Licence badge

© Transport for London
Collection of London Transport Museum
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Enamel licence badge, for bus driver 17228, c1890

Professional pride : Horse bus drivers carried whips, but a good driver would only tap his horses very lightly. Drivers and conductors had to wear visible licence badges, usually attached to their coat buttonhole with a leather strap.

Like Cast-iron Billy, Alfred Brown worked on the buses for decades. The medal displayed here was awarded to Brown for 20 years’ service with Thomas Tilling Ltd, a large company that owned cabs, carriages and horses, as well as omnibuses. People often stayed with the same employer for their entire working lives.

Dimensions: Width: 110mm, Height: 95mm

Reference number: 1991/28

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