Klingberg Auto Show

The Rockwell Public Service Cab was one of several automobiles built by the New Departure Company in Bristol at the turn of the 20th Century. Started by Albert and Edward Rockwell, they manufactured all sorts of bells for houses and bicycles then added metal bed springs. They invented the coaster brake for bicycles which enabled the rider to keep their hands on the handlebars yet stop more effectively. They became the largest manufacturer of ball bearings for automobiles so it was a natural step to enter the automobile manufacturing industry themselves.

In 1900 New Departure produced their first vehicle, a public service vehicle. It had large wire spoke bicycle type wheels on the rear and smaller ones on the front. It had electric motors for each rear wheel and electricity was generated by a four-cylinder gas motor between the front wheels. The body was like the traditional horse drawn cabs of the day. The driver sat in the open at the front and passengers were in a comfortable enclosed seating area. A later gas powered car model was developed and drew much attention at the 1908 New York Automobile Show. Influenced by his wife Nettie, Albert Rockwell began painting the cabs yellow because it was her favorite color and she thought it would be easily identified in the city.

Out the the great success in the development of the well designed tax cab, Rockwell started the Connecticut Cab Company, serving cities across the state. He then started the Yellow Taxi Cab Company in New York City and gained 60% of the taxi business. With growing competition, his competitors were gaining a increasing portion of the market and in 1911 decited to get out of the taxi cab and automobile manufacturing business altogether. All in all, Rockwell had a great influence creating a well designed public service vehilcle and leaving a legacy of “yellow cabs”.

In our search for Connecticut-made automobiles for the Klingberg Antique Auto Show, we have been tracing a 1900 Rockwell Hansom Cab, like the one in the top  photograph, that we know exisits but have not located it yet. I would appreciate any information that would help us find this car and get it to our show. markj@klingberg.org