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Your next step : advert issued by London Transport Commercial Advertising, June 1938 : design by Eckersley-Lombers

London Transport has always relied heavily on income from commercial advertising revenues - monies made by selling advertising space on vehicles, stations and structures. In the 1930s the Commercial Advertising Department were themselves prolific advertisers in relevant trade journals (here in Art & Industry) and issued much publicity themselves. As in keeping with the company's strong ethos of 'fitness for purpose' even humble press adverts have a real sense of style about them as seen here.

 

Advertising escalator panel spaces this advert, both graphic and text, plays cleverly on 'steps' - steps on the escalator and the advertiser's next steps. It is thoughtfully set out, typographically, and the graphic captures escalators, passengers looking and a "step'. It is by "Eckersley-Lombers", the pre-war partnership of designers and artists Tom Eckersley and Eric Lombers who also produced many posters and panel/car posters for LT as well.

 

The last line is very fine : The LT roundel symbol and "You can't get away from it"!

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Uploaded on May 16, 2021