The driver is the so-called driver of the carriage, wagon. Sometimes this was the name of a peasant who was engaged in transportation. Cab drivers, depending on the crew, were divided into categories and even categories.
What was the cabbie called in the old days
A cab driver is a profession that existed in Russia.
At different times, representatives of this profession were called differently. They even had their own categories. The youngest are "Vanki", the older ones are "darlings". There were even reckless drivers, but they cost much more than Vanek.
About "roly"
They were considered the lowest category. Their wagons were cheap, they themselves came to work in the cities from the villages. Sometimes they worked on their own horses, sometimes they rented them from the boyars. "Vanki" worked for wear and tear - the price for their services was low, but they were ready for long and hard work. We agreed to go anywhere. But the condition of their carts was such that not everyone was ready to ride. The clients of such cabbies most often becamepoor ordinary people, low-ranking officials and clerks.
The rights of "Vanka" also did not have. There were always those who were ready to profit at their expense. One of the books describing the life of those times contains an indication that the police daily robbed the unfortunate cab drivers.
Part of the income of "Vanka" was given to the owner of the cart, where they were staying. The amount of this payment was most often fixed. If there was not enough money, then the driver remained in debt. And it turned out that many peasants who came to the city to earn money returned empty-handed or even debtors.
About "reckless"
"Reckless" is the other side of cab life. Their horses were strong and he althy, well-groomed and beautiful. Such cabbies had carriages with varnished painted bodies and inflated tires.
They worked mainly for themselves, transporting we althy passengers. They were approached by officers, we althy merchants and boyars with their ladies. Sometimes they were hired by scammers and adventurers who wanted to make a good impression or get away from someone quickly.
It was possible to notice "reckless drivers" on the streets after lunch. But they worked until morning. Passengers were picked up near theaters, hotels and restaurants. They charged at least 3 rubles for the fare, while the maximum that Vanka could count on was 70 kopecks.
"Reckless" could choose with whom they would go. But they also received an impressive income. Rich gentlemen who left the theater to have fun with actresses often hireddriver for the whole night and did not skimp on payment. Strollers equipped with convertible tops were especially appreciated - half-drunk passengers with their companions could hide from judgmental looks.
About the "darlings"
"Darlings" are a kind of aristocracy among cabbies. Sometimes they were also called "pigeons with a ring." Their carriages were decorated with arches hung with bells. Their name came from the fact that the coachmen often exclaimed: “Oh, pigeons!”. That's what they called a cabman in the old days.
"Darlings" had a special dress code - blue cloth frill with a high waist and pleats at the back, thickly lined with cotton wool, a yam felt hat in summer and a square cloth hat in winter. There was a tin number on the collar. In winter, the “darlings” rode on city sleighs, and in summer they rode in a light stroller with a convertible top. It was possible to “catch” them at the cab exchange.
For the most part, one horse was harnessed to one carriage, but there were also twos and threes. It was considered a special chic to ride a troika to the loud cries of the coachman: “Hey, watch out!”
Other categories
"Lomoviki" - that's another name for cab drivers in the old days, this is another category that was engaged in the transportation of luggage and goods. The coachmen drove heavy horses capable of carrying a large amount of cargo. There was always work for them.
Another name, as they called cabbies in the old days, is "coachmen". They transported both people and goods on pithorses. Their duties included delivering mail.
Before the horsecars appeared (crews designed for a large number of passengers moving along the rails with the help of horses), and after the trams, cab drivers had no competition. Only a few rich people owned private carriages.
Regulation by authorities
The city government was responsible for carrying out the technical inspection of the carriage and horses. Each driver was assigned a number. At first, badges with numbers were fastened to the back of the coachmen, later carts or carriages were nailed to a conspicuous place. The horse had to meet special standards - be strong and he althy, not bony and decrepit.
Cab drivers dressed in a special uniform, depending on the class of the crew: a blue or red caftan with frills at the back, a beautiful belt was tied around the waist, and a low cylinder with curved brim, decorated with a buckle in front.
There were also age restrictions - a young man who had reached the age of 17 could become a cabman. It was believed that the fuller the beard, the more decent the coachman.
All crews were divided into three categories, each of which had its own color of the stroller and night lamp:
- First category - closed sprung carriages with rubber air tires - red color.
- Second category - similar strollers with plain tires - blue color.
- Third rank - everyone else.
Traffic rules
Cab drivers in Russia moved according to the established rules of the road. They had to go withright side of the street at a trot - about 11 km / h. When it got dark, the drivers lit special lanterns. And strollers were allowed to be placed only in one row along the sidewalk. And it was also forbidden to leave the carriage unattended.
At the beginning of the 20th century, with the advent of trams, the profession of a cab driver gradually began to fade away. By 1939, there were only 57 of them left in Moscow. After a couple of years, cabbies completely ceased to be in demand.
