Metal advertisement for Crossley Engines, in Arabic.

Made:
20th century in unknown place
Metal advertisement for Crossley Engines, in Arabic. Metal advertisement for Crossley Engines, in Arabic.

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Science Museum Group Collection
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum

Science Museum Group
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Musuem

Metal sign advertising Mike Suwaris and Partners Crossley engine dealership in Egypt. Text written in Arabic and English. Maker unknown, made approximately mid-20th century. The sign features an image of a camel and a pyramid against the shape of a Crossley diesel engine. The sign is also an enamelled advertising sign depicting a Crossley horizontal engine

This sign is an advertisement for Mike Swaris, a retailer of Crossley Brothers diesel engines in Alexandria, Egypt. Manchester-based engineers Crossley Brothers exported hundreds of engines to Egypt during and after British colonial rule (1882–1956), mostly for electricity generation and to power irrigation schemes. Key to Crossley's success was how they built a worldwide sales network to sell and support the machines. By the end of the 19th century, Crossley agents could be found in nearly 30 countries.

The Arabic text translates into English as ‘Crossley and Egypt’. On the left hand side of the sign, the text translates as: ‘Diesel machines, They operate on black gas, with Power ranging from 10 to 500 horsepower’. On the right hand side, the text reads: ‘Owners in Egypt are Mike Swaris and partners’.

Details

Category:
Motive Power
Object Number:
2023-1208
Materials:
enamel and metal (unknown)
type:
sign
credit:
Unknown provenance