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MARTINS BANK’S ADVERTISING – THE 1930s

 

Martins Advertising in the 1930s is a staid and largely functional affair, designed mainly to reinforce the new branding brought about by the change of name from Bank of Liverpool and Martins to Martins Bank Limited in 1928.   Advertisements are commonly placed in town and city directories and the ‘phone book. These are still the times when a select few have use of a bank account, and for the majority, cash is still king. Banking is seen as the preserve of the well-heeled, and is almost always a male affair, with husbands making and “allowance” for their wives housekeeping needs...  

 

1934 Advertisement - Kelly's Directory MBA.jpgWith the advent of the oval shaped metal money boxes in 1921, (see also GIVEAWAYS), nearly every bank is now beginning to attract deposits from people on modest and low incomes.  This design classic educates several generations into the idea of putting money aside for the future, and it becomes almost a duty to save for a rainy day – something we could all perhaps learn from in the twenty-first century!  Interestingly, the adverts we have from the 1930s, although occupying roughly about the same amount of space on a newspaper page, are mostly use to provide information about the Bank’s Performance – Facts and figures, details of services and branches, and a reminder that our Bank offers World Wide Facilities.  We do however see the emergence of a form of local advertising, with the addition of the address and contact details of local branches being added to generic images and wording. These ads are, however distinctly of their own time, practical and to the point.  It won’t be long however, before Martins becomes a little more ambitious with this powerful marketing tool. By the end of the 1930s, advertisements like these for Will Making and Holiday and Travel Services are beginning to show a little more flair. The 1940s will bring a fresher look to our Bank’s Advertising, although it is likely to appeal only to those with money and a good education.  We are still a very long way from the 1960s when it seems that ANYTHING goes, including taking elephants,camels, hippos and zebras into Bank Branches!

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1938 General Advertisment Scott Murphy Uni of York.jpg

1938 Kellys Ad

1939 03-MAR Where theres a will generic ad Tunbridge Wells etc KSC

1939 AUG 04 Generic Ad Travel Tunbridge Wells and Sevenoaks - KSC BNA

Images: Martins Bank Archive Collections

Kent & Sussex Courier 3 March 1939/4 August 1939*

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* Images © Northcliffe Media Limited. Images created courtesy of THE BRITISH LIBRARY BOARD and reproduced with kind permission of The British Newspaper Archive

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