Although little mention of Stuart's Advertising Agency can be found in books on pre-war advertising, Stuarts was, during the 1920s and 30s, one of the leading London advertising agencies. Located at Kingsway House, Kingsway W.C.2, the firm was founded in 1922 by H. Stuart Menzies. It had accounts with Elizabeth Arden, Keiller’s Marmalade, Shell-Mex, Speedwriting, Crosse & Blackwell, Harper's Bazaar, Imperial Airways, Indian Trans-Continental Airways, Lewis Berger Paints, Toblerone and Qantas Airways. Menzies retired in 1938-9 and moved first to Tahiti and later to Canada with his wife Elizabeth. Marcus Brumwell joined the firm in the early 20s and became Managing Director when Menzies retired. Another important figure in the organisation in the late 1930s was D Lewis. While Menzies was an exceptional copywriter, Brumwell played a key role in liaising with leading contemporary artists of the time: Edward Bawden, Ben Nicholson, Edward McKnight Kauffer and Barbara Hepworth.
Stuart Advertising Agency is the main subject in a book "Bright Ties Bold Ideas - Marcus Brumwell, Pioneer of C20 Advertising, Champion of the Artists" by Joe Brumwell published in 2010. It also features Design Research Unit, the Advertising Service Guild and Mass-Observation, all involving Marcus Brumwell. Profusely illustrated, 120 pages, 93 colour plates, 118 monochrome, the book is softback, size 252 x 225mm. Artists include Ben Nicholson, Moholy Nagy, Mc Knight Kauffer, John Piper, John and Paul Nash, Edward Bawden and Rex Whistler. Price £25 post paid from The Tie Press, PO Box 704, Truro TR1 9FJ, UK
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