Billy Brown of London Town
Encyclopedia
Billy Brown of London Town was a cartoon character featured on London Transport
posters during World War II
.
He was drawn as a city gent, wearing a bowler hat
and pin-stripe suit, and carrying an umbrella
.
The character was drawn by David Langdon
.
An example of a bus poster had him saying "Kindly pass along the bus and so make room for all of us" because passengers clustered around doors. A graffiti reply read "That's alright without a doubt, but how the H-ll do we get out".
London Transport (brand)
London Transport was the public name and brand used by a series of public transport authorities in London, England, from 1933. Its most recognisable feature was the bar-and-circle 'roundel' logo...
posters during World War II
World War II
World War II, or the Second World War , was a global conflict lasting from 1939 to 1945, involving most of the world's nations—including all of the great powers—eventually forming two opposing military alliances: the Allies and the Axis...
.
He was drawn as a city gent, wearing a bowler hat
Bowler hat
The bowler hat, also known as a coke hat, derby , billycock or bombin, is a hard felt hat with a rounded crown originally created in 1849 for the English soldier and politician Edward Coke, the younger brother of the 2nd Earl of Leicester...
and pin-stripe suit, and carrying an umbrella
Umbrella
An umbrella or parasol is a canopy designed to protect against rain or sunlight. The term parasol usually refers to an item designed to protect from the sun; umbrella refers to a device more suited to protect from rain...
.
The character was drawn by David Langdon
David Langdon (cartoonist)
David Langdon was an English cartoonist. Born in London, he worked from 1931 in the Architects Department of London County Council, working on his professional qualifications while drawing cartoons as a sideline. In 1937 he was invited to contribute to Punch.He joined the London Rescue Service in...
.
Posters
One example of a London Underground poster showed a passenger peeling back tape placed on train windows with Billy saying "I trust you'll pardon my correction that stuff is there for your protection." One reply written on one poster replied "Thank you for the information but I can’t see my bloody station".An example of a bus poster had him saying "Kindly pass along the bus and so make room for all of us" because passengers clustered around doors. A graffiti reply read "That's alright without a doubt, but how the H-ll do we get out".
External links
- Poster; Billy Brown of London Town; I trust you'll pardon my correction, by David Langdon, 1941 - London Transport Museum
- Billy Brown of London town, by David Langdon, 1940 - London Transport Museum
- Billy Brown of London town, by David Langdon, 1940 - London Transport Museum
- Billy Brown of London town; highway code, by David Langdon, 1940 - London Transport Museum
- Billy Brown of London town, by David Langdon, 1940 - London Transport Museum
- Blackout, by David Langdon, 1941 - artwork for poster - London Transport Museum
- A message from Billy Brown to conductors, by David Langdon, 1941 - London Transport Museum
- To fellow passengers, by David Langdon, 1941 - London Transport Museum
- So lets all move along says Billy, by David Langdon, 1941 - London Transport Museum
- Billy Brown of London Town 'Face the driver, raise your hand', by David Langdon, 1941 - London Transport Museum
- Billy Brown of London Town, by David Langdon, 1941 - London Transport Museum
- Billy Brown on escalators 'Here's another bright suggestion', by David Langdon, 1943 - London Transport Museum
- Kindly pass along the bus and so make room for all of us, by David Langdon, 1943 - London Transport Museum