Already in the sixteenth century, mercenary crews traveled around the territory of Britain, which became the first ancestors of modern London taxis. The final formation of this service in the kingdom occurred in the 19th century thanks to the advent of black cabs. These cars are known for their reliability, endurance and unusual appearance for the car.
The first taxi model in London
Debut city cabs were cars of the company London Electric Cab Co. As you may have guessed, their engines were powered by electricity. The British capital owes this innovation to the 23-year-old Walter Bercy, a businessman who owned the aforementioned company and authored an electric car project. The first cabs drove on a single charge up to 75 km.
Over the years the company’s existence, Bercy cars have become involved in hundreds of fatal accidents. This led to the bankruptcy of a young businessman and the complete disappearance of electric vehicles from the city streets.
Improving London Taxi in the 20th Century
In 1903, gasoline-powered cars appeared in the British capital. For several decades there was no unity regarding taxi brands. Companies purchased various machine models, among which were Rational, Austin, Prunel and Simplex. The only thing that united them all was the black color.
In 1919, an industrialist from Scotland, William Birdmore, tried to get a contract to develop a taxi for London. He authored such models as Beardmore Mk1, Mk2 Super and Mk3 Hyper. It was at that time that the classic look of the cabin was created: the seat next to the cabman was not for passengers, but for their luggage.
Later, Birdmore settled down as a competitor in the person of Morris, which in 1929 designed its version of a London taxi (photo above). The model differed from previous vehicles in that the passenger seats were located above the driver. The only and biggest disadvantage of this cab was its cost. It was too overpriced, and no company could not afford to mass purchase Morris products.
In 1929, Austin joined the fight for a monopoly and launched a car that ideally suited the role of taxi. The ceiling was so high that passengers could ride while standing. The reason for the disappearance of Austin competitors was the low price of their cars. After a couple of years, the company created a brand of a London taxi with a low floor, as in modern English buses. The appearance of these cars resembles current cabs.
After World War II, Austin, along with Carbodies body shop, launched the FX3 line of cars. Compared to pre-war models, the new cars were more durable, faster and with a more modern appearance. In 1954, Beardmore attempted to return to the market by launching the rather successful Mk7 Paramount Taxicab. Truth be told, the car was almost completely copied from the Austin FX3.
The year 1958 was marked by the development of the same classic taxi, for the preservation of which the English patriots and supporters of traditions fought. From the previous models, the FX4 was distinguished by a closed baggage area and seats on which passengers could sit opposite each other.
After Austin went bankrupt, Metro Cammell Weymann took over the development of the cabs. The appearance of the cars changed to a more modern one, but the internal layout remained the same, loved by everyone.
Taxis on the streets of modern London
Following the decision to stop the release of the FX4, LTI designed the Metrocab replacement. The TX1 brand cab retained its classic shape, but its appearance looked more modern. In 2007, LTI created the TX2 and TX4 models. In new cars, the interior was mainly updated, while the exterior design remained the same.
In 2014, Kamkorp revived Metrocab, introducing a cab called New Metrocab. The car became the first all-electric taxi with a classic exterior and interior design. Thus, the company Kamkorp partially returned the time of Walter Bercy.
Travel Reliability
Sitting in London taxis, passengers can be calm for their safety. Modern black cabs around the world are famous for their convenience, speed and durability. English taxi manufacturers guarantee a minimum ten-year life. During this period, the mileage of the car is usually about 800 thousand km.
As for the duties of the cabman, his skills, knowledge, experience and experience are controlled by the general regulation of the rules for drivers. In addition, in London taxis it is almost impossible to find modern devices like a GPS navigator. The fact is that everyone, even the novice representative of this wonderful profession, considers it his duty to know by heart every corner of the capital and its environs.
Illegal taxi drivers
High fares, like in any other country, caused the appearance of illegal immigrants. You will not meet such taxi drivers at railway stations and airports, as they are strictly forbidden to call customers there. But next to the concert halls, nightclubs and theaters of illegal drivers there are more than enough. The tariffs for their services are much lower than those of officially working taxi drivers, but only the clients are responsible for the consequences of such trips.
Remarkable facts
The word "taxi" comes from the name of the device to determine the cost of the trip - a taximeter. The author of this invention was the German baron von Tour-i-Taxis.
New York's popular yellow cabs hail from England. In the capital of Britain, cars of two Austin models were painted in a bright color and exported to America. Car brands have not taken root among New Yorkers, but the yellow hue has become a symbol of taxis in the city.
Over the centuries of the existence of hired transport in Britain, this service has been named differently. The name of a London taxi at the end of the 16th century can be judged by the meaning of the French word hacquenée, which means “horse for hire”. In the mid-19th century, hackney changed to a cab. The name comes from convertibles that just appeared at that time. Cab drivers are called cabmen.
The high roofs of London taxis were created specifically for passengers, so that they could sit in the car without removing their hat-cylinder. Classic black cab is not the only type of transportation in the capital. On the streets of the city you can find a mini-cab - an exact copy of his "big brother", whose body is generously pasted with bright advertising. Travel in such a taxi is cheaper, and you can order it only in two options - via the Internet or by phone. Mini cab drivers do not have the right to pick up passengers on the streets. For them, this is fraught with an impressive fine and loss of license.