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Nuffield Press
Nuffield Press was a publisher and printer formed by William Morris (later Lord Nuffield) as part of his Nuffield Organization in 1925. It was formed to primarily produce promotional literature for the motor vehicle manufacturing divisions of the organization, and later expanded to printing of all types including owner's manuals, technical manuals, magazines, diaries, and posters.
William Morris had established his Morris Motors automobile company, and had already expanded into a group of marques by encouraging Cecil Kimber to market modified Morris cars under the MG brand. At the likely suggestion of Miles Thomas, who was in charge of sales and purchasing for Morris Motors, Morris decided to launch a magazine for owners and dealers.
During the post–World War I recession, Morris had acquired a number of distressed suppliers, in an example of vertical integration, and with this history, Morris was unable to find a supplier on suitable terms, due to the fear of becoming a tied supplier. Morris proceeded to produce the first edition of Morris Owner magazine in 1924 with an external supplier, but he could not get them to commit to becoming a regular supplier. The Morris Owner used a typeface very similar to the already popular Motor magazine, which Thomas had worked on previously to be being employed by Morris.
Morris owned large factory sites at the former Oxford Military College in Cowley, Oxford. The former college buildings where the press was located are listed buildings, and are to the West of the old Morris 'North Works'. Whilst the North and South Works are now both redeveloped, the old 'Body Plant' to the East is still used for car production, now operating as Plant Oxford producing the Mini for BMW.
In 1925, the majority of Morris car production had moved from the original factory in the old college buildings to the new custom built "big tin shed" factories built on the old parade ground. As a result, in August 1925, the Morris Oxford Press was started in the buildings recently vacated by the manufacturing operation. 100,000 shares were issued in the press, predominantly to the Morris Motor Company, with William Morris retaining share number 1.
Miles Thomas headed the operation from its inception. The press had initial work in printing the wide range of forms and dockets required by the factory itself. Its first run of promotional materials was a 17,000 run of two-colour postcards featuring the 12-model range of the company. The success of Thomas in running the press operation led to promotion by 1929, and promotions continued until he became Vice-Chairman of Morris Motors from 1942 to 1947.
The press expanded rapidly with 50 staff by the 1930s, along with equipment including a Miehle Vertical and a Monotype installation.
The Morris Owner magazine was a cornerstone of production, reaching a monthly print run of 20,000 copies, and this was supplemented by handbooks, repair manuals, stationery, labels, and factory paperwork. In August 1942, the title of Morris Owner was changed to Morris Owner and Nuffield Mail. There was another name change in late 1945, this time to New Outlook on Motoring. In March 1950 there was a re-launch as Motoring. In January 1969, this was replaced by High Road, whose brief life ended in December 1970.
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Nuffield Press
Nuffield Press was a publisher and printer formed by William Morris (later Lord Nuffield) as part of his Nuffield Organization in 1925. It was formed to primarily produce promotional literature for the motor vehicle manufacturing divisions of the organization, and later expanded to printing of all types including owner's manuals, technical manuals, magazines, diaries, and posters.
William Morris had established his Morris Motors automobile company, and had already expanded into a group of marques by encouraging Cecil Kimber to market modified Morris cars under the MG brand. At the likely suggestion of Miles Thomas, who was in charge of sales and purchasing for Morris Motors, Morris decided to launch a magazine for owners and dealers.
During the post–World War I recession, Morris had acquired a number of distressed suppliers, in an example of vertical integration, and with this history, Morris was unable to find a supplier on suitable terms, due to the fear of becoming a tied supplier. Morris proceeded to produce the first edition of Morris Owner magazine in 1924 with an external supplier, but he could not get them to commit to becoming a regular supplier. The Morris Owner used a typeface very similar to the already popular Motor magazine, which Thomas had worked on previously to be being employed by Morris.
Morris owned large factory sites at the former Oxford Military College in Cowley, Oxford. The former college buildings where the press was located are listed buildings, and are to the West of the old Morris 'North Works'. Whilst the North and South Works are now both redeveloped, the old 'Body Plant' to the East is still used for car production, now operating as Plant Oxford producing the Mini for BMW.
In 1925, the majority of Morris car production had moved from the original factory in the old college buildings to the new custom built "big tin shed" factories built on the old parade ground. As a result, in August 1925, the Morris Oxford Press was started in the buildings recently vacated by the manufacturing operation. 100,000 shares were issued in the press, predominantly to the Morris Motor Company, with William Morris retaining share number 1.
Miles Thomas headed the operation from its inception. The press had initial work in printing the wide range of forms and dockets required by the factory itself. Its first run of promotional materials was a 17,000 run of two-colour postcards featuring the 12-model range of the company. The success of Thomas in running the press operation led to promotion by 1929, and promotions continued until he became Vice-Chairman of Morris Motors from 1942 to 1947.
The press expanded rapidly with 50 staff by the 1930s, along with equipment including a Miehle Vertical and a Monotype installation.
The Morris Owner magazine was a cornerstone of production, reaching a monthly print run of 20,000 copies, and this was supplemented by handbooks, repair manuals, stationery, labels, and factory paperwork. In August 1942, the title of Morris Owner was changed to Morris Owner and Nuffield Mail. There was another name change in late 1945, this time to New Outlook on Motoring. In March 1950 there was a re-launch as Motoring. In January 1969, this was replaced by High Road, whose brief life ended in December 1970.