British Columbia Chauffeur Badges

A special thanks to Ron Garay, Don Schneider and Pierre Delacote for providing many of the badges pictured.

When the Province enacted the Act to regulate the speed and operation of Motor Vehicles on Highways in February of 1904, only 32 vehicles would be registered throughout the whole of British Columbia over the course of the next eleven months.
In subsequent years however, as the popularity of the automobile increased, more than 200 hundred business leaders in the province would purchase automobiles and many of these men (as they invariably were) had neither the time nor the knowledge to look after their vehicles, so hired other men with mechanical ability to drive and service their automobiles. Thus, according to Geoffrey Taylor in his excellent book The Automobile Saga of British Columbia 1864-1914, "a new class of employment arose - that of chauffeur."
"Chauffeuring was a growing business as more and more firms acquired automobiles for their senior executives ... [and] it became customary in British Columbia before World War I for the managers of the main branches of the leading banks and financial houses, newspaper publishers and merchant princes of Water Street to have placed at their disposal a company car with a uniformed chauffeur" (Taylor, p. 64-65).
Not surprisingly, when the Province introduced the more comprehensive Act to regulate the Use and Operation of Motor-vehicles in 1911, it included a definition of "Chauffeur", which meant "every driver, mechanic, paid employee, lessee, renter, or person employed in any capacity on a motor carrying passengers or freight for hire."
The regulation of Chauffeurs can be seen as an act of public safety as the regulations required that Chauffeurs be registered and established a minimum age of 17 and forbid an intoxicated person from driving. The cost of an application was $5 with the Act vesting considerable powers in the Superintendent of Provincial Police to cancel or suspend a license "without the necessity of holding any formal or public or other hearing."
Early City Issues
1906 Hack Driver Licence No. 76 - thought to be from the City of Victoria (Delacote Collection)
1906 - City of Victoria (unconfirmed)
City of Vancouver Licence No. 329 (Delacote Collection)
1911 - City of Vancouver

1915 - City of Vancouver

1930 - City of Nanaimo
1911 & 1912
 
Issuing Statistics
Year
Bloc
Licences
1911:
1 to 209
209
1912:
210 to 554
345
There is some conjecture as to the origins of the 1911 and 1912 badges shown above as the 1911 Act does not make specific reference to the issuance of a metal "badge" to registered chauffeurs. However, it is known - from available records found at the BC Archives - that approximately 209 licences were issued in 1911 and that a further 345 licences were issued in 1912 (i.e. by starting at No. 210 and proceeding to No. 554). Both of the badges shown above display numbers that would correspond to these years, although it is no known why the province decided to change styles in 1912.

*     *     *     *     *
When the Act was amended in 1913, the definition of a "Chauffeur" was simplified to mean "any person operating or driving a motor as an employee or for hire", while Section 21 (Issuance of licence) was also amended to include reference to a "badge", specifically:
The Superintendent of Provincial Police shall, at the time of the issue of a licence under this section, also issue and deliver to each chauffeur so licensed a suitable metal badge having thereon the licence number assigned to such chauffeur:
(a)
Such badge shall be of a distinctly different colour for each year, and shall be valid only during the term of the licence of the chauffeur to whom it is issued as aforesaid:
(b)
This badge shall thereafter be worn by such chauffeur, affixed to the front of his hat or cap in a conspicuous place, at all times while he is operating, driving, or in charge of a motor upon a highway:
(c)
No chauffeur having been licensed as herein provided shall voluntarily permit any other person to possess or use his licence or badge; nor shall any person while operating, driving, or in charge of a motor use of possess any chauffeur's licence or badge belonging to another person, or a fictitious or invalid chauffeur's licence or badge:
(d)
In the event of the loss, mutilation, or destruction of a chauffeur's badge, such chauffeur may obtain from the Superintendent of Provincial Police a duplicate thereof or substitute therefor upon filing in the office of the Superintendent of Provincial Police an affidavit setting out the fact, and the payment of a fee of one dollar.

1913 - 1930
Don Schneider Collection
Issuing Statistics
Year
Bloc
Licences
1913:
1 to 1903
1,903
1914:
unknown
988
1915:
unknown
1,139
1916:
unknown
1,861
1917:
unknown
N/A
1918:
unknown
N/A
1919:
unknown
N/A
1920:
unknown
N/A
1921:
unknown
N/A
1922:
unknown
N/A
1923:
1 to 6000
N/A
1924:
1 to 6000
N/A
1925:
1 to 6000
5,342
1926:
1 to 6000
5,673
1927:
unknown
5,400
1928:
unknown
5,435
1929:
unknown
5,960
1930:
unknown
6,233
1917
1921


Image Source: City of Vancouver Archives
Title: "Terminal City Taxi drivers"
Item No: CVA 371-1736

The picture at left shows a group of gentlemen employed by the Terminal City Taxi Company in Vancouver in 1921. Although not as clear as we would have liked, it is possible to see what may be some of the drivers chauffeur badges affixed to the front of their hats.

A 1915 City of Vancouver Taxi Licence
Ron Garay Collection

At left is an example of a blank 1916 Chauffeur Badge that had likely been prepared in accordance with the requirements of Section 21(d) of the amended Act, which stated that, for the fee of $1.00, a chauffeur could obtain from the Superintendent of Provincial Police a duplicate or substitute badge.

Although the 1911 Act to regulate the Use and Operation of Motor-vehicles had required applicant's for a Chauffeur's Licence to submit two character references who could confirm their "fitness to hold a licence as chauffeur", in 1929 the Motor Vehicle Branch department of the Provincial Police was advising that "before granting a Chauffeur's Licence to an applicant who resides in a Municipality, please obtain from such applicant a certificate, signed by the Chief of Police of that Municipality, stating that the applicant is a fit and proper person to be granted a licence as a Chauffeur."

*     *     *     *     *
Under the Motor-vehicle Act Amendment Act 1930, the classification of Chauffeur's Licences into three distinct classes; 'A', 'B' and 'C' was introduced, specifically:
Class 'A':
entitled the holder to drive and operate every kind of motor-vehicle:
Class 'B':
entitled the holder to drive and operate any motor-vehicle having a seating capacity not exceeding seven passengers, inclusive of the driver, and any motor-vehicle used exclusively in the transporting of personal property:
Class 'C':
entitled the holder to drive and operate any motor-vehicle used exclusively in the transporting of personal property.
For those wishing to obtain with a Class 'A' or Class 'B' Licence, it was now necessary to pass an examination and provide certain certificates (Class 'C' Chauffeur's Licences were to be issued as before). These classifications came into operation on January 1, 1931. The fee for a Class 'A' licence was also set at $7.50; for a Class 'B' licence at $6.00 and for a Class 'C' licence at $4.00.
Wishing to "obviate a rush to the beginning of the year" the MVB had notified all chauffeur's to inform them of the Class of licence they would be applying for, after which they were directed to a location at which to sit their examination.

At left is an example of an application for a Class 'A' Chauffeur's Licence that was introduced in 1931.
By late November of 1930 the MVB was conceding that "in quite a few cases applicant's for Class 'A' and Class 'B' Chauffeur's Licences have failed in their written examination, and it will be necessary for them to take another examination and pass in the same before a 1931 Class 'A' or Class 'B' Chauffeur's Licence will be issued to them."
It was also noted that "as there seems to be come confusion in regard to the type of certificate required for an owner-driver, I beg to state that in such cases a certificate to the effect that such an applicant owns his own equipment, and stating the time he has been driving the same, will be sufficient for a Class 'B' Licence."
1931
Class 'B'
Ron Garay Collection - Class 'C' Badge
Issuing Statistics
Type
Bloc
Licences
Class 'A':
unknown
611
Class 'B':
unknown
1,270
Class 'C':
unknown
4,155
Manufacturer: unknown
Within the first few months of the new regime, numerous complaints had been lodged with the province regarding individuals "who have not complied with the Act and obtained chauffeur's licences for the class of equipment which they are operating, are being allowed to continue to drive motor-vehicles as chauffeurs."
This prompted the Assistant Commissioner of the BC Provincial Police to write "All Employers of Chauffeurs" on March 4, 1931, reminding them of the recent changes to the Act and advising that "instructions are being issued to all police to make a check-up of those persons who are operating as chauffeurs without the necessary licences and to prosecute in all such cases, both the person so operating and his employer."
1932
Class 'A'
Class 'B'
Issuing Statistics
Type
Bloc
Licences
Class 'A':
unknown
542
Class 'B':
unknown
1,222
Class 'C':
unknown
4,203
Manufacturer: unknown
1933
Class 'A'
Class 'B'
Issuing Statistics
Type
Bloc
Licences
Class 'A':
unknown
524
Class 'B':
unknown
1,179
Class 'C':
unknown
4,030
Manufacturer: unknown
1934
Class 'B'
Issuing Statistics
Type
Bloc
Licences
Class 'A':
unknown
549
Class 'B':
unknown
1,277
Class 'C':
unknown
4,534
Manufacturer: unknown
1935
Class 'A'
Issuing Statistics
Type
Bloc
Licences
Class 'A':
unknown
612
Class 'B':
unknown
1,221
Class 'C':
unknown
5,650
Manufacturer: unknown
1936
Issuing Statistics
Type
Bloc
Licences
Class 'A':
unknown
700
Class 'B':
unknown
1,280
Class 'C':
unknown
7,106
Manufacturer: unknown
1937
Issuing Statistics
Type
Bloc
Licences
Class 'A':
unknown
804
Class 'B':
unknown
1,332
Class 'C':
unknown
9,048
Manufacturer: unknown
1938
Issuing Statistics
Type
Bloc
Licences
Class 'A':
unknown
863
Class 'B':
unknown
1,309
Class 'C':
unknown
9,274
Manufacturer: unknown
1939
Issuing Statistics
Type
Bloc
Licences
Class 'A':
1 to 1150
917
Class 'B':
1 to 1750
1,315
Class 'C':
1 to 10800
9,693
Manufacturer: unknown
The following passage comes from Before we were the land's - Yarrow, British Columbia: Mennonite Promise (Neufeldt, Sawatsky & Martens, 2002) and describes the process and need for obtaining a chauffeur's badge in the late 1930s:
On October 25, 1939, just after Rudy’s sixteenth birthday, Marten’s and Neufeld[t] had made an appointment for him with the Motor Vehicle Branch in Chilliwack to take a Class ‘C’ Chauffeur’s driving test (that was a licence to drive a truck) ... Now he riveted his first Class ‘C’ Chauffeur’s Badge onto his Chauffeur’s cap where he would proudly rivet on three or four more in the years to come.  ... A peaked chauffeur’s cap, the decorated belt and wide-waist bell-bottom (twenty-four inch) black pants were marks of distinction which the young truck driver wore with pride.  And ... the shirt sleeves had to be rolled up high and the shirt collar turned up.

Similar to the belt describe in the extract from Before we were the land's (see above), the belt shown here belonged to a Chauffeur who plied his trade in Nelson and Trail (both located in the Kootenay's) between 1941 and 1952. Apart from the neatness factor, we here at BCpl8s are thoroughly impressed with the fact that the belt last 12 years (they don't make 'em like they used to) and that its owner, despite driving vehicles for a living, did not appear to suffer from an expanding waistline during his career.
Ron Garay Collection

1940
Issuing Statistics
Type
Bloc
Licences
Class 'A':
1 to 1150
1,028
Class 'B':
1 to 1700
1,354
Class 'C':
1 to 10750
10,946*
Manufacturer: unknown
* Over-run
1941
Issuing Statistics
Type
Bloc
Licences
Class 'A':
1 to 1300
1,193
Class 'B':
1 to 1700
1,533
Class 'C':
1 to 10750
14,446*
Manufacturer: unknown
* Over-run
Ron Garay Collection - Class 'A' Badge
Ron Garay Collection - Class 'A' Badge
This is an example of one of those probably insignificant, yet interesting design quirks that sometimes can be found as a series progresses. In this instance, an extra hole is found in the higher issue 1941 Class 'A' badge shown at right. It is thought that this was done at the manufacturing stage given the preciseness of the hole.
1942
Issuing Statistics
Type
Bloc
Licences
Class 'A':
1 to 1400
1,322
Class 'B':
1 to 1800
1,722
Class 'C':
1 to 14000
17,605*
Manufacturer: unknown
* Over-run
The examples shown above are the paper version of the licences issued to chauffeurs with the one at left having been issued in 1942, and the one at right in 1947.
Badge Manufacturers
Ron Garay Collection
1931 - Class 'C'
Ron Garay Collection
1933 - Class 'C'
Ron Garay Collection
1934 - Class 'C'
One of the earliest manufacturer imprints on the BC Chauffeur Badges is that of The George H. Hewitt Company Limited of Vancouver, BC on the back of the 1931 Class 'C' Badge.
Between 1943 and 1971, it is known that the Hewitt Company would manufacture the Class 'A' and 'B' badges in a total of nineteen (19) different years, with another ten (10) years being contracted to the Superior Stamp Company of Vancouver. Interestingly, none of the Class 'C' licences in this period were never imprinted with the manufacturers name.
1943
Issuing Statistics
Type
Bloc
Licences
Class 'A':
1 to 1600
1,478
Class 'B':
1 to 2000
1,801
Class 'C':
1 to 17000
19,801*
Manufacturer:
George Hewitt Ltd (Class 'A' & 'B')
* Over-run
1944
Issuing Statistics
Type
Bloc
Licences
Class 'A':
1 to 1700
1,725*
Class 'B':
1 to 2100
1,942
Class 'C':
1 to 23000
19,448*
Manufacturer:
George Hewitt Ltd (Class 'A' & 'B')
* Over-run
Both the 1943 and 1944 Class 'C' badges were manufactured of fibreboard as a result of material rationing associated with the War Effort.
The use of fibreboard is not that unusual and was actually employed by a number of other jurisdictions during the war for the manufacture of vehicle license plates.

1945
Issuing Statistics
Type
Bloc
Licences
Class 'A':
1 to 2000
2,156*
Class 'B':
1 to 2200
2,573*
Class 'C':
1 to 21000
24,523*
Manufacturer:
George Hewitt Ltd (Class 'A' & 'B')
* Over-run
1946
Issuing Statistics
Type
Bloc
Licences
Class 'A':
1 to 2500
2,883*
Class 'B':
1 to 2700
3,577*
Class 'C':
1 to 24000
32,851*
Manufacturer:
George Hewitt Ltd (Class 'A' & 'B')
* Over-run
1947
Issuing Statistics
Type
Bloc
Licences
Class 'A':
1 to 3500
3,657*
Class 'B':
1 to 4000
4,384*
Class 'C':
1 to 36000
39,135*
Manufacturer:
George Hewitt Ltd (Class 'A' & 'B')
* Over-run
1948
Issuing Statistics
Type
Bloc
Licences
Class 'A':
1 to 4000
4,113*
Class 'B':
1 to 4500
4,774*
Class 'C':
1 to 40000
46,360*
Manufacturer:
George Hewitt Ltd (Class 'A' & 'B')
* Over-run


This group of finely dressed young men are the drivers for the Vancouver News Agency and it is thought the photo was taken in 1948. Interestingly, it appears that the men on bended knee are displaying their chauffeur badges on the front of their caps.

Image Source: City of Vancouver Archives
Title: "Group portrait of Vancouver News Agency drivers"
Item No: CVA 1184-3083

1949
Issuing Statistics
Type
Bloc
Licences
Class 'A':
1 to 4500
4,909*
Class 'B':
1 to 5000
4,780
Class 'C':
1 to 45000
50,975*
Manufacturer:
Superior Stamp Co. (Class 'A' & 'B')
* Over-run
1950
Issuing Statistics
Type
Bloc
Licences
Class 'A':
1 to 4800
5,094*
Class 'B':
1 to 5500
4,724
Class 'C':
1 to 50000
53,756*
Manufacturer:
George Hewitt Ltd (Class 'A' & 'B')
* Over-run
1951
Issuing Statistics
Type
Bloc
Licences
Class 'A':
1 to 5500
5,108
Class 'B':
1 to 5500
4,724
Class 'C':
1 to 55000
49,787
Manufacturer:
Superior Stamp Co. (Class 'A' & 'B')
The examples shown above are an application form for a 1951 Class 'C' license, followed by the actual paper version of the 1951 licence.
1952
Issuing Statistics
Type
Bloc
Licences
Class 'A':
1 to 5500
4,658
Class 'B':
1 to 5500
4,353
Class 'C':
1 to 50000
43,097
Manufacturer:
George Hewitt Ltd (Class 'A' & 'B')
1953
Issuing Statistics
Type
Bloc
Licences
Class 'A':
1 to 6000
4,622
Class 'B':
1 to 5500
4,229
Class 'C':
1 to 50000
42,980
Manufacturer:
Superior Stamp Co. (Class 'A' & 'B')
1954
Issuing Statistics
Type
Bloc
Licences
Class 'A':
1 to 5500
4,584
Class 'B':
1 to 5500
4,057
Class 'C':
1 to 50000
43,597
Manufacturer:
George Hewitt Ltd (Class 'A' & 'B')
1955
Issuing Statistics
Type
Bloc
Licences
Class 'A':
unknown
4,627
Class 'B':
unknown
4,011
Class 'C':
unknown
48,406
Manufacturer:
George Hewitt Ltd (Class 'A' & 'B')
1956
Issuing Statistics
Type
Bloc
Licences
Class 'A':
unknown
4,978
Class 'B':
unknown
4,243
Class 'C':
unknown
59,443
Manufacturer:
George Hewitt Ltd (Class 'A' & 'B')
1957
Issuing Statistics
Type
Bloc
Licences
Class 'A':
unknown
5,251
Class 'B':
unknown
4,269
Class 'C':
unknown
65,159
Manufacturer:
George Hewitt Ltd (Class 'A' & 'B')
1958
Issuing Statistics
Type
Bloc
Licences
Class 'A':
unknown
5,207
Class 'B':
unknown
4,112
Class 'C':
unknown
61,556
Manufacturer:
George Hewitt Ltd (Class 'A' & 'B')
1959
Issuing Statistics
Type
Bloc
Licences
Class 'A':
unknown
5,295
Class 'B':
unknown
4,485
Class 'C':
unknown
64,359
Manufacturer:
Superior Stamp Co. (Class 'A' & 'B')
1960
Issuing Statistics
Type
Bloc
Licences
Class 'A':
unknown
5,368
Class 'B':
unknown
4,756
Class 'C':
unknown
65,209
Manufacturer:
Superior Stamp Co. (Class 'A' & 'B')
1961
Issuing Statistics
Type
Bloc
Licences
Class 'A':
unknown
5,518
Class 'B':
unknown
4,825
Class 'C':
unknown
64,446
Manufacturer:
Superior Stamp Co. (Class 'A' & 'B')
1962
Issuing Statistics
Type
Bloc
Licences
Class 'A':
unknown
5,672
Class 'B':
unknown
5,010
Class 'C':
unknown
63,677
Manufacturer:
George Hewitt Ltd (Class 'A' & 'B')
1963
Issuing Statistics
Type
Bloc
Licences
Class 'A':
unknown
5,891
Class 'B':
unknown
5,320
Class 'C':
unknown
67,781
Manufacturer:
Superior Stamp Co. (Class 'A' & 'B')
1964
Issuing Statistics
Type
Bloc
Licences
Class 'A':
1 to 7100
5,910
Class 'B':
1 to 6300
5,432
Class 'C':
1 to 75000
72,484
Manufacturer:
Superior Stamp Co. (Class 'A' & 'B')
1965
Issuing Statistics
Type
Bloc
Licences
Class 'A':
1 to 7100
6,310
Class 'B':
1 to 6300
5,785
Class 'C':
1 to 75000
80,977
Manufacturer:
George Hewitt Ltd (Class 'A' & 'B')
1966
Issuing Statistics
Type
Bloc
Licences
Class 'A':
1 to 7800
7,059
Class 'B':
1 to 7300
6,435
Class 'C':
1 to 87000
83,853
Manufacturer:
George Hewitt Ltd (Class 'A' & 'B')
1967
Issuing Statistics
Type
Bloc
Licences
Class 'A':
1 to 8600
7,065
Class 'B':
1 to 7700
6,876
Class 'C':
1 to 95000
83,091
Manufacturer:
George Hewitt Ltd (Class 'A' & 'B')
1968
Issuing Statistics
Type
Bloc
Licences
Class 'A':
1 to 9300
7,972
Class 'B':
1 to 8200
7,078
Class 'C':
1 to 98000
83,323
Manufacturer:
George Hewitt Ltd (Class 'A' & 'B')
1969
Issuing Statistics
Type
Bloc
Licences
Class 'A':
1 to 12000
8,324
Class 'B':
1 to 10000
7,768
Class 'C':
1 to 99000
90,476
Manufacturer:
Superior Stamp Co. (Class 'A' & 'B')
1970
Issuing Statistics
Type
Bloc
Licences
Class 'A':
1 to 12000
8,714
Class 'B':
25001 to 36000
8,459
Class 'C':
50001 to 150000
80,977
Manufacturer:
George Hewitt Ltd (Class 'A' & 'B')
1971
Issuing Statistics
Type
Bloc
Licences
Class 'A':
1 to 12000
8,433
Class 'B':
25001 to 36000
7,658
Class 'C':
50001 to 150000
91,723
Manufacturer:
Superior Stamp Co. (Class 'A' & 'B')
The following are a series of unissued Chauffeur's Badges from 1971 for each Class, and which shows how the badges were distributed and handled.

*     *     *     *     *
Interestingly, licencing data put out by the Province seems to indicate that there were approximately 82,506 Class 'C' licences issued in 1972. While we are not disputing this, we are not aware of any corresponding Class 'C' badges that might have been issued by the Province.

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