unknown

unknown in Humoresque, Movie, 1946

Class: Cars, Sedan — Model origin:

Background vehicle

Comments about this vehicle

Author	Message
nzcarnerd ◊ 2010-07-14 22:07	Does that say 'Town Car' or 'Town Cab'?? Apart from the odd roof it looks to be a lower price car, not something upmarket like a Packard or similar. Date about 1937.
nzcarnerd ◊ 2010-07-16 22:39	Even though I can't find a picture to prove it I think this is a Checker Cab from the late 1930s. There is a very good history here;-http://www.coachbuilt.com/bui/c/checker/checker.htm I thought this section was interesting reading;- "The City of New York began strictly regulating taxis in 1929 and starting that year, one of the requirements was that any vehicle used for livery or taxi service in the borough of Manhattan had to be able to carry 5 passengers in the rear compartment. Prior to World War II, most manufacturers produced long-wheelbase 9-passenger limousines that met the requirements. After the war, the number was greatly reduced and only Checker, Desoto, and Packard manufactured vehicles that included the required space and requisite jump seats. The law was finally changed and in July of 1954 the previous 5-passenger standard was eliminated and standard four-door Detroit-made sedans became eligible for taxi cab service in Manhattan. The long-wheelbase cars that were previously embraced, were now outlawed as a new maximum wheelbase of 120” was implemented. Although all involved denied it, lobbyists for Ford and General Motors were likely behind the new regulation as they were tired of being shut out of the lucrative Manhattan market. Although Markin probably didn’t realize it at the time, the July 1954 regulation started a sequence of events that would eventually put Checker’s automobile manufacturing division out of business. Prior to the 1954 regulation, 9,000 of the estimated 12,000 taxis operating in New York City were Checkers, but by 1965 only 2000 Checkers remained." This explains the presence of so many long wheelbase taxis in old movies but not in later ones. -- Last edit: 2010-07-16 22:39:56
maxp ◊ 2012-10-30 07:45	I have a vague thinking of MOLLER TAXICAB. M.P. Möller who introduced the DAGMAR was building taxicabs on different chassis until 1937 for example DIAMOND T. -- Last edit: 2014-07-17 18:24:29 (antp)

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nzcarnerd

◊ 2010-07-14 22:07

Does that say 'Town Car' or 'Town Cab'?? Apart from the odd roof it looks to be a lower price car, not something upmarket like a Packard or similar. Date about 1937.

nzcarnerd

◊ 2010-07-16 22:39

Even though I can't find a picture to prove it I think this is a Checker Cab from the late 1930s.

There is a very good history here;-http://www.coachbuilt.com/bui/c/checker/checker.htm

I thought this section was interesting reading;-

"The City of New York began strictly regulating taxis in 1929 and starting that year, one of the requirements was that any vehicle used for livery or taxi service in the borough of Manhattan had to be able to carry 5 passengers in the rear compartment. Prior to World War II, most manufacturers produced long-wheelbase 9-passenger limousines that met the requirements. After the war, the number was greatly reduced and only Checker, Desoto, and Packard manufactured vehicles that included the required space and requisite jump seats.

The law was finally changed and in July of 1954 the previous 5-passenger standard was eliminated and standard four-door Detroit-made sedans became eligible for taxi cab service in Manhattan. The long-wheelbase cars that were previously embraced, were now outlawed as a new maximum wheelbase of 120” was implemented. Although all involved denied it, lobbyists for Ford and General Motors were likely behind the new regulation as they were tired of being shut out of the lucrative Manhattan market.

Although Markin probably didn’t realize it at the time, the July 1954 regulation started a sequence of events that would eventually put Checker’s automobile manufacturing division out of business. Prior to the 1954 regulation, 9,000 of the estimated 12,000 taxis operating in New York City were Checkers, but by 1965 only 2000 Checkers remained."

This explains the presence of so many long wheelbase taxis in old movies but not in later ones.

-- Last edit: 2010-07-16 22:39:56

maxp

◊ 2012-10-30 07:45

I have a vague thinking of MOLLER TAXICAB. M.P. Möller who introduced the DAGMAR was building taxicabs on different chassis until 1937 for example DIAMOND T.

-- Last edit: 2014-07-17 18:24:29 (antp)

unknown

unknown in Humoresque, Movie, 1946

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