Motor Vehicles 1925-1938
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In 1925 there was a ‘census’ of motor vehicles currently on the road. The aim was to see what was the lift capacity in the event of a natural disaster or military emergency. The figures for 1927 onwards are as at 1 January of the year in question. The reader will notice that it differs from the other Table in that it does not distinguish between taxis and private motor cars.
In 1925 the Fords were 20 HP 4-seaters; the ‘other cars’ included a noticeable number of Maxwells, Overlands, 22 HP Chevrolets and 7-9 HP Citröens. The buses had an average carrying capacity of 16 and the trucks and lorries averaged a load capacity of 3 tons. There was also one tractor, a 35 HP Fordson owned by Cowasjee Dinshaw. From 1930 all the 3-seaters were Austins.
The diminishing number of Fords between 1925 and 1931 is interesting. It suggests that there was a bulk importation of these cars, perhaps around 1920, and that those remaining on the road were reaching the end of their useful life. Few vehicles of any kind were imported during the difficult financial years of 1929-30. Fords imported from 1932 onwards were all 30 HP models.
In 1925 Besse had a selection of vehicles: his firm owned one Royal, one Chevrolet and four Studebaker cars (none of which were taxis); seven buses including four Rachet-Schneider 24-seater omnibuses (by far the biggest in Aden at that time); and six lorries, including three Berliet 4-tonners.
Jehangir Patel loved his Studebakers - he had two in succession but for some reason they became unavailable in Aden and in the 1950's he bought a dark blue Opel Kapitan. The only Lagonda in Aden in 1925 was owned by Bernard Reilly, at the time the Senior Assistant. Most of the senior government and military had Maxwells as their personal/official cars. Other than the four owned by Besse there was only one other Studebaker in Aden.
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There are two sets of statistics for motor vehicles in Aden prior to WW2. This 2nd set of statistics, taken from the published Annual Reports, differs in one major respect from the other set in that it divides cars between taxis and private cars, whilst the other set is by make and seating capacity, the latter to establish the total carrying capacity of all vehicles for emergency planning purposes.
The discrepancy between totals can be accounted for in several ways; in particular because in most years the figures in this set are as at 31st March, whilst in the other set they are as at 1st January of the year in question. The one occasion where there is no discrepancy is for the total number of cars (565) circulating on 31st December 1937 in this set and on 1st January 1938 in the other set. The second set for 1937 was produced because Aden had become a Colony during that year, with a subsequent change of accounting year.
This set covers at least a further year (and probably two, if the 1939 figure is the total at 31st December) and is of particular interest as it shows there was a considerable importation of private cars and lorries just prior to Aden getting involved in WW2.
"I managed to borrow several different cars in Aden by testing them for a friend who, as a mechanic, mends officer's cars off duty. He lets me do the testing which usually means I take a trip to Steamer Point (7 miles). I tried an M.G. Magnette saloon the other day, it's a lovely car to drive, I got up to 84 mph along a 600 yard straight, it had plenty more power under the bonnet but the bad road was unsafe for anything faster !" ~ Fred Caroe
"Our 1961 Volvo B18 bought new in Aden (no tax!) and shipped back to the U.K. when we left. As you will see it is bearing its' Aden registration plate. The car is still going strong in the U.K. although no longer owned by our family." ~ Nigel Brennan
Jehangir Patel loved his Studebakers - he had two in succession but for some reason they became unavailable in Aden and in the 1950's he bought a dark blue Opel Kapitan; one with a round roof, rather like a much larger version of the Volkswagen Beetle. In the 60's he had a smaller Opel Kadett (the German version of the Vauxhall Viva) in which his son, Noshir, learnt to drive when he was 16.
The Pickering's Austin A35 'jalopy', which we believe was previously owned by someone working at the hospital at Steamer Point was originally a sandy-beige colour but was hand-painted green by Roland Pickering. One day it was left unattended in Crater whilst the family were shopping. Upon their return the car was full of goats who had eaten the seats! With that lesson learned, the car, when unattended, was henceforth guarded by young Arab boys who were given 'backsheesh' to keep the goats at bay.
