the right hand side. There’s a circa-1947 Gillig and several conventional buses, some as far back as WWII era.
    – Tom Shafer

    Moses Lake School District Fleet

    Moses Lake School District Fleet 10/1964

    Mercer Island School District Fleet

    Mercer Island School District Fleet

    Los Angeles City School Fleet

    Los Angeles City School Fleet 1938

    4-Bus Crown Fleet

    Crown Fleet

    Lompoc Unified fleet

    Lompoc Unified fleet June 1972 (LM C13-P14)

    Moses Lake School District Fleet

    Moses Lake School District Fleet

    Simi Valley USD Fleet

    Simi Valley USD Fleet 1968 (LM C16)

    Boise Winnemucca Fleet and Repairs

    Various collections of Boise Winnemucca fleet and subsequent repairs

    Emergency Marker Lights

    Whittington – 98-68-2 Emergency Marker Lights

    GMC TD-3602 San Mateo Burlingame Transit

    A. C. Byod( Byrd?) – MC.997.06 GMC TD-3602 San Mateo Burlingame Transit 2/1/1955

    Roesch Lines #412 1962

    Roesch Lines #412 1962

    1961 Flxible

    Bowen – 100-161-1 Flxible 1961

    AudioVoice Intercom / AM Radio

    AudioVoice Intercom 8/10/1964

    Mescalero Apache Tribe

    Bowen – 100-410-2 Mescalero Apache right front 12/1974-mark

    US Army White Sands

    Bowen – 100-429-1 US Army White Sands right front 7/21/1977-mark

    Rainbow Tours Fleet 9/1977

    Bowen – 100-434-1 Rainbow Tours Fleet 9/1977-mark

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