Hello Woodsy
Pictures 1-3 show my first Austin FX3D in one of the playgrounds of South Grove Primary School in South Tottenham, London, N16. It was considered unfit for small children but ideal as an Annex for Hornsey College of Art. The school's only claim to fame is that Dave Clark and some of his Five went there as kids.
The pictures show the cab in January 1966. I purchased it in November 1965.
Picture 002 shows, if you enlarge the number plate, numbers stenciled to the left which are 11.64.2 in yellow. This stands for 2nd November 1964 the day the last 'plate' was issued, which lasts for one year from the day the Public Carriage Office last examined the cab.
A thorough mechanical and cosmetic examination was made and for all intents and purposes the cab had to be as new, no damage or wear. Cabs in the 60's were only allowed a ten year working life.
Extensions were offered if the cab could pass the tests and a new replacement was on order by the owner. BMC often had delays in delivery because, well they were BMC. Someone somewhere was on strike!
You will notice the PCO plate was replaced by me with a HCA (Hornsey College of Art) one saying BEWARE OF FAST U-TURN. A little bit of deception here as when parked at the end of the cab rank opposite the Victoria & Albert Museum far enough away from Traffic Wardens being able to read it, it wouldn't be seen as obviously not a licensed taxi.
Picture 4 shows SLL10 outside Scotland Yard. The Metropolitan Police had left for their new building and the old one was being considered for demolition so I went to photograph it. I think it still exists and was re purposed.
After wrecking SLL10 I purchased it's twin. Pictures 5 & 6 show SXY 219 also a 1956 FX3D, the D is for Diesel not 3 Door. The open side was because the Conditions of Fitness, the Police regulations for London Cabs said it had to be able to carry a steamer trunk. The later Austin FX4 was a four door body as by 1958 when it was designed the Police recognised that people were flying not taking boats. The luggage area was allowed to get smaller.
There was a four door version of the FX3 (Fleet Taxi 3) called the FL1 (Fleet Limousine 1). This was basically the same vehicle but without the roof sign. It had passenger side door and a bench seat in front, the jump seats in the back were forward facing, folding up from the floor as in the Austin Princess.
The boot lid lowered horizontally to carry more luggage. When the FX4 was introduced owners of newish FX3's in Manchester were allowed to add a fourth door so their cabs didn't look old fashioned. This didn't happen in London.
I had found in Exchange and Mart, that wonderful pre-internet way to find things, a 4th door from a breakers yard. It shows in photo 5. The cab is photographed behind Queens Wood, Highgate, London, N6 a few hundred yards from the pond of my childhood model boating and frog spawn collecting.
To come: Beardmore.
Terranova47,
NYC, USA
Stunning pictures and a great tale Terrain. How have you kept all those old photos so well. You ought to write a book about your childhood and youth!
ReplyDeleteThese images are recent scans from the original 120 negs.
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