Mr Therm - the little gas man!

The London based Gas Light & Coke Company instituted a Publicity Dept in 1931 headed up A P Ryan (who joined them from the Empire Marketing Board). Ryan introduced Mr Therm having commissioned the work from the London Press Exchange for whom Eric Fraser devised the figure. Although done for the GLCC Mr Therm was so successful they allowed the British Commercial Gas Association (the industry's trade association) to use him and so he became synonymous with the gas industry. After the nationalisation of the industry in 1949 the cheery Mr Therm carried on and was still in use up until the 1970s before fading out.

Eric Fraser was a well-known artist and graphic designer - possibly best remembered for his striking work in many editions of Radio Times for the BBC.