THESE were the people who made sure there were customers to buy Cowley-built cars.

They were members of the Central Publicity Department at the Nuffield Organisation in the 1950s.

They had a wide brief, producing sales aids, advertisements, press data, films, catalogues, manuals and magazines for all the Cowley marques.

The picture comes from a collection belonging to George Springall, of Staunton Road, Headington, who was head of technical publications.

Nuffield Press used more than 1,000 tons of paper a year producing literature, manuals, magazines, diaries and posters.

The public relations section liaised with newspapers, radio and TV and organised works tours to raise the profile of its products.

The department also had its own photographers, to illustrate every model.

The sales promotion team would handle sales literature (catalogues and folders), sales aids (flags and showroom equipment), compile magazines, and attend motor and agricultural shows and trade exhibitions.

There were teams which placed advertisements in newspapers, motoring journals and magazines and produced manuals for all vehicles.

An article in a Nuffield sales publication in 1955 described how the department operated.

“An operation manual is prepared for every vehicle manufactured. New models are publicised by worldwide announcements in technical magazines, by radio or television.

“Every vehicle is photographed pictorially and in the smallest detail. Cine films, many of them in colour, are made and copies distributed on request.

“Vast quantities of catalogues and folders, posters, mailing booklets and prestige literature are produced.

“A comprehensive stock of all kinds of sales aids, varying from key rings and button hole badges to literature stands and neon signs, is available at reasonable prices.

“Advertising campaigns on every model are planned in leading publications throughout the world.

“The advertisements are designed to stimulate interest and keep the names of the various products before the public eye.”

Do you recognise anyone in the picture above? Let me know.