Level: Sub-series
Reference: HAT50/1/4
Alt Ref No.: Hatrecord
Extent: 132 folders, 25 items (15 boxes)
Brand: Fisher's Foils
Agency: J Walter Thompson (JWT), London
Product: Aluminium
Advertiser / Client: Alcan Industries Ltd
Campaign: A Town called Alcan
Related Material: Gwent Record Office hold records relating to Alcan Industries Limited (1950-1970) and Alcan Foils Wembley Factory (1947-1983).
Admin History: Alcan began in 1902 as the Northern Aluminum Company, the Canadian subsidiary of the Pittsburgh Reduction Company (later Alcoa). It was renamed the Aluminum Company of Canada (Alcan for short) in 1925 and separated from Alcoa in 1928. Alcan Industries Limited was a member of the Aluminium Limited Group of Companies and produced aluminium in all forms required by the building industry. In 2007 Alcan Inc. was amalgamated with Rio Tinto Canada Holding Inc, following the latter's acquisition of a majority of the share capital in Alcan Inc. and renamed Rio Tinto Alcan Inc.
By 1962 JWT had the Alcan UK account on its books and in 1963 acquired the account (marketing and advertising) for the Alcan Group as a whole in 1963 (i.e. Alcan Industries and Alcan UK). The innovative 'A Town called Alcan' campaign created a new concept of town planning i.e. the Circuit Linear Town. Alcan and JWT, working with a consultant architect, commissioned a series of studies which illustrated how this concept could be applied to actual localities. 'The City of Redrose,' for example, showed the practical application of this concept to the Liverpool-Manchester area. The 'Architectural Review' commented favourably on this project.