Red painted steel ‘flag’ and two keys

20th century motor taxis are the descendants of private and public coaches such as Hackney and Hansom cabs, which were popularized during the late 19th century. During the 1890s various attempts were made to develop a reliable and accurate means to measure taxi fares.

In 1895 Herr A. Gruner of Magdeburg, Germany developed what many consider to be the first reliable mechanical taximeter, which he patented that year in the UK as Patent No.18045 ‘Improvements in Fare-indicators for Cabs and other Hackney-coaches’.

This machine was capable of indicating fare, both for distance travelled and time waited, and also show the number of journeys made, the total distance covered, and the total of the fares earned. Gruner’s taximeter could also record five different rates for different circumstances such as night journeys or fare for groups.

Whilst this machine was fully enclosed and sealed, with the purpose of making tampering impossible, Gruner’s taximeter was still capable of being altered by taxi drivers.

Inflated taxi fares became a frequent and highly publicized problem involving Scotland Yard and the National Physical Laboratory. It was only in 1908 that the first taximeter was designed was patented which met the security and reliability standards established by the UK government.

20th century motor taxis are the descendants of private and public coaches such as Hackney and Hansom cabs, which were popularized during the late 19th century. During the 1890s various attempts were made to develop a reliable and accurate means to measure taxi fares.

In 1895 Herr A. Gruner of Magdeburg, Germany developed what many consider to be the first reliable mechanical taximeter, which he patented that year in the UK as Patent No.18045 ‘Improvements in Fare-indicators for Cabs and other Hackney-coaches’.

This machine was capable of indicating fare, both for distance travelled and time waited, and also show the number of journeys made, the total distance covered, and the total of the fares earned. Gruner’s taximeter could also record five different rates for different circumstances such as night journeys or fare for groups.

Whilst this machine was fully enclosed and sealed, with the purpose of making tampering impossible, Gruner’s taximeter was still capable of being altered by taxi drivers.

Inflated taxi fares became a frequent and highly publicized problem involving Scotland Yard and the National Physical Laboratory. It was only in 1908 that the first taximeter was designed was patented which met the security and reliability standards established by the UK government.

20th century motor taxis are the descendants of private and public coaches such as Hackney and Hansom cabs, which were popularized during the late 19th century. During the 1890s various attempts were made to develop a reliable and accurate means to measure taxi fares.

In 1895 Herr A. Gruner of Magdeburg, Germany developed what many consider to be the first reliable mechanical taximeter, which he patented that year in the UK as Patent No.18045 ‘Improvements in Fare-indicators for Cabs and other Hackney-coaches’.

This machine was capable of indicating fare, both for distance travelled and time waited, and also show the number of journeys made, the total distance covered, and the total of the fares earned. Gruner’s taximeter could also record five different rates for different circumstances such as night journeys or fare for groups.

Whilst this machine was fully enclosed and sealed, with the purpose of making tampering impossible, Gruner’s taximeter was still capable of being altered by taxi drivers.

Inflated taxi fares became a frequent and highly publicized problem involving Scotland Yard and the National Physical Laboratory. It was only in 1908 that the first taximeter was designed was patented which met the security and reliability standards established by the UK government.