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Radiolocation

Poster
1943 (made)
Artist/Maker
Place of origin

World War II poster encouraging men and women to train as radio operators. The upper part of the poster depicts an aircraft, in an orange haze with smoke streaming from its tail and one of its wings. The plane is pictured against a graphic pattern that resembles Venetian blinds. A white segmented line runs down this part of the poster, converging with the letter 'l' in the word 'radiolocation', which appears to represent an anti-aircraft gun being fired. The word is printed in blue, except for the letter 'o' in radio and the first 'o' in location, which are coloured red, and represent the buttons or tuners of a radio. They are operated by two white hands in silhouette. Below is the text, printed in white and yellow on a grey 'banner', 'Train with the Army or with the A.T.S.’ Below this, in white on black, 'Men and women are urgently required to operate and maintain radiolocation equipment in the Royal Artillery and Royal Army Ordnance Corps. Particulars may be obtained from any Recruiting Office and in the case of women, from any Recruiting Office or Labour Exchange'.


Object details

Categories
Object type
TitleRadiolocation (generic title)
Materials and techniques
Colour lithograph on paper, backed onto linen
Brief description
World War II poster encouraging men and women to train to operate radiolocation equipment, designed by Abram Games, 1943, and printed for HMSO by Greycaine Ltd, England
Physical description
World War II poster encouraging men and women to train as radio operators. The upper part of the poster depicts an aircraft, in an orange haze with smoke streaming from its tail and one of its wings. The plane is pictured against a graphic pattern that resembles Venetian blinds. A white segmented line runs down this part of the poster, converging with the letter 'l' in the word 'radiolocation', which appears to represent an anti-aircraft gun being fired. The word is printed in blue, except for the letter 'o' in radio and the first 'o' in location, which are coloured red, and represent the buttons or tuners of a radio. They are operated by two white hands in silhouette. Below is the text, printed in white and yellow on a grey 'banner', 'Train with the Army or with the A.T.S.’ Below this, in white on black, 'Men and women are urgently required to operate and maintain radiolocation equipment in the Royal Artillery and Royal Army Ordnance Corps. Particulars may be obtained from any Recruiting Office and in the case of women, from any Recruiting Office or Labour Exchange'.
Dimensions
  • Height: 75.8cm
  • Width: 50.3cm
Marks and inscriptions
  • 'radiolocator' (Printed in blue, the 'o' in radio and the first 'o' in location printed in red, their centres' filled in with red discs, representing radio tuners)
  • 'TRAIN WITH THE ARMY OR WITH THE A.T.S.' (Below the image, printed in white and yellow on a grey 'banner')
  • 'MEN AND WOMEN ARE URGENTLY REQUIRED TO OPERATE AND MAINTAIN RADIOLOCATION EQUIPMENT IN THE / ROYAL ARTILLERY AND ROYAL ARMY ORDNANCE CORPS. PARTICULARS MAY BE OBTAINED FROM ANY / RECRUITING OFFICE AND IN THE CASE OF WOMEN, FROM ANY RECRUITING OFFICE OR LABOUR EXCHANGE' (Bottom of poster, white on black)
  • 'A. GAMES / R.E' (Upper right corner of the image, printed in red)
  • 'Printed for H.M. Stationery Office by Greycaine Limited, Watford and London. 51. 1113' (Printers and publisher's details, printed in black, running along lower edge of the poster, from the lower left-hand corner)
  • 'P.R. 43' (Printed in black, lower right-hand corner)
  • 'THE MUSEUM OF MODERN ART / 11 WEST 53RD STREET NEW YORK / ARTIST / TITLE RADIOLOCATION / CIRCULATING EXHIBITION NO. WAR POSTERS / MUSEUM NO. P-31 BOX NO.' (Printed lLabel on the back of the poster, attached (glued?) to the linen backing. The title ('Radiolocation'), Exhibition No. ('war posters'), and Museum No.( 'P-31'), are all typed onto the label.)
Credit line
Gift of the American Friends of the V&A; Gift to the American Friends by Leslie, Judith and Gabri Schreyer and Alice Schreyer Batko
Subjects depicted
Associated object
E.2149-1946 (Object)
Other number
LS.2052 - Leslie Schreyer Loan Number
Collection
Accession number
E.1888-2004

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Record createdApril 4, 2006
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