Vehicle Background:
The 1920's were the heydays of the private bus in Australia. Motor vehicle manufacturing companies, particularly from North America were vying for places in the market and offered light weight chassis to Australian commercial vehicle operators.

The Ruggles Motor Truck Company of Saginaw, Michigan, United States and London, Ontario, Canada, was one of these companies. The firm manufactured a series of bonneted trucks of up to 3 tons capacity between 1921 and 1928. Initially the company used its own engines, however by 1924 Hercules and Lycoming engines were alternative options.

This bus was new to Riley Brothers of Ettalong Beach on the Central Coast of N.S.W in 1925. The body is of the normal control type and was manufactured by Syd Wood of Bankstown, Sydney, N.S.W. The frame and panelling is of timber construction and it has seats for 22 passengers. The bus was operated by the company for 21 years until it was withdrawn in 1946. The vehicle was observed in use as a mobile food shop in the late 1960's and early 1970's in Newcastle. It was adjacent to the Stockton to Newcastle Vehicular Ferry jetty on the Newcastle side of the Hunter River. Some years later the Ruggles was again found, this time in a very derelict condition. The vehicle was acquired by a member for preservation and a major rebuilding job was completed in 1978.

The vehicle is once again painted and signwritten for "Riley Brothers" of
Ettalong Beach.

SPECIFICATIONS

ENGINE: Hercules 4 cylinder side valve petrol. Bore 4", stroke 5".

TRANSMISSION: 3 speed constant mesh gearbox and a crown wheel and pinion differential.

BRAKES: Foot and park brakes are mechanical are to the rear wheels only.