'Unic' motor taxi, complete

Made:
1922 in Puteaux
maker:
Georges Richard
and
UNIC

Unic taxicab, 1922, is driven by a 13.9 hp, four-cylinder, monobloc engine. Chassis and engine manufactured by Unic in Puteaux, France. Body built by W R Wood in England.

Motor cabs first appeared in large numbers on the streets of London in 1907 and in 1910 their numbers first exceeded those of horse-drawn cabs in London. From the start, the Unic taxi was one of the most successful motor cabs. While this cab from 1922 has a French-built chassis made by Unic, it has an English body by W R Wood and is built to comply with the Metropolitan Police Regulations requiring a 25 foot diameter turning circle. The standard cab body is of the landaulette type, seating two persons on the back seat and two on the folding front seats. William Orger, a licensed taxi driver and Trade Unionist since 1895, presented this cab to the Museum in 1935, having operated it from August 1922 to September 1935 during which period it covered 205,000 miles.

Details

Category:
Road Transport
Object Number:
1935-504
Materials:
metal (unknown), glass, rubber (unidentified), wood (unidentified), leather and textile
Measurements:
overall: 2220 mm x 1580 mm x 3500 mm,
type:
motor vehicle and taxi
credit:
Mr. William Orger

Parts

Wheel-nut brace, from 'Unic' motor taxi

Wheel-nut brace, from 'Unic' motor taxi

Object Number:
1935-504 Pt2
type:
brace
Tyre pump from Unic taxicab

Tyre pump from Unic taxicab

Object Number:
1935-504 Pt3
type:
tyre pump
Side-light, front, from Unic taxicab

Side-light, front, from Unic taxicab

Object Number:
1935-504 Pt4
type:
sidelights
Horn bulb from Unic taxicab, 1922

Horn bulb from Unic taxicab, 1922

Object Number:
1935-504 Pt5
type:
car horn bulb
Adjustable mirror and fittings, from Unic taxicab

Adjustable mirror and fittings, from Unic taxicab

Object Number:
1935-504 Pt7
type:
mirror