National Benzole Planning Map of Great Britain, 1959

            One of the many series of maps produced by petrol and oil companies, this is from the National Benzole Co Ltd, a company formed in 1919 to sell British produced benzole that became used as a 'blender' with petrol. The company had become part of the joint "Shell-Mex and BP" company in 1957 and in the year this map was issued the benzole side of the business was hived off, no longer used as a fuel additive, and the brand would drop the 'benzole' from the title. It was also the year the 'Mercury' logo was updated and modernised as seen on this cover.

The map, by Philip & Sons, is designed to show the outlines of the five 'area' maps also issued but it does show the first "motorway" in the form of the Preston bypass section of the M6 opened in 1958 and so the road signs section show the shortlived versions of the new signs for such roads. These were designed by Calvert and Kinneir under the auspices of the Anderson Committee. Within a few years the Worboys Committee would undertake a complete review of all UK road signs and again designs by Calvert and Kinneir would be adopted replacing those seen here.

Taken on: May 19, 2021

Tags:

Mike Ashworth Collection

map

road signs

motoring

graphic design

lettering

typeface

typography

Mr Mercury

logo

oil company map

petrol company map

National Benzole

road map of Great Britain

ephemera

road map

marketing

publicity

transport ephemera

motorway signs

Anderson Committee

Lancashire

traffic signs

pre-Worboys signs

old UK road signs

sign

sign design « less

Sets appears in: • National Benzole road maps • Oil and Petrol company maps & adverts more » • Street furniture and road signs « less

Groups appears in: • Old British signs • That Old Timey Feeling more » • Vintage Typography • Font of All Wisdom - Unique lettering in design [VINTAGE] • Antiquário 〄 Ye Olde Antiques Shoppe 〄 Αντίκες • Vintage Infographics • Vintage Road Maps • 1950s Britain (Original '50s images only) • Motoring • PLANET EARTH TRANSPORTATION • PLANET EARTH BACK IN THE DAY « less

Camera: Brother MFC-J6930DW (more info) (hide info)

Camera:	Brother MFC-J6930DW
Color Space:	Uncalibrated
Software:	Apple Image Capture
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