R.W. Forsyth department store : Vigo House, London : advert in : the Early History of Motoring : Claude Goodman Johnson : E.J. Burrow & Co. Ltd. : London & Cheltenham : nd [1927]

            An interesting history of the first decade of "automobilism" in Britain written by the late Claude Johnston who was the first secretary of the Royal Automobile Club and also instrumental in the development of the Rolls Royce company. It was published, with a preface by Lord Montagu of Beaulieu, after Johnston's death in 1926 and includes information as to Rolls Royce from early 1927. It was published by Burrow's of Cheltenham who were 'niche' publishers of 'sponsored' publications such as this and of official guides and handbooks.

As well as the text and images the book has numerous adverts for companies and products that are often related to motoring or the clientele the book was clearly aimed at. R.W. Forsyth were a Scottish based and owned chain of upmarket department stores formed in Glasgow by Robert Wallace Forsyth in 1862. The business prospered and in 1896 Forsyth commissioned a new building in Renfield Street from architect John James Burnet. In 1906 the same architect was commissioned for the company's new flagship store on Princes Street in Edinburgh and the successor architects of Messrs Sir John Burnet, Tait and Lorne designed the equally magnificant London store, Vigo House, on Regent Street in 1925 and so this advert would have been amongst the earliest publicity for this branch.

I recall the Edinburgh store in the late 1970s when it had barely changed since opening and it was amongst the last store I recall with a pneumatic cashier system. The charm of their stores was also likely to have been the still family owned concern's collapse in the face of newer, brasher shops and in 1983 Forsyth's ceased trading and disposed of the stores.

Taken on: September 18, 2025

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Mike Ashworth Collection

book

motor cars

road vehicles

the Early History of Motoring

Royal Automobile Club

Ed. J. Burrow & Co. Ltd.

London

Cheltenham

c.1927

advertising

publicity

Claude Goodman Johnson

R W Forsyth store

department stores

hosiery

clothes

Vigo House

Regent Street

Princes Street

Edinburgh

Renfield Street

Glasgow

shirtmakers

tailors « less

Sets appears in: • The Early History of Motoring : Claude Goodman Johnson : Burrow's : c.1927 • Some old advertising

Groups appears in: • Vintage Advertising • Lost London more » • That Old Timey Feeling • Advertising through the years • Old London • PLANET EARTH BACK IN THE DAY • London Shops « less

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