Edwin Potter ran a horse bus service from Market Lavington to Devizes. Lavington’s railway station was not open until 1900, so Mr Potter’s bus enabled Market Lavington travellers to catch a train at the station in Devizes. We have seen this photo before on these pages, but we have just been given a better copy. It shows Potter’s bus at Devizes – still making the trip in 1905
We can, of course, zoom in on the bus.
Let’s zoom in some more.
We can now see that by 1905, the coachwork was beginning to look tired. With Lavington Station opened, it was probably hard for the Potters to make a living, although Devizes still remained the main local town.
Zooming in on the wheel, we see what looks to be a brake shoe, which could grip onto the iron tyre of the wheel. It isn’t clear if this could be operated by the driver as the vehicle was moving, or whether a crew member had to get off and apply the brake at the top of hills.
An added interest to this photo is that it has been mounted on a period postcard.
There’s no specific Market Lavington connection here – except that the owners of the original are long term Lavington residents.
But let’s return to the bus and take a good look at the crew. Maybe someone out there can give us a positive identification.
Tags: bus, Devizes, Market Lavington, Museum, transport
May 22, 2012 at 7:34 am |
Do you know if Edwin Potter was related to Hannah Potter (born abt, 1861) of Market Lavington in anyway??
May 22, 2012 at 9:31 am |
We thinks so, yes. We’ll make our evidence the blog entry for tomorow.
Rog (Curator)
May 22, 2012 at 7:42 am |
Great photo
Handbrake is operated by driver using the lever below his right hand
May 22, 2012 at 8:40 am |
Thanks Tim. I love the picture too. We already had a copy at the museum but modern technology allows a really good copy to be made so easily. I couldn’t get the detail out of our old copy.
Cheers
Rog
May 22, 2012 at 10:44 am |
I hope that i am right but if you look close on the third photo you can see the brake operating system, By the drivers right foot there is a pedal connected to the brake shoe by a rod which worked the brake. Most of thes pedals locked into a teeth along the bracket, holding the brake on until released by the driver very much like the old Wells Fargo coaches
John
May 22, 2012 at 1:36 pm |
I reckon you have that sorted John. Thanks again.
Rog