SW6 W7 Grab Handles

[Logan English]

Hello Melburnians..... 

A very niche question indeed, however through my picking up of various bits of information over the years I recall hearing that when the Z class trams were introduced, the W7's were fitted with white grab handles of the same specification, replacing the more rounded design that I understand they had as built. Is this bit of information true or was it something I've made up? 

The SW6 also had these rounded handles as built but all examples I have seen have had these replaced with a brown version of these Z class handles. Does anyone know when this change took place? 

Kind regards,

Logan

[Alan Cooper]

Thinking back to the late 80s through to the end of the Ws (about 1995), I don't recall white grab handles on W7s, or any other Ws.  Though they weren't my main interest, so it is possible.

I can remember the brown trapezium (?) type on Ws, but can also remember the 'pear-shaped' (as I thought of them) type.

The SW5 rebuilds had the new (trapezium) type.  The unmodified W5s had the 'pear-shaped' kind.

SW6s, W6s and W7s were a mix.  The old, battered looking cars (not overhauled in years) had the old pear-shaped ones.  I am pretty sure that those trams that were repainted in the 'The Met' bright green and yellow livery (and refitted with metal doors with two panes of glass) also received the new trapezium type handles.  It is possible, however, that some trams in the old green and cream livery had the new handles fitted, however.

I can also remember seeing a Z1 with a single 'pear-shaped' handle.  Can't think which one it was, though.

[Mal Rowe]

Agree with Alan.

It was much less coordinated than a class based policy.

Some of the W7s did get whit trapezoid handles. 1040 at Hawthorn has them.

I have attached a pic of the interior of SW2 644.

The trapezoid handle look white but in fact would have originally been brown - the brown colour faded over the years.  Not also the odd original style handle (which has not faded!).

Mal Rowe - whose research is very recent and based on photos!

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