The Practical Motorist magazine was first published as a weekly magazine 12th May 1934 priced at 3D (just over 1p decimal) by George Newnes, January 1940 saw the price rise to 4D, it stopped being printed in April 1940 during WWII and was incorporated into Practical Mechanic with this note "PRACTICAL MECHANICS — Owing to the paper shortage “The Cyclist”, “Practical Motorist” and “Home Movies” are temporarily incorporated.", it restarted with a fresh look in May 1954 priced 1 shilling (5p decimal) as a monthly magazine with wonderful colour illustrated front covers, the last issue is from 1997 cost £2.25.
The magazines were available every Wednesday until the 15th February 1936, on the 22nd February there was a one off issue marked as weekly and on the 29th February until the last pre-war issue they were available on Friday.
If anyone has any copies of anything I have not shown or better copies than those published I would appreciate a copy, please contact me here - Contact.
Wikipedia has articles about the publisher Sir George Newnes (1815 - 1910) George Newnes - Wikipedia who died way before Practical motorist first started, F.J.Camm the editor from 1934 to 1959 Frederick James Camm - Wikipedia and the company George Newnes ltd George Newnes Ltd - Wikipedia
There were 12 volumes printed totaling 312 weekly issues from 12/5/1934 through to 27/4/1940 when printing stopped to preserve paper supplies during WWII. A new monthly series started May 1954 and ran through to August 1997 with 43 volumes 1-44 (for some reason volume 15 is missing) and approximately 497 issues taking into account some were not printed due to industrial action. In June 1982 a rival magazine "Popular Motoring" was incorporated into Practical Motorist
Many thanks to Alan Scard for taking the time to compile this information and for loaning me most of his collection of Practical Motorist magazines for this website.
Before PM started as a magazine Geo. Newnes 1932 monthly encyclopedia in 32 parts was a useful resource for maintaining your car.
The magazines were available every Wednesday until the 15th February 1936, on the 22nd February there was a one off issue marked as weekly and on the 29th February until the last pre-war issue they were available on Friday.
If anyone has any copies of anything I have not shown or better copies than those published I would appreciate a copy, please contact me here - Contact.
Wikipedia has articles about the publisher Sir George Newnes (1815 - 1910) George Newnes - Wikipedia who died way before Practical motorist first started, F.J.Camm the editor from 1934 to 1959 Frederick James Camm - Wikipedia and the company George Newnes ltd George Newnes Ltd - Wikipedia
There were 12 volumes printed totaling 312 weekly issues from 12/5/1934 through to 27/4/1940 when printing stopped to preserve paper supplies during WWII. A new monthly series started May 1954 and ran through to August 1997 with 43 volumes 1-44 (for some reason volume 15 is missing) and approximately 497 issues taking into account some were not printed due to industrial action. In June 1982 a rival magazine "Popular Motoring" was incorporated into Practical Motorist
Many thanks to Alan Scard for taking the time to compile this information and for loaning me most of his collection of Practical Motorist magazines for this website.
Before PM started as a magazine Geo. Newnes 1932 monthly encyclopedia in 32 parts was a useful resource for maintaining your car.
in June 1936 there was a special offer for a free copy of the encyclopedia by collecting 3 coupons from magazines, details shown above.
Below is an example of a storage binder available to keep magazines neat and tidy and in order but also removable, a different option was to have the magazines bound permanently in a different style of binder, picture of how to order them shown below.
Below is an example of a storage binder available to keep magazines neat and tidy and in order but also removable, a different option was to have the magazines bound permanently in a different style of binder, picture of how to order them shown below.
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Editors
The first editor was F J Camm from 1934 through to April 1959, he died in February 1959 but was still credited as editor until April, a notice in the April magazine was printed saying -
It is with deepest regret that, as this issue goes to press, we have to inform readers of the sudden death of our editor Mr. F. J. Camm.
For many years, Mr. Camm’s name has been synonymous with the “Practical” Group of Journals, of which he was the originator, and the growth of which was largely due to his energetic and enthusiastic editorship.
He was the first to realise that there was a public demand for practical journals written in non-technical language, and he met this demand by producing the Practical Group of Magazines that made his name a household word. Mr. Camm’s extensive knowledge as a scientist enabled him to write many technical books in the engineering and radio field.
From May 1959 to May 1961 no editor was credited in the magazines.
From June 1961 to May 1982 Harry Heywood was editor.
From June 1982 to February 1986 Charles E Deane was editor.
From March 1986 to February 1993 Dennis Rea was editor.
From March 1993 to September 1994 David Orrick was editor.
From October 1994 to December 1995 Rodney Jaques.
From January 1996 to August 1997 Ewan Scott was the last editor.
The first editor was F J Camm from 1934 through to April 1959, he died in February 1959 but was still credited as editor until April, a notice in the April magazine was printed saying -
It is with deepest regret that, as this issue goes to press, we have to inform readers of the sudden death of our editor Mr. F. J. Camm.
For many years, Mr. Camm’s name has been synonymous with the “Practical” Group of Journals, of which he was the originator, and the growth of which was largely due to his energetic and enthusiastic editorship.
He was the first to realise that there was a public demand for practical journals written in non-technical language, and he met this demand by producing the Practical Group of Magazines that made his name a household word. Mr. Camm’s extensive knowledge as a scientist enabled him to write many technical books in the engineering and radio field.
From May 1959 to May 1961 no editor was credited in the magazines.
From June 1961 to May 1982 Harry Heywood was editor.
From June 1982 to February 1986 Charles E Deane was editor.
From March 1986 to February 1993 Dennis Rea was editor.
From March 1993 to September 1994 David Orrick was editor.
From October 1994 to December 1995 Rodney Jaques.
From January 1996 to August 1997 Ewan Scott was the last editor.
Practical motorist magazine prices throughout the years
From the first weekly edition May 12th 1934 the magazines cost 3D (in pre decimal that is how 3 pence was written) right through to 17th February 1940, that was almost 6 years without an increase, from 24th of February each edition was 4D until the last pre-war edition 27th April 1940.
In February 1937 the day the magazine was available changed from Wednesdays to Fridays, the last Wednesday was 15th, the 22nd said it was weekly and on the 29th it became Friday.
When the magazine restarted as a monthly edition in May 1954 it was priced at 1’. (that is how 1 shilling was written pre decimal) right through to February 1956.
Due to industrial action there was no March or April editions but in May 1956 the price rose to 1’3 (that is 1 shilling and 3 pence) until July 1959.
Again due to industrial action there was no August or September editions but in October 1959 the price rose to 1’6 until September 1962.
From October 1962 the price was 1’9 to September 1964.
From October 1964 the price was 2’. until March 1968.
From April 1968 the price was 2’6 until September 1970.
From October 1970 the price was 3/. until February 1971, in brackets (15 new pence), we had not changed to decimal currency but preparing us.
In March and April 1971 the price was shown as 15P with 3/. In brackets until December 1973.
There was no editions in January and February 1974 but when it restarted in March the price had risen to 18P for a short period, in October 1974 the price rose to 2/. until September 1975.
From October 1975 the price was 25P until August 1976.
From September 1976 the price was 30P. until October 1977.
From November 1977 the price was 35P. until October 1978.
From November 1978 the price was 40P. until October 1979.
From November 1979 the price was 50P. until September 1980.
From October 1980 the price was 60P. until September 1981.
From October 1981 the price was 70P. until September 1982.
From October 1982 the price was 80P. until November 1983.
From December 1983 the price was 85P. until February 1985.
From March 1985 the price was 95P. until September 1985.
From October 1985 the price was £1.00 until December 1988.
From January 1989 the price was £1.20 until March 1990.
From April 1990 the price was £1.30 until May 1991.
From June 1991 the price was £1.50 until June 1992.
From July 1992 the price was £1.70 until October 1995.
From November 1995 the price was £1.95 until June 1997.
The last 2 issues August and September 1997 were priced at £2.25.
From the first weekly edition May 12th 1934 the magazines cost 3D (in pre decimal that is how 3 pence was written) right through to 17th February 1940, that was almost 6 years without an increase, from 24th of February each edition was 4D until the last pre-war edition 27th April 1940.
In February 1937 the day the magazine was available changed from Wednesdays to Fridays, the last Wednesday was 15th, the 22nd said it was weekly and on the 29th it became Friday.
When the magazine restarted as a monthly edition in May 1954 it was priced at 1’. (that is how 1 shilling was written pre decimal) right through to February 1956.
Due to industrial action there was no March or April editions but in May 1956 the price rose to 1’3 (that is 1 shilling and 3 pence) until July 1959.
Again due to industrial action there was no August or September editions but in October 1959 the price rose to 1’6 until September 1962.
From October 1962 the price was 1’9 to September 1964.
From October 1964 the price was 2’. until March 1968.
From April 1968 the price was 2’6 until September 1970.
From October 1970 the price was 3/. until February 1971, in brackets (15 new pence), we had not changed to decimal currency but preparing us.
In March and April 1971 the price was shown as 15P with 3/. In brackets until December 1973.
There was no editions in January and February 1974 but when it restarted in March the price had risen to 18P for a short period, in October 1974 the price rose to 2/. until September 1975.
From October 1975 the price was 25P until August 1976.
From September 1976 the price was 30P. until October 1977.
From November 1977 the price was 35P. until October 1978.
From November 1978 the price was 40P. until October 1979.
From November 1979 the price was 50P. until September 1980.
From October 1980 the price was 60P. until September 1981.
From October 1981 the price was 70P. until September 1982.
From October 1982 the price was 80P. until November 1983.
From December 1983 the price was 85P. until February 1985.
From March 1985 the price was 95P. until September 1985.
From October 1985 the price was £1.00 until December 1988.
From January 1989 the price was £1.20 until March 1990.
From April 1990 the price was £1.30 until May 1991.
From June 1991 the price was £1.50 until June 1992.
From July 1992 the price was £1.70 until October 1995.
From November 1995 the price was £1.95 until June 1997.
The last 2 issues August and September 1997 were priced at £2.25.
You can even buy a model delivery van with Practical motorist poster on the side from Oxford Diecast
Model number mag010 first issued in January 2013 with a limited run of 2000.
From October 1956 through to May 1959 Practical Motorist magazine was also published in Australia on similar lines to the U.K version but featuring different cars of course , the first and last issues shown below, in June 1959 they returned to the U.K version.
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Go to the Australian covers here - Australian magazines