A 1970's era Chicago Transit Authority GM fishbowl windshield bus on State Street. Chicago Illinois. April 1981. Jim Hussey photograph.

Growing up in Chicago during the 1960's, 70's and 80's...I seen many changes in equipment on the Chicago Transit Authority's bus fleet. Beginning around 1972, the Chicago Transit Authority ordered several of these then modern General Motors TDH Series "New Look" transit buses, which pretty much had become the nation's industry standard after their introduction by GM in 1959. These buses were replacements for the remaining 1950's era ex Chicago Motor Coach Company old look GM's, Twin Coach Company and Flxible Twin Coach Company propane buses, the remaining and soon to be phased out Marmon Harrington electric trolleybuses, and of course the original early 1960's era GM new look buses. When introduced, these 2nd generation CTA GM new look buses featured sealed windows, hard plastic seats with thin seat cushions and air conditioning. The air conditioning system would soon prove troublesome in a short time, often failing on extremely hot summer days. The roofs were sometimes prone to leaking on rainy days as well. By the mid to late 1980's, replacement sliding open windows were installed. By 1989, these old buses were rebuilt and rehabbed by the CTA, and introduced a variation of today's CTA white blue and red color scheme. These buses were retired from CTA service in 1996.