The Moving Spirit - how the motor car grew up : book issued by Motor Racing Publications, London, c1954 : research laboratories
An interesting booklet this aimed at the educational and children's market as, at the back, it still has in the "Moving Spirit Painting Competition" sheets and the book was printed by the well known printer's of childrens books, Parnell & Sons. The book itslef, although published by Motor Racing Publications Ltd" is effectively based on artwork from the Halas & Batchlor cartoon film "The Moving Spirit" that was issued in 1953 and that was commissioned by the Anglo-Iranian Oil Co Ltd., better known as BP. This page shows 'boffins', as they were popularly known at the time, working in a research laboratory at a time when a 'new world' of oil and chemical advances and atomic power sold us a prefect future! The decade saw a shift in the industry from importing refined products to producing them here, allied to the growing requirements of the chemical industry for feedstocks.
The artwork, as is the film, is a fine example of both the husband-and-wife team of John Halas and Joy Batchelor's work in selling a technological story with a subtle promotional message that the history of motive power is enabled by the skill and products of BP. Halas & Batchelor were, at the time, probably the best known and most highly regarded animation company in the UK and in 1954 producted a memorable animated version of Orwell's "Animal Farm".
The Moving Spirit - how the motor car grew up : book issued by Motor Racing Publications, London, c1954 : research laboratories
An interesting booklet this aimed at the educational and children's market as, at the back, it still has in the "Moving Spirit Painting Competition" sheets and the book was printed by the well known printer's of childrens books, Parnell & Sons. The book itslef, although published by Motor Racing Publications Ltd" is effectively based on artwork from the Halas & Batchlor cartoon film "The Moving Spirit" that was issued in 1953 and that was commissioned by the Anglo-Iranian Oil Co Ltd., better known as BP. This page shows 'boffins', as they were popularly known at the time, working in a research laboratory at a time when a 'new world' of oil and chemical advances and atomic power sold us a prefect future! The decade saw a shift in the industry from importing refined products to producing them here, allied to the growing requirements of the chemical industry for feedstocks.
The artwork, as is the film, is a fine example of both the husband-and-wife team of John Halas and Joy Batchelor's work in selling a technological story with a subtle promotional message that the history of motive power is enabled by the skill and products of BP. Halas & Batchelor were, at the time, probably the best known and most highly regarded animation company in the UK and in 1954 producted a memorable animated version of Orwell's "Animal Farm".