The Fight over the "Yellow Cab" name

 

The 900 block of Main St. in Darby about 1950

Note; It is hard to imagine today but taxis were a very big business 100 years ago. Many people could not afford their own car and took taxis all the time.  Everyone in this area liked "Yellow Cabs". The problem was there were 2 companies with "Yellow Cabs" in their name. It eventually ended up in court.

CHESTER TIMES  

October 23, 1926 

 P. R. T. Complaint Against “Yellow” Taxis Develops Novel Excuse

 NAMED DARBY CABS AFTER MAN 

         

That the word “Yellow” in the name “Darby Yellow Cab Company” is merely a nickname for the general manager of that company, was testified yesterday afternoon by Frank L. Leinhauser, trading as the Darby Yellow Cab Company, at a hearing in Philadelphia before Examiner Russel Wolfe of the Public Service Commission.  The matter before the examiner was a complaint brought by the Yellow Cab Company of Philadelphia, a subsidiary of the P. R. T. against the Darby company, alleging that the latter was painting its cabs in the same color and design as those of the Philadelphia company and also objecting to the use of the words “Yellow Cab Company” in the defendant’s title.

          It now appears that Mr. Leinhauser named his company for his former driver and present general manager, Earl Fettercliff, who since boyhood has borne the nickname of “Yellow” OR “Big Yellow.”  The Darby Yellow Cab Company is now operating in the borough of Darby and vicinity under a certificate granted to Mr. Leinhauser last year.  He has operated in that section since 1921.

         

While Mr. Leinhauser was on the witness stand he was asked how he came to adopt the work “Yellow” as a part of his company’s name.  Harking back to the days when he was still new in the taxicab business, Mr. Leinhauser replied:

          “At that time I had a fellow driving who was known by all the people in that locality as “Yellow.”

What was his real name?” the examiner asked.

“Earl Fetterolff,” replied Mr. Leinhauser.  In further statements he said that as a result of his driver’s nickname his bus service had always been known as the “Yellow.”  “It was always known as “Yellow” ever since I operated it,” he declared emphatically.  Upon further questioning he said that Mr. Fetterolff was now his general manager.

Mr. Fetterolff later backed up Mr. Leinhauser’s statement.  “I have had that nickname since I was 10 years old,” he said.  He also said that the service had been operating as the Darby Yellow Cab Company since 1921.

About the time that the P. R. T. Company bought out the Yellow Cab Company of Philadelphia, it was contended that the particular kind of orange yellow that distinguishes Yellow taxis was worth about $1,000,000.  Mr. Leinhauser was asked yesterday to describe the color of his yellow taxis.

“The top,” he replied, “is a light green and the body a sort of lemon color, a real light yellow.”  On each cab appears the name Darby Yellow Cab Company, and in the front is a lighted sign bearing the word “Darby,” he said.

          Counsel for the Yellow Cab Company attempted to show that Leinhauser’s cabs have been operating not only in Darby and vicinity, the field authorized by his certificate, but also in Philadelphia.  Mr. Leinhauser replied that his drivers were not supposed to pick up any passengers outside of his district, under penalty of discharge.  He admitted that there were times when he thought it was quite proper to send his cabs into Philadelphia for passengers.

In the course of this examination of Mr. Leinhauser, Examiner Wolfe remarked:  I don’t believe this man started on any deliberate campaign to invade Philadelphia.