AM - The front cover of your book features a London Transport poster from 1908 also called "No Need to Ask a P'liceman (sic)" by the artist John Hassell. There's a jolly fat policeman smugly standing in front of one of the "newer" unified standard maps with an elderly couple attempting to ask him the way. Could you tell us more about the story behind that poster?
AM Which do you think was the most popular map with the public?
DL An impossible question to answer! The 1979 version was produced in greater numbers than any other as far as I am aware, but I can't say it's a particularly outstanding design. The versions produced in the early 1980s which adopted a folded A4 format with adverts around the map itself was known to be unpopular and the map reverted back to standard pocket size within a couple of years.
AM - F H Stingemore's map in 1930 was I believe the last map to show the River Thames following its more or less correct geographical shape and is the only natural surface area to be shown on the map. Do you think Beck's "straightened" river was a mistake or an act of genius?
DL Neither! If anything, it was a bit of a cop-out given there were several maps prior to this which deleted the River and other geographical features completely. I remember doing a comparison between the different shapes adopted for the Thames from 1933 in my degree dissertation. Given it is a diagram and bears little semblence to true geography, there appears to be little justication in retaining its inclusion.
AM - What's the story with Beck's payment then? Was he really only paid 10 guineas - the equivalent of two weeks wages - for his design?
DL I have seen documentary evidence to this effect dating back to the 1930s. He developed the design in his spare time and had a real struggle getting the powers that be to adopt the concept. Therefore, it's perhaps not too surprising that Beck didn't get paid much. Furthermore, I get the impression that he was a little naive commercially and perhaps this
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