Drivers of the first horse-drawn omnibuses that appeared during the 1820s generally wore regular outdoor coats, hats and used rugs, while conductors, whose job was more physically active, favoured short jackets. Scarcely any horse-drawn bus crews adopted standardised uniform, but metal licence badges (PSV badges) were introduced in 1838, to identify them to police and the general public.

Early Victorian bus drivers and conductors both wore tall top hats, until the 1860s when the new lower-crowned bowler hat proved convenient for conductors when leaning inside the bus to collect fares and announce stops. Throughout the 1800s only Metropolitan Railway bus conductors received an official uniform: a formal knee-length frock coat with metal buttons and peaked cap. Money satchels were used by bus conductors from about the 1880s and the Bell Punch ticket machine by the 1890s, both items probably introduced from trams.

Motorbuses developed alongside horsepower in the early 1900s and some motorbus drivers, following motor car chauffeurs, wore a double-breasted jacket with breeches, leather boots or gaiters and a peaked cap. The traditional driver’s rug being impractical with mechanical vehicles, long double-breasted leather or woollen coats were used in winter, white dustcoats in summer. During the 1910s more bus crews acquired recognisable uniforms comprising dark blue suits teamed with a peaked cap bearing the bus company’s badge. Like male staff, female conductors employed during WW1 received seasonal uniforms: for example the London General Omnibus Company winter outfit was a blue calf-length skirt, belted jacket with white piping and felt slouch hat, summer uniform a white dustcoat and straw hat. Women also wore the leather

money satchel and Bell Punch machine, their clipping of bus tickets inspiring the term ‘clippies’.

Between the wars a more contemporary double-breasted lapelled jacket with metal buttons and smartly creased trousers became the usual male uniform, both drivers and conductors wearing a prominent round PSV badge, now made of modern PVC material. Dark overcoats were worn in winter and in summer shorter white coats, the crown of the cap having a white rain cover. When women joined the buses again during WW2, their winter uniform was typically a dark overcoat with grey slacks. Summer uniforms comprised a white coat, white blouse and slacks, or a grey jacket and skirt, with woollen peaked cap. Lightweight grey jackets with coloured collars were also popular for busmen’s summer wear by the 1940s.