National Benzole
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National Benzole was a petroleum brand used in the United Kingdom from 1919 to the 1960s. In 1934 the company acquired Power Petroleum. In the early 1960s it was renamed as simply National.
[edit] Benzol
Initially National Benzole sold benzole - an additive which, when used with petrol, prevented engine knocking and improved acceleration and smoothness. It proved to be very popular with British motorists and the National Brand became a common sight at the roadside. During the late 1950s Benzole was found to be hazardous to health and therefore from the early 1960s onwards National only sold petrol.
[edit] Brand name and logo
"Mr Mercury" was a zany mascot used in numerous advertising campaigns by National Benzole and eventually Mr Mercury's head was used as the brand's logo. In 1957 National Benzole was acquired by Shell-Mex and BP Ltd.
During the 1970s and 1980s the company's petrol startions sold figurines of The Smurfs cartoon characters whose blue and white colouring matched the National colours.
During the early 1990s the brand name was phased out in favour of "BP" (British Petroleum) who owned the National Benzole Company. The brand still exists to this day and its retail outlets can be seen mainly in Scotland as Scottish Fuels are currently licensed by BP to use the brand name.
