A Two-seater Taxicab for London Work.
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THE news that the Home Secretary has approved the employment of two-seater taxicabs in the Metropolis has turned attention to the types of vehicle which can be employed. At the moment these are but few, of which one has already been described in our columns.
This is the K.R.C., designed by Messrs. Kingston, Richardson mid Crutchley, and marketed by White, Holmes and Co,, Ltd., Down Place, Hammersmith, London, W.6. The chassis has, we believe, already been approved by Scotland Yard (this approval, of course, being subject to any modifications contained in the new
reulations), with the exception of minor details, and its dimensions are of considerable importance. The wheelbase is 8 ft.4 ins.; track, 4 ft. 2 ins.; turning circle, 25 ft.; whilst, externally, the vehicle is 6 ins. shorter, 1 ft. narrower, and 8-10 ins. less in height than the ordinary four-seater cab. Despite this, the driver's accommodation from the dash to the back of his scat is the saine as in the four-seater, i.e., 42 ins.; 7 ft. 9 ins, is available for the body, which is 3 ft. 5 ins, wide inside, 4 ft. 2 ins, high, and of the landauiet type.
The power unit is a Coventry Climax of 63 nim, bore and 100 mm. stroke, giving an R.A.C. rating of 9.8 h.p. An external cone clutch faced with leather and having three easily adjustable springs is utilized. The clutelfshaft baa two Hardy joints, whilst the gearbox is a separate unit flange-fitted to the rear of an exceedingly stout cast-aluminium crossmember.
Both the gearbox and the back axle are Moss Gear comroneuts.
Similar cabs running in Harrogate have shown a mileage of something like 2,000 to the gallon of oil and up to 40 to the gallon of petrol.
In a model we inspected low-pressure tyres were employed, but at the moment we do not know if these will be utilized or permitted in the London area.
The total weight is about 19 cwt.
• Both brakes act on the rear wheels, there being concentric drums.