Social History — 1908-1909
Car, taxi
The first licensed petrol-driven taxi appeared in London in 1903. This vehicle was licensed for use as a London taxicab in 1908, by which time over 2,000 motorcabs were competing for business with horse-drawn hansoms and four-wheeled growlers.
The chassis was made in France; the bodywork added in London. It is arranged as an open drive, with shelter provided by a roof and a low windshield. The driver and passengers communicated using a horn trumpet and speaking tube. The taximeter was made compulsory for cabs in 1907, and fares were set at 8d (8 pence) a mile. Motor vehicles changed the look, sound and smell of London's street: less unhygienic horse manure on the ground, but more noise, greater speed and danger for pedestrians.
- Category:
- Social History
- Object ID:
- 2000.54
- Object name:
- car, taxi
- Object type:
- car, taxi
- Artist/Maker:
- La Société Anonyme des Automobiles Unic
- Related people:
- Withey, Alan
- Related events:
- —
- Related places:
- Paris, France; London
- Production date:
- 1908-1909
- Material:
- wood, leather, brass, glass
- Measurements/duration:
- H 2360 mm, L 1620 mm, D 3820 mm, W 1650000 g
- Part of:
- —
- On display:
- —
- Record quality:
- 100%
- Part of this object:
- —
- Credit:
- —
- Copyright holder:
- digital image © London Museum
- Image credit:
- —
- Creative commons usage:
- —
- License this image:
To license this image for commercial use, please contact the London Museum Picture Library.