Ian Allan Publishing
Encyclopedia
Ian Allan Publishing is a UK
publisher, established in 1942, which specialises in transport
magazine
s and book
s.
In 1942 Ian Allan, then working on enquiries on the Southern Railway
, published his first book, "ABC of Southern Locomotives". This proved to be a success, and from this the company was formed.
The company has grown from a small producer of books for train
enthusiasts and spotters to a large transport publisher. Each year it publishes books covering subjects such as military
and civil
aviation, naval
and maritime topics, bus
es, tram
s, trolleybus
es and steam railways, including history, preservation and modern operations. The headquarters is at the western end of Shepperton railway station
in Surrey
.
s.
Ian Allan Publishing's trade representation is provided by Amalgamated Book Services for its own imprints and a growing list of associated publishers. Midland Counties Publications, acquired by Ian Allan Publishing at the same time as Midland Publishing, was established in the 1970s with the objective of selling books at aviation events and by mail order to a growing number of enthusiasts who could not always find the publications they wanted to read on the shelves of their local High Street bookshop.
In addition to the above Ian Allan also owns the imprint Lewis Masonic
. Lewis Masonic produces the ritual books used by UGLE lodge
s and chapter
s.
Through the Lewis Masonic imprint, the company also publishes the quarterly masonic magazine "The Square", the longest running masonic periodical in the United Kingdom.
From 1962 to 2007 Ian Allan also published, jointly with the Light Rail Transit Association
, the monthly magazine Modern Tramway—known later as Light Rail and Modern Tramway and currently as Tramways & Urban Transit
—and continues to handle printing and some distribution of TAUT, as well as printing of the LRTA's quarterly historical journal, Tramway Review.
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
publisher, established in 1942, which specialises in transport
Transport
Transport or transportation is the movement of people, cattle, animals and goods from one location to another. Modes of transport include air, rail, road, water, cable, pipeline, and space. The field can be divided into infrastructure, vehicles, and operations...
magazine
Magazine
Magazines, periodicals, glossies or serials are publications, generally published on a regular schedule, containing a variety of articles. They are generally financed by advertising, by a purchase price, by pre-paid magazine subscriptions, or all three...
s and book
Book
A book is a set or collection of written, printed, illustrated, or blank sheets, made of hot lava, paper, parchment, or other materials, usually fastened together to hinge at one side. A single sheet within a book is called a leaf or leaflet, and each side of a leaf is called a page...
s.
In 1942 Ian Allan, then working on enquiries on the Southern Railway
Southern Railway (Great Britain)
The Southern Railway was a British railway company established in the 1923 Grouping. It linked London with the Channel ports, South West England, South coast resorts and Kent...
, published his first book, "ABC of Southern Locomotives". This proved to be a success, and from this the company was formed.
The company has grown from a small producer of books for train
Train
A train is a connected series of vehicles for rail transport that move along a track to transport cargo or passengers from one place to another place. The track usually consists of two rails, but might also be a monorail or maglev guideway.Propulsion for the train is provided by a separate...
enthusiasts and spotters to a large transport publisher. Each year it publishes books covering subjects such as military
Military aviation
Military aviation is the use of aircraft and other flying machines for the purposes of conducting or enabling warfare, including national airlift capacity to provide logistical supply to forces stationed in a theater or along a front. Air power includes the national means of conducting such...
and civil
Civil aviation
Civil aviation is one of two major categories of flying, representing all non-military aviation, both private and commercial. Most of the countries in the world are members of the International Civil Aviation Organization and work together to establish common standards and recommended practices...
aviation, naval
Navy
A navy is the branch of a nation's armed forces principally designated for naval and amphibious warfare; namely, lake- or ocean-borne combat operations and related functions...
and maritime topics, bus
Bus
A bus is a road vehicle designed to carry passengers. Buses can have a capacity as high as 300 passengers. The most common type of bus is the single-decker bus, with larger loads carried by double-decker buses and articulated buses, and smaller loads carried by midibuses and minibuses; coaches are...
es, tram
Tram
A tram is a passenger rail vehicle which runs on tracks along public urban streets and also sometimes on separate rights of way. It may also run between cities and/or towns , and/or partially grade separated even in the cities...
s, trolleybus
Trolleybus
A trolleybus is an electric bus that draws its electricity from overhead wires using spring-loaded trolley poles. Two wires and poles are required to complete the electrical circuit...
es and steam railways, including history, preservation and modern operations. The headquarters is at the western end of Shepperton railway station
Shepperton railway station
Shepperton railway station is a railway station serving the town of Shepperton in the Spelthorne district of Surrey, England. The station and all trains serving it are operated by South West Trains. The station itself now has one platform , and a large station and office building...
in Surrey
Surrey
Surrey is a county in the South East of England and is one of the Home Counties. The county borders Greater London, Kent, East Sussex, West Sussex, Hampshire and Berkshire. The historic county town is Guildford. Surrey County Council sits at Kingston upon Thames, although this has been part of...
.
Company Acquisitions
Ian Allan Publishing has acquired several companies and imprintImprint
In the publishing industry, an imprint can mean several different things:* As a piece of bibliographic information about a book, it refers to the name and address of the book's publisher and its date of publication as given at the foot or on the verso of its title page.* It can mean a trade name...
s.
- Oxford Publishing Company was purchased in 1998 from Haynes Publishing and has become a prominent and well-regarded railway list; since 1998 OPC has undergone many changes, with investments being made in both new and backlist titles.
- Midland Publishing was acquired in 1999. The Midland imprint provides a range of specialist, highly illustrated titles, covering military aviation subjects from World War IIWorld War IIWorld 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...
to the present day. In civil aviation, comprehensive works of reference are published frequently.
- Classic Publications, a publisher of aviation titles, was added in 2002, bringing another imprint widely considered important in the World War II aviation market.
Ian Allan Publishing's trade representation is provided by Amalgamated Book Services for its own imprints and a growing list of associated publishers. Midland Counties Publications, acquired by Ian Allan Publishing at the same time as Midland Publishing, was established in the 1970s with the objective of selling books at aviation events and by mail order to a growing number of enthusiasts who could not always find the publications they wanted to read on the shelves of their local High Street bookshop.
In addition to the above Ian Allan also owns the imprint Lewis Masonic
Lewis Masonic
Lewis Masonic, founded in 1801, is the largest and oldest Masonic publisher in the World. Lewis Masonic is well known to English Freemasons, as Lewis produces many of the ritual books used by United Grand Lodge of England lodges and Holy Royal Arch Chapters...
. Lewis Masonic produces the ritual books used by UGLE lodge
Masonic Lodge
This article is about the Masonic term for a membership group. For buildings named Masonic Lodge, see Masonic Lodge A Masonic Lodge, often termed a Private Lodge or Constituent Lodge, is the basic organisation of Freemasonry...
s and chapter
Holy Royal Arch
The Holy Royal Arch is a degree of Freemasonry. It is present in all main masonic systems, though in some it is part of 'mainstream' Freemasonry, and in others it is an 'additional' degree....
s.
Magazines
Ian Allan Publishing is well known for its range of enthusiast-based magazines. There are currently ten magazines in the portfolio:- Hornby Magazine, a new, bi-monthly, magazine aimed at Model Railway Enthusiasts. Despite the title, the magazine covers products of all manufacturers, not just HornbyHornby RailwaysHornby Railways is the leading brand of model railway in the United Kingdom. Its roots date back to 1901, when founder Frank Hornby received a patent for his Meccano construction toy. The first clockwork train was produced in 1920. In 1938, Hornby launched its first 00 gauge train...
.
- Railways IllustratedRailways IllustratedRailways Illustrated is a British monthly railway magazine that is published by Ian Allan. Inside there is detail of news, stock changes, tours, and more. It is aimed at railway enthusiasts.-Inside:...
, a monthly publication targeting enthusiasts.
- Modern RailwaysModern RailwaysModern Railways is a British monthly magazine covering the rail transport industry published by Ian Allan. It has been published since 1962....
- BusesBuses MagazineBuses is a United Kingdom magazine, focusing mainly on the UK bus scene.It was formerly known as Buses Illustrated until 1968 and is published by Ian Allan Publishing. The current editor is Alan Millar, based in Scotland. It also produces a yearbook, published in August every year for the next year...
- Buses Focus is a spin-off from Buses magazine. Now a regular bi-monthly. No Longer Published
- Bus and Coach Preservation was first published in 2001 under the Ian Allan banner following a merger of two previous titles.
- Vintage Roadscene. This now bi-monthly journal covers the world of historic transport. It has been established for over 20 years.
- Aircraft Illustrated was first published in 1968. It covered up to date news and features on civil aviation, airliners and preservation. In 2009 the magazine changed its focus to classic aircraft exclusively and was renamed Classic Aircraft.
- Combat Aircraft provides in-depth coverage of the men and the machines at the forefront of the missions undertaken in today’s combat zones.
Through the Lewis Masonic imprint, the company also publishes the quarterly masonic magazine "The Square", the longest running masonic periodical in the United Kingdom.
From 1962 to 2007 Ian Allan also published, jointly with the Light Rail Transit Association
Light Rail Transit Association
The Light Rail Transit Association is a non-profit organisation whose purpose is to advocate and encourage research into the retention and development of light rail and tramway/streetcar systems...
, the monthly magazine Modern Tramway—known later as Light Rail and Modern Tramway and currently as Tramways & Urban Transit
Tramways & Urban Transit
Tramways & Urban Transit , also known as Modern Tramway, is a British monthly magazine about tramways and light rail transport, published continuously since 1938. Its content is orientated both to tramway enthusiasts and to persons working in the tram transport field or studying tramways. It has...
—and continues to handle printing and some distribution of TAUT, as well as printing of the LRTA's quarterly historical journal, Tramway Review.