Description
VIROL
Anaemic girls need it
Enamel rail advertising sign
Measures 53 cms x 122 cms
Orange and blue
Good condition for its age - corroded around edges
Holes around edges to hang the sign up
Local collection only - London W4
Cash only - no refunds
Information:
In the early 1900s, the English “Bovril” company produced a nutritional supplement called Virol. It was sold by chemists (pharmacists) first in the UK and then by 1913 to doctors in the USA. It was dark and thick, similar to the consistency of molasses, and served with a spoon from a wide mouth stoneware pot. The “Virol Bone Marrow” contained bone marrow from ox rib and calf bones, whole eggs with the shells, malt extract and lemon syrup.
Advertising claimed that the food strengthened the whole body and built firm bones and should be taken by children and invalids. Hospitals and clinics gave it to babies that were either breastfed or bottle fed and their mothers (pregnant or nursing). Growing children were encouraged to take the daily spoonful in preparation for the winter months, especially after the first World War. Cambridge University studied the product claims and found it contained numerous vitamins, fat and protein. Adults ate it on toast or used a dry powder form of Virol which was dissolved in milk.
Virol of Hanger Lane, Ealing, London, W5.Telephone: Wembley 3201. Cables: "Corpuscles, Ealux, London"
1899 Virol was produced experimentally by Bovril, in their Old Street factory in London.
1900 The company was registered on 20 January, to take over the business of manufacturing and selling the food known as Virol.
1900s Demand grew and Bovril set up Virol as a separate company.
1920 The production of Virol moved to Perivale, Middlesex, where the premises were larger and more modern.
1929 Listed Exhibitor - British Industries Fair. Manufacturers of Virol, Virolax, Virol and Milk. (Stand Nos. K.21 and K.32)
Pre-WWII. Virol became associated with Ambrosia to produce Virol and Milk in direct rivalry with Horlicks.
WWII. Sometime during the wartime period, production ceased as it proved too costly to manufacture.
Post-WWII. Virol changed hands several times.
1971 Bovril, (and therefore Virol) was taken over by Cavenham Foods.
1977 Virol was sold to Janks Brothers of High Wycombe.
1979 Optrex bought Virol.