Motorcab

"The Times" has been giving publicity to enrresponderice about "Extras," and this has been prompted by our " Twenty Points."

Taxicab Types.

We receive, from time to time, many inquiries from would-be purchasers of taxicabs ; in these communications, so much ignorance is often displayed of the elementary principles of construction of a rah chassis, that we have thought it advisable to prepare a simple diagrammatic drawing which illustrates the general arrangement of a typical taxicab chassis. This drawing, which we reproduceherewith, clearly indicates the relative positions of the principal components. The wide angle of lock, the selfcontained live back axle and its torque her, and the compact disposition of (in the case chosen) the feloc type of engine are clearly illustrated.

Lotis for Rio.

Part of the big order for Lotis vehicles, from a powerful South-American -company, to which we make earlier references on page 32'7, is for fifty 2024 lnp cabs. The engines have four celinders, each 90 mm. in the bore; the piston-stroke is 110 mm. Worm transmission is employed, and the gear ratios are specially ]en'. The wheels are of larger diameter than usual, and 915 mm. st 105 mm. pneumatic tires will be fitted. The bodies will have no folding seats inside, but the capacious back seat will accommodate three passengers. There will be no luggage space, as there is no call for such in Rio, where the " express " baggage system holds sway.

Offer from Pfleumatic Co.

Pneumatic (1910), Ltd., of 86, Victoria Street, Westminster, S.W., with the idea of further proving the many aclvantastes of Pfleutuatic, ROW offers to fill with Pneumatic the cover of any spare wheel, such as the Stepney, or any detachable spare rim of standard pattern, at a cost about equal to that of an inner tabs of the same size, the cover, of course, being in a fit condition to fill. viz., new or practically so. Users of Pneumatic are immune from puncture, and a filling lasts the life of the best cover a considerable saving is thus effected in the tire bill, as, of course, the necessity to purchase new inner tubes from time to time is removed. Spare rims and covers should be sent, carriage paid, to the works (Harland and Wolff, Ltd., Southampton), and all instructions ochcerning them to Pflenmatie (1910), -Ltd., as above. "Twenty Points" Wanted.

We quote from a recent issue of " The Globe " as follows :—"Although so much has been written about the ways of the taxi-drivers, there are many users of the cabs who even now do not understand that they can only be asked to pay the amount recorded on the dial. If a driver fails to mark up an extra he generally does so with the deliberate intention of keeping the whole of the money for himself, and it is only fair to the proprietary companies that the public in such circumstances should refuse to pay. They will find the men will make little fuss."

Beside the Driver.

On Derby night, a publican named Glover, who was returning from Epsom, insisted on sitting beside the driver" in order to get fresh air." The driver resented this, hat was unable to persuade Glover, who, later, swayed and fell into the roadway near Lower Morden, to travel inside, Death supervened. The driver, at the coroner's inquest, satisfied the court that he had done his best by way of protest. A verdict of accidental death was returned, and the foreman asked that the, facts of the case should be specially communicated to the Commis. eioner of Police of the Metropolis with a view to the non-cancellation of the driver's licence.

The moral is obvious—drivers of taxicabs, especially when any passenger appears to be either drunk or ill, should not proceed if a demand for a seat outside is made. The circumstanced may prove awkward, but the case now under notice shows that greater risks are involved by ultimate compliance.

A Bristol Conference.

Five members of the Bristol Watch Committee have—as a sub-committee duly appointed—been conferring with the Bristol Tramways and Carriage Co., Ltd., in regard to proposals for revised fares and regulations.

Taxicabs at Liverpool.

Telephone Nre. 33 1.'s'avertree, will find Messrs. Wright. and Jackson, who also have an office right opposite the main entrance to the. Show. No. 2840 Royal is the Bentley Road depot of the Provincial Motorcab Co., Ltd,, and No. 1250 Royal is J. A. Lawton and Co., Ltd.

Taxicab Chassis for Light Motor vans.

That. the taxicab type of chassis may be usefully employed for light motorvan work has been satisfactorily demonetrated in several instances during the past year or two. Swan and Edgar, Ltd., was amongst the first of the users to employ this class of machine commercially, and it may be remembered that. several Renaults were fitted with light van bodies for this Regent-Street company. The latest example of this practice is illustrated in the case of some 12-14 h.p. Ethos, which, with specially-lengthened wheelbaaes„ have been supplied by the Metropolitan Garage Aseociation, of Palace Street, Victoria,. S.W., to Messrs. Bourne and Hollingsworth. of Oxford Street.. Until recently, these West-End drapers employed tricycle carriers almost exclusively, but these machines have now been replaced by three Unie frmr-cylinder taxicab chassis fitted with motorvan bodies. We are informed by the Metropolitan Garage Association that it makes a speciality of supplying a vehicle and of undertaking its complete maintenanee for any definite period at an inclusive figure. Three vans of this type are now on view at the R.A.S.E. Liverpool Show.