Introduction : Cover the Country in Comfort! : Alexander's Royal Blue Motor Coach Tours booklet (undated edition) : W. Alexander & Sons Ltd., Glasgow : c1930?

            For many years the Scottish based bus and coach operator W. Alexander's issued an annual guide to the "motor coach tours and services on every road in the North of Scotland" and this is an undated edition that possibly dates to c.1930. By this date Alexander's were part of the vast SMT empire that, backed by railway investment, was well on the way to being the dominant bus and coach operator in Scotland. Indeed, in later years, they formed the basis of the nationalised Scottish Bus Group. 

As well as tour details there are adverts for the Alexander's long-distance bus and coach services that were spreading over Scotland as well as for commercial products associated with 'motoring'. In addition there is an advert for the services of the Scottish General Omnibus Company, an undertaking Alexander's had acquired on behalf of the SMT group in 1929. This makes me tentatively date this guide to c.1930 before the General's services were merged into Alexander's and the SGOC used as the basis for the formation of the Western SMT.

The booklet was printed on their behalf by the advertising arm of John Menzies & Co. Ltd., better known as newsagents. This issue is very contemporary in terms of the graphic design and lettering and the 'jazzy' cover, as well as several of the adverts, are credited to "Maxwell". Who "Maxwell" was I do not know; Some advert panels are signed W.M.M. - but possibly it could be from the W R Foster Maxwell Artists who provided much artwork for advertising purposes.

The "Royal Blue" coaches used vehicles that carried the nickmane "Bluebird" and in later years this was the name used for Alexander's coaching services 'brand'.

he introduction shows a vignette of a trendy couple at the booking office as well as noting seats may be booked through agencies. It is interesting that the names of the company's managers are shown as "Captain A. Caven" and "Superintendent A. J. Thomson". They were based at the Alexander's Glasgow offices in Jamaica Street and Hope Street respectively.

Taken on: October 29, 2023

Tags:

Mike Ashworth Collection

transport

public transport

motor coaches

motor coach tours

coach tours

trips

holidays

vacations

day tours

advertising

publicity

marketing

transport ephemera

1930s

W. Alexander & Sons Ltd.

Glasgow

Scotland

Cover the Country in Comfort

Alexander's Royal Blue Motor Coach Tours

SMT Group

extended tours

bus routes

long distance bus services

Scottish General Omnibus Co. Ltd.

c.1930

lettering

graphic design

artwork

motor buses

vehicles

booking office

ticket office

Jamaica Street

Hope Street

telephone numbers

Captain A. Caven

Superintendent A. J. Thomson « less

Sets appears in: • Cover the Country in Comfort : Alexander's Royal Blue Motor Coach Tours booklet, c.1930 • Scottish Motor Traction, Alexanders and Scottish Omnibuses more » • Travel! • Old bus, trolleybus and tram stuff • Some old advertising « less

Groups appears in: • Vintage Illustration • Transport Timetables Leaflet and Ticket SCANS. more » • VINTAGE SCOTLAND - EPHEMERA. • Classic Transport • PLANET EARTH TRANSPORTATION • Bus Memorabilia • Travellers' Tails • BUSES & COACHES + TRAMS OF SCOTLAND NO 30/60 GROUP RESTRICTION « less

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