Virol was first produced, experimentally, by the Bovril company at their Old Street, London works in 1899. An almost instant success, in 1900 the Virol company became a separate section of Bovril and within the decade it was regarded as an independent company. In 1920 production of Virol moved to modern premises in Perivale in Middlesex. Production ceased sometime during the Second World War.

This enamel sign for the malty supplement was probably produced during the 1920s and features one of the company's very direct marketing strap-lines; 'The Food For Health' - other examples that can be found include; 'School Children Need It', 'Growing Boys Need It', 'Anaemic Girls Need It', and so on...

Measuring in at 4ft (1.22m) wide, this is a real statement piece. Apparently this particular sign was bought with a few others from a British Railways warehouse 70+ years ago in new / undisplayed condition and they were put to use in someone's garden as sheet metal! It's in fairly decent order - a few losses around the outer edges and a couple of patches to the face. Several decades outside have caused the blue enamel layer for the lettering to dull and having lost it's surface gloss it's picked up some suface scratching. This aside the sign generally retains a good gloss (see angled photo) and bright colours.

 

In total the sign measures 4ft / 122cm wide x 18" / 46cm high. It's displays well and can be hung using it's original mounting holes (though the outer most hole to the left of the upper edge was never opened / has corroded over).

 

S/N:  #1545