Nottinghams first motor taxi in 1908


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This article appeared exactly 115 years ago in the Nottingham Daily Express of Feb 18th 1908

 

"Arrival of the "taxi".

Latest addition to Nottinghams traffic.

 

HUMBERS, LIMITED'S ENTERPRISE
Ticking off the miles at the rate of a shilling a time, the motor taxi-cab has arrived in Nottingham. Whether it will stay, the success of the taxi" alone will decide, for the venture is purely an experimental one, and as far as can be gathered, not even the promoters have formulated a definite plan of future working.

 

In all the glory of the characteristic "Humber red," the taxi-cab made its appearance yesterday morning on the cab-rank in the Market-place, the little iron flag projecting above the circular meter intimating to the world at large that the vehicle was "For Hire"

The cab stood out in bright and cleanly contrast in the drab rank of "growlers" and hansoms.

 

The cabbies looked sarcastic things which only, cabmen can look, and prophesied an early demise of the "helectrio cab," as some of them called it.

"It can't pay," said one of them.
"Look how long we have to wait for a job.
Trams go everywhere; there's no room for motor cabs in Nottingham."

 

 It is this attitude of mind on the part of cab owners in the provinces their lack of enterprise to risk some £300 or £350, which the taxi-cab costs-that has compelled motor manufacturers to exploit the vehicle themselves. 

 

Humbers, Limited, have sent over the cab from the Beeston works, and the management will be in the hands of their local agency in Grey Friar-gate.

 

The lead of this company, so far as Nottingham is concerned, will be followed very shortly by the Renault and Rover Companies, so that we shall have at least three motor cabs on trial in Nottingham.

 

Whatever else, the new cab achieved" success of curiosity," for nearly all day (that is, when not carrying fares) it was surrounded by a crowd of anything from twenty to fifty people, the driver sticking to his seat and smoking a cigarette with a rather bored air, suggesting that the experience as centre of attraction was not new to him.

 

It required not little confidence to shoulder one's way through the ring of curious people and charter the conveyance. 

 

The cab is quite luxuriously, though serviceably, upholstered in brown leather, the landaulette hood, which may be let down in warm weather, being lined with red cloth. 

 

There is the one-time unheard-of convenience of a speaking tube to communicate with the driver, who has a comfortable seat behind a glass screen. 

 

No gentleman's motor could be more comfortable than this humble "taxi." The driver pulls down "the dag," and at the first revolution of wheels-to paraphrase the Scotchman in London-
"Bang goes eight pence".

 

The taxi-meter grins at one through the near side window, and every three hundred yards or so, the smile expands to the extent of an extra twopence, the fare being at the rate of a shilling a mile, with a minimum charge of eightpence.

There is no haggling over the fare, the "taxi" removing one of the greatest objections the ordinary person has to taking a cab. 

 

The vehicle though only of moderate horse-power is well capable of taking any hills in Nottingham with a full load at a very fair speed, and on the level, whirls along at a pace that makes motor-cab riding a pleasurable dissipation."

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It'll never catch on.

 

Things have changed a bit since then. These days I believe that in order to qualify as a taxi driver you have to take a test to demonstrate that you have no idea how to drive on public roads.

 

8 minutes ago, DAVIDW said:

Humbers, Limited, have sent over the cab from the Beeston works, and the management will be in the hands of their local agency in Grey Friar-gate.

 

A reminder that Nottingham had its own car/motorbike industry back in those days; and why there's a Humber Road in Beeston. The factory closed in 1908.

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Fascinating reading. It would have been great to see a picture of the said vehicle. Do the drivers today, still sit in their seat with a fag on?

Well done DavidW.

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On 2/18/2023 at 9:21 AM, Beekay said:

Fascinating reading. It would have been great to see a picture of the said vehicle. 

This is probably close to what the Humber taxi looked like  , this from 1907

 

Screenshot_20230218-110820_Chrome

 

 

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Landaulette or Laudette , looks similar and the colour of "Humber Red" maybe authentic . Thanks for posting . 

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