The Modern Light Aeroplane : book issued by Shell-Mex & BP Ltd., London, c1931 : cover designs by Maurice Beck : front cover
One of the splendidly designed and produced Shell-Mex and BP books describing the working of 'modern' machines and that included cars and, as here, light aircraft. The book has a series of colour plates with cutaway drawings that allow the inner working to be shown and described in some detail along with lubrication points so as to promote the appropriate Shell-Mex or BP fuel or lubricating oils. This book notes that it is not intended to replace the various instruction manuals that are issued by manufacturers but it shows details of a 'standard' 4-cylinder in line engine and small plane that looks like a De Havilland Moth. It has that marvellous feel of not only dealing with something new and modern but also as if nipping out in one's aeroplane was simply the done thing!
The book, to a large format, has striking covers in photomontage that are the work of Maurice Beck (1886 - 1960). Beck was a noted photographer in London, working for example for British Vogue magazine, and he also undertook wider designs for clients such as London Transport, for whom he produced posters, and here, Shell-Mex & BP. Shell were noted for their high standards of press advertising and publicity as displayed here.
The covers show a phootgraphic study of a pilot with, for the front cover, added angled text.
The Modern Light Aeroplane : book issued by Shell-Mex & BP Ltd., London, c1931 : cover designs by Maurice Beck : front cover
One of the splendidly designed and produced Shell-Mex and BP books describing the working of 'modern' machines and that included cars and, as here, light aircraft. The book has a series of colour plates with cutaway drawings that allow the inner working to be shown and described in some detail along with lubrication points so as to promote the appropriate Shell-Mex or BP fuel or lubricating oils. This book notes that it is not intended to replace the various instruction manuals that are issued by manufacturers but it shows details of a 'standard' 4-cylinder in line engine and small plane that looks like a De Havilland Moth. It has that marvellous feel of not only dealing with something new and modern but also as if nipping out in one's aeroplane was simply the done thing!
The book, to a large format, has striking covers in photomontage that are the work of Maurice Beck (1886 - 1960). Beck was a noted photographer in London, working for example for British Vogue magazine, and he also undertook wider designs for clients such as London Transport, for whom he produced posters, and here, Shell-Mex & BP. Shell were noted for their high standards of press advertising and publicity as displayed here.
The covers show a phootgraphic study of a pilot with, for the front cover, added angled text.