Around the world the London taxi is one of the most recognisable symbols of everyday life in the British Isles. The big black taxis that roam the streets of London certainly tell any visitor precisely where they're to within a few kilometers.
Many years before the motorised black cab arriving in London, Birmingham, within the industrial heart of the West Midlands had its quite own taxi service based on the, then brand new, motorcar.
Three years before the begin of the great War, in 1911, a Birmingham businessman by the name of David Wright had the concept of motorised in the handsome cab system that ran by means of his city. This would not have seen such a huge step, as Birmingham was already the industrial centre of Britain and a lot more specifically the principal centre for the then new motor industry. Having motorised taxis in Birmingham initial is perhaps probably the most logical factor.
For those of you who are reading this from outside of Britain, then it is worth mentioning that Birmingham, in the heart of the West Midlands, would be to the United Kingdom what Detroit is to the United States of America. The motor business inside the UK was based fairly firmly in Birmingham, so it would have made sense for the first motorised taxi company to have come from this region. For Wright, discovering the correct engineers and adapting an original design by the Austin motor Company to carry passengers was a basic job.
Initially with only five taxes for Birmingham, the wide wheel based cabs had been able to carry three men and women, a driver and two passengers. Write sensibly patented his thought along with the design for what was then known as the " Birmingham Taxi Blue Cabs". The truth is even inside the 21st century a few of the innovations needed to convert a normal motorcar into a fare charging, bassenger carrying vehicle are still used in public transport these days.
The industrial heart of Birmingham was a fraction of the size that it is today when David Wright began his venture. It must be understood that the sensibilities of the public were also very different at that time, and it was not uncommon for middle-class men and women to order a taxi for a journey of perhaps five or six hundred yards.In fairness, the roads were not particularly safe for pedestrians at the turn of the 20th century, as horse-drawn carriages along with a lack of pavements presented any number of hazards to the unwary.
Within 18 months David Wright's idea for motorised taxes had been copied throughout Britain. And regrettably one hundred years later the whole heritage of David Wright has nearly been forgotten along with the image of a taxi service in the UK is now virtually completely represented by the "black cab".
David Wright's Birmingham taxi business made a lot of funds for the innovator. Wright died in 1959 a multimillionaire, his entire wealth was made from his Birmingham taxi firm. Nevertheless, after his death his son who had been managing the firm for many years decided to sell it and invest the dollars in other business enterprises.
After his death, his organization was sold to a huge conglomerate, and also the name "Birmingham Blue Taxis" was by no means used again. Sadly, you'd now have to search pretty challenging to discover any evidence that the original motorised taxis in Britain originated from the Birmingham region.
On a personal level I think it's a pity that the Birmingham taxi business just isn't recognised and celebrated far more, particularly in its own region. With industrial decline over the last 40 years, it would be nice to remind the men and women of the West Midlands of their amazing motorised heritage.
Author Resource:
I hope you found the history of the first Birmingham taxi company enjoyable. Remember there is still a great history of taxis in Birmingham
![[Valid RSS feed]](http://www.look4articles.com/images/icon_Rss.png "XML Feed For RSS"){kind=icon}
Category Rss Feed
Print This Article
Add To Favorites
![[Valid RSS feed]](http://www.look4articles.com/images/rss.jpg "XML Feed For RSS")