Unusual Henley Tyres Enamel Flange Sign

Any advertising from Henley Tyres is a bit of a rarity... The company started in 1914 when W. T. Henleys Telegraph Works Co. began producing solid tyres and pneumatic (canvas) tyres. Four years later (1918) and the subsidiary company; Henleys Tyre and Rubber Co were formed to take over the tyre production department. They operated out of Gravesend in Kent until 1957 when Avon Tyres bought the company and the manufacture of Henley Tyres was transferred to Melksham.

It would seem that during their 39 years in operation, Henley Tyres remained a relatively small firm and there's little in the way of surviving paper or enamel advertising for the company. This design with it's teal-y blue background and bold, white typography with a black drop shadow seems to be the most used 'brand image' and it makes for a vibrant, bright piece of signage. This example is likely to date to the 1940s and was produced by the Imperial Enamel Co. of Birmingham. It has survived in decent condition - the background colour remains vibrant and the white enamel layers bright. The flange, which allows the sign to stick out from the front of a building at a 90 degree angle and be seen from both sides, remains in good and usable condition. There are some patches of enamel loss scattered around on both sides of the sign, most notably near the H, N + L of Henley, but these don't detract from the overall impact or legibility of this rare piece of automobilia.

The sign measures 54cm wide x 45.5cm high and the flange is 5.5cm deep.