Ashtray (UK) | BOAC Beatles memorabilia

Many sellers and auction catalogs claim this item is from 1964, probably because it has a famous Beatles photo and the 'Fly BOAC' logo from their first US tour. But flip it over, and you'll see that's not the case. This 6½" x 4¾" piece bridges the 1964 promotional vibe and 1970s souvenir manufacturing.

Check the back, and you’ll find clues about how it was made. These clues show someone made it after two airlines merged. There’s a green Wedgwood mark on the back with 'Ivory China / Made in England' and the British Airways logo. BOAC and BEA became British Airways in 1974, so anything with the British Airways name came after the Beatles’ tours in the 1960s.

The little 'a' in the 'British Airways' logo on the bottom is another hint. The airline used this style right after the 1974 merger, before switching to the red-and-blue logo in the late 1970s and 1980s. Wedgwood added the EC 1040 code under the airline’s name to label this piece.

On the front, you see John, Paul, George, and Ringo with British flags and the words 'The Beatles FLY BOAC.' The design looks like it’s from 1964, but it’s really a souvenir from the 1970s.

During the 1970s, fans of the 1960s British Invasion wanted souvenirs. Wedgwood and other companies made special trays, ashtrays, and little dishes for businesses and collectors.

If you check when the airlines merged and look at the marks on the back, you’ll see this piece was made in the mid-to-late 1970s—not 1964. That makes it a quirky and cool part of Beatles history.

You might also like: Beatles TWA Ashtray

#faBgear #nemsmemorabilia #MarkItfaB @NEMSmemorabilia #BeatlesMemorabilia #ItsafaBfaBfaBfaBworld

www.fabgear.company   

🔷 Beatles 🔷 NEMS