Checker 1922-1982 - Taxi farmer
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Summary
There were around 10,000 car brands and constructors - most of them have disappeared. The Checker Cab Manufacturing Company, founded by Morris Markin for the purpose of manufacturing cabs, is one of them. Over the years, model after model was added and when Markin died, his son sold the brand, which had become weak in sales.
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In order to specialize in cabs, Morris Markin of the Markin Body Corporation in Chicago founded the Checker Cab Manufacturing Company in 1921. With the takeover of the Handley-Knight Company in Kalamazoo, Michigan, he secured the necessary production capacity in 1923. The four-cylinder engines (until 1928) and the six-cylinder engines (1927-1932) came from Buda, after which Lycoming eight-cylinder (1933-1939) and Continental six-cylinder (1935-1941) engines were used. Until 1941, the Checker was available as a saloon, landaulette and town car, but after the end of the war only with a spacious unit body. The 6-window pontoon body with independent front suspension introduced in 1956 was the last major innovation. However, cab owners swore by the robust box frame chassis with cross members of their yellow checkers.
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