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Brekina - HO Scale - Vehicle - Checker Cab Collector Starter Set with 2 Taxis - Assembled - 1 Yellow and 1 Black (SKU 175-58931)

Available On: January 1, 2019

BREKINA

Checkered Cab Collection by Brekina Automodelle

This Brekina Checker Cab Collector Starter Set is the beginning of a series of the widely used North American taxicabs. This starter set features a pair of the taxis; one each in yellow and black Checker Cab schemes and a collector display box with graphics and English text.

Checker cabs retained the same body style for decades and the detailed Brekina model features quad headlights used on the A12 Marathon, operated from the late 1950s through the end of production in 1982. The Checker Cab model features an injection-molded body with window glazing, interior seats and authentic decoration. Brekina will be offering additional schemes in this collection of Checker Cab models decorated for several different taxi operators.

 
Historical Information on Checkered Cab:

Checker Taxi did not own its own cab manufacturing company, but principally used Mogul Cabs, manufactured by Commonwealth.  Morris Markin, a clothier from Chicago, Illinois, following a default by the owner on a $15,000 personal loan, became the owner of 'Markin Automobile Body', an auto-body manufacturer based in Joliet, Illinois.  The facility made the bodies for Commonwealth Motors, which marketed the vehicles to cab companies under the trade name 'Mogul'. 

Commonwealth Motors was on the verge of bankruptcy but had an order from Checker Taxi (a privately owned cab company by George Hilsky in Chicago and New York City that had no affiliation with Markin at the time). Markin acquired Commonwealth Motors via a stock swap, and merged it with Markin Automobile Body, forming Checker Cab Manufacturing in order to honor the contractual commitment. Checker cabs were manufactured in Joliet for two years, then production was shifted to Kalamazoo, Michigan. The sturdy Checker cabs gained the acceptance and loyal following of Checker Taxi operators in Chicago.

Markin began buying up Checker Taxi operators' licenses in 1924, gaining full control of the company in 1937. Markin followed Hertz's business plan in having drivers open doors for the fares, and outfitted each driver with a uniform. Checker became the first cab company to hire African-American drivers and the first to require that drivers pick up all fares, not just European-American ones.

(Checker Cab photo from Motorbook International book, Checker Cab Co. Photo History by James Hinckley)

 

 









$37.99 US