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| London Taxicab 1908 http://www.taxi-driver.co.uk/phpBB2/viewtopic.php?f=2&t=4927 |
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| Author: | JD [ Mon Nov 20, 2006 3:49 am ] |
| Post subject: | London Taxicab 1908 |
In 1908 The Times commented on the popularity of the Motor cab. .................................................................. HEADLINE: Motor-cabs in London; 21 December 1908. It is interesting to note that the arrival of motor cabs owed 'some of their popularity to their novelty', but also because they public believed they were a check 'upon the acquisitiveness of the cabby which is afforded by the taximeter'. The growing popularity of the motor-cab in London is a matter of common knowledge. It is shown, not merely by the increase in the number of these vehicles, which is obvious to anybody who is familiar with the streets of London, but by the formation of new companies to supply the demands of those who desire to ride in the swiftly-moving motor-cab rather than in conveyances drawn by horses. It is true, no doubt, that the motor-cabs owe some of their popularity to their novelty, but undoubtedly they are looked upon with favour by the public because of the check upon the acquisitiveness of 'cabby' which is afforded by the taximeter. All motorb-cabs must carry taximeters, while they are to be found in comparatively few horse-drawn cabs. It is an interesting fact, by the by, that the motor-cab is to some extent creating its own public. More people ride in cabs nowadays than have ever ridden before, and a considerable proportion of these new passengers are carried by the motor-cabs; indeed, many of them have been induced to ride by the fact that motor-cabs carrying taximeters are at their disposal. There are now 2,000 of these motor-cabs plying for hire in London. The rapidity with which they are increasing may be judged from the fact that at the end of December 1906, only 96 of them were licensed, while a year ago the number licensed was 723. It is estimated that a year hence the present supply of 2,000 will have been more than doubled. The motor-cab, according to the official figures, is slowly displacing the hansom, but is having little or no effect upon the four-wheeler. The returns for 1906 showed that there were in London in that year 6,648 hansoms and 3,844 four-wheelers, and as already indicated, 96 motor-cabs. At the end of last year there were 5,952 hansoms and 3,866 four-wheelers an increase in the latter of 22. The addition of 627 motor-cabs during last year almost entirely accounted for the withdrawal of the 696 hansoms. It is satisfactory to know that the displacement of the hansom does not mean, as a rule, that hansom-drivers are being thrown out of employment. The men who cease to drive hansoms generally find themselves transformed into motor-men. The principal companies maintain staffs of instructors at the depots, and there are daily classes in motor-cab driving at these places. A man who has had charge of a hansom becomes proficient in the art of controlling a motor-cab in a few weeks' time. Even a novice, if he is fairly smart, can be trained to pass the severe examination of Scotland Yard in the course of six weeks or so. The remuneration of the motor-cab driver varies with the amount of custom which he secures. He pays over to his employers 75 per cent of the 'takings' recorded by the taximeter. Out of the remaining 25 per cent he pays for the petrol which has been consumed and also small sums daily for clothes and insurance. Tips are his own perquisites, and officially the motor-cab companies know nothing about them. ............................ |
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| Author: | GBC [ Mon Nov 20, 2006 4:08 am ] |
| Post subject: | Re: London Taxicab 1908 |
JD wrote: It is satisfactory to know that the displacement of the hansom does not mean, as a rule, that hansom-drivers are being thrown out of employment. The men who cease to drive hansoms generally find themselves transformed into motor-men.
. The last few Hansom's will have to retire from service next year, apparantly theres no Euro 3 conversion kits available. 
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