|
|
| |
|
My
grandfather, Verner Lundin (1894-1969), was running, among
other things, a cab station in the 1920 and 30:ties. He then
lived in Sundshult, a village that is situated in between the
two Bullaren lakes in the north of Bohuslan, about one hour
(today!) north of Gothenburg in Sweden. Today Sundshult is really
in the backwaters but in those days it was a real melting pot
with a big shop, a mill, a sawmill, a power station, a brick
factory and other entrepreneur activities. Verner was very into
modern techniques and motor vehicles were very interesting.
In 1927 he bought one of the very first Volvo automobiles
to use as a cab in the area. It was a 1927 model and it did
have chassis No 127. He was fond of the, then brand new, Volvo
and its heavy construction was working well on the gravel roads
of that time.
My grandmother, Astrid Lundin (1902-still going!) did also drive
the Volvo. She was the first woman in the county of Bohuslän
that passed the test for a cab drivers license. This happened
in 1927.
"When I had my test I drove around a bit in the yard and
the inspector was standing in the window looking"
she
recalls. Today she is a woman of 100 years. Some years ago she
stopped driving and voluntarily returned her drivers license
(all her life valid for every possible vehicle on the road after
the 1927 test!) to the authorities.
|
When
time for regular maintenance of the Volvo 1927 came up, Verner
drove down to the Volvo plant in Gothenburg. In those days
it probably took several days. Down at the Volvo plant he used
to have a chat with the founder of Volvo, Assar Gabrielsson!
"The first time he went down for maintenance, Mr. Gabrielsson
was sitting in a bit of shack. It was a bit provisional. But the
next time he came around the situation had improved a lot! Then
Gabrielsson was sitting in an office with glass doors!"
tells my uncle, Per-Erik Lundin, who has heard the story many
times. |
|
| |
|
The Cab as a Police Car
|
| |
|
|
| |
The
sheriff in the Bullaren area did not drive (!) so my grandparents
had to bring out the Volvo taxi to use as a police car and assist
the sheriff when needed in pursuit of criminals. There are lots
of stories about my grandparents helping the sheriff to chase
thugs.
When the sheriff had to do court service in the near by town,
Strömstad, he, of course, went in the Volvo. The tale tells
that on the way home, my grandfather and the sheriff always stopped
the car as soon as they crossed into the sheriffs jurisdiction
and took a couple of schnapps'! |
| |
|
| |
|
Ghost Driver
|
|
|
| |
Grandfather
Verner also had a Ford pickup as a company car. It was a Ford
model T 1922 the tale goes (can this be correct?). He bought it
as an open chassis and did build the rear and the drivers cabin
himself. From the picture above you can study the somewhat home
made design.
There are stories also about this Ford pickup. One tells that
it could not be driven up the big hill in the village because
the petrol then did not reach the carb. Verner always had to reverse
up this hill. It was probably a mistake in my grandfathers construction.
Another story tells about Verner driving home on the frozen
lake one day. In those days they always made "winter
road" on the lake to narrow down distances. One day, out
on the lake, Verner spots another resident of the village and
decides to have some fun. He tied two pieces of string to the
steering wheel, put the accelerator on suitable speed and claimed,
while driving ahead on the lake, on to the back of the pickup.
The pickup was carrying some drums and they were excellent to
hide behind while driving via the string-equipped steering wheel.
At a distance it looked like a Ford pickup driving by with no
chauffeur!
The joke worked excellently and the poor villager told the tale
about the "Ghost Ford" for many years to come. My grandfather
laughed a bit behind his back but I think he never told him the
whole truth. |
|
