Motorcab Topics.
Page 16
Page 17
If you've noticed an error in this article please click here to report it so we can fix it.
2s7ews contribvlions arc invit&d: payment will be made on publication.
Congratulations to Mr. Davison Dalziel upon his return, last Saturday, as Conservative representative for Brixton with a majority of 1,03S!
Belsize Business.
During the past mouth, ()niers for or options on at least 100 Belsize cabs have been sent to the Manchester works from the London depot, Belsize London Agency, Ltd., Dean's Yard, Cavendish Square, W. Two years' successful running of this type is bringing large increases of business ta this maker of a first-class British-built raotorcab.
Lotis Orders from Abroad.
Since we recorded the securing of contracts for Lotis motoreabs for Warsaw and Rio de Janeiro in November last, several other important orders have been received from abroad, amongst which a contract for taxicabs for Calcutta is of particular interest. This will be the first time Lotis machines have been shipped to India.
The City Taxi Co., Ltd.
On the 16th September last, an undertaking was registered with the title of the City Taxi Co., Ltd., and the registered offices were officially stated to be situated at 9, Eldred Street, Lambeth, S.E. We became aware that this address was inaccurate, and, in response to our representations, at that time, to the Companies Registration Office, we are now informed that for " Eldred Street" we should read " Ethelred Street." We understand that this company employs the fourcylinder type type of motoreab which is made by the Caledonia Motor Engineering Co., of Granton, near Edinburgh ; this was described in our issue fur 15th July, 1909.
A Two-cylinder Napier's Performance.
Our readers may be interested in the accompanying view of the 10 lep. twocylinder Napier motorcab. The chassis of this vehicle includes a final drive by means of a bevel-driven live axle, in place of the worm-drive system which is embodied in many of the Napier cab chassis. Additional interest may Le attached to the record of the cab which we now illustrate, as it has recently finished 1,519 miles of demonstration work on 64 gallons of spirit ; the vehicle, during this period, carried two passengers as well as the driver. This consumption works out to an average of 23.73 miles per gallon_ Part of the mileage mentioned above, it may be well to add, included a run to Manchester, the cab doing 210 miles in 11 hours.
Facilities for Hirers in Bombay.: Latest advices from Bombay state that excellent arrangements, in the public interest, have been made to facilitate the extensive employment of the local taxicabs. There will shortly be 150 machines in service in that city, and they are all of " London " pattern. A number of new
cab-stands has been inaugurated, and a list of these is to be displayed publicly. An elaborate telephone-call service is also to be installed in connection with the cab-stands and garages, and special call stations for the cab service are to be arranged. Books of tickets are to be offered for sale, and these will be sold at reduced prices. An additional example of enterprise will be a system of monthly contracts, at reduced rates, for those who use the Bombay motorcabs daily.
Tariff Reform in Manchester.
A deputation appointed by 70 out of 72 motor hackney-carriage licenceholders in the City of Manchester presented a petition on 13th December last, requesting an amendment of the Hackney Carriage By-laws to which they are subject in that town. The petition briefly asked for :— A uniform tariff of lie per mile, and 3s. per hour waiting -time, at all hours of the day, in place of the existing complicated four-unit tariff under which no provision for time is made.
The compulsory fitting of taximeters and the obliteration of the rates of fares which at present must he painted on the side panels of the cab's.
Equal standing rights for taxicabs with hansoms and four-wheel cabs on the ranks.
This petition was before a second meeting of the Hackney Carriage Committee on 10th January, when the matter was again deferred to a full meeting of the Watch Committee on ifith January. The answer of the Watch Committee reads as follows ;— " Resolved that the applications contained in the memorial be not acceded to, and the Chief Constable instructed to communicate to this effect."
This petition asked for no more than was granted when the motorcalis were first licensed in the City of Manchester, and whee the original regulations were in vogue for about six weeks. These were revoked at the instance of the horse-cab trade, and, in consequence, at the present time, motorcabs have to operate under the Hackney Carriage By-laws, which were drawn up for, and which should be applicable only to, horse-cabs. It is to be observed that no reasons for the refusal are given by the Committee. In the meantime, Manchester has no reason to be proud of its regulations, whose complexity is unique.
Two Creditable /41otorcab Runs.
A 12-14 h.p. de Dion taxicab, owned by Mr. Ernest C. Bateman, 50, Everton Road, Birkdale, Southport, was recently ordered for a fortnight's tour in Devon and Cornwall. On this extended trip a distance of 1,300 miles was covered, without an involuntary stop. in the 14 days. On the last day of the run, the road from Bristol to Southport was covered in 10 hours with four passengers up. Since the summer, we are informed, the chassis has needed no repair.
A Norwich Complaint.
Statements having been put in circulation, at Norwich, to the effect that the taxicabs owned by the Provincial Motor Cab Co., Ltd., were continually breaking down, the local manager at Norwich, Mr. J. K. Ke.shan, has protested in tbe Norwich papers, to the effect that his records show only two failures—one due to lack of petrol, and the other due to a flooded road.
Panhard Cabs in London.
Messrs. W. and G. du Cros's fourcylinder 12-15 h.p. Panhard cabs are now being licensed in considerable numbers for London service. An example of this type, a few days ago, made a run from London to Bristol with two passengers, in a few minutes under 41 hours; the petrol consumption Ivas 33 pints for the 118?, miles