Drive Gallery

The new patent "Quartobus" cab, 1844. Creator: Unknown

The new patent "Quartobus" cab, 1844. Horse-drawn taxi: ...it is the invention of Mr. Okey, landlord of the Hero of Waterloo, in the Waterloo-road who is also the builder and proprietor. It is constructed to carry four inside, and is, consequently, to be called a "Quartobus". Its appearance is very compact, and elegant; and to a person seated inside, has an unusually light and pleasing appearance.
The great improvement consists in the front and hind wheels being not more than a foot apart, the draught being consequently much easier than in the old cabs, the wheels of which are nearly five feet asunder'. From "Illustrated London News", 1844, Vol I

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M.T. Driver, c1943. Creator: Cecil Beaton

M.T. Driver, c1943. MT (motor transport) driver. The Women's Auxiliary Air Force (WAAF), whose members were referred to as WAAFs, was the female auxiliary of the British Royal Air Force during World War II. Its members did not serve as aircrew, but although they did not participate in active combat, they were exposed to the same dangers as any on the home front working at military installations. Among their duties were: crewing of barrage balloons, catering, meteorology, radar, aircraft maintenance, transport, communications duties including wireless telephonic and telegraphic operation. At its peak strength, in 1943, the number of WAAFs (members of the force) exceeded 180,000, with over 2,000 women enlisting per week. From "Wings On Her Shoulders", by Katharine Bentley Beauman, Late Fight Officer W.A.A.F. [Hutchinson & Co Ltd, London, New York, Melbourne, c1943]

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A worth-while piece of work, 1940

A worth-while piece of work, 1940. From Life in the A.T.S., booklet on the Auxiliary Territorial Service (ATS), in Tuck's Better Little Book series. The ATS was the women's branch of the British Army during the Second World War, and women serving received two thirds the pay of male soldiers. Initially their duties as were cooks, clerks and storekeepers, but these were expanded to create roles as orderlies, drivers, postal workers and ammunition inspectors. [Raphael Tuck & Sons Ltd, London, 1940]

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