Art of British Comic Artists
George Drysdale

George Drysdale (1915-1967) worked for D C Thomson from the 1940's. His artwork on 'Tin-Can Tommy' for The Beano was really excellent, and is credited with drawing 'Maxy's Taxi' (1946) for The Beano, and 'Dangerous Duff' (1947) for The Dandy.  Drysdale worked for D C Thomson for several decades, and is known for being a prominent artist with The Topper comic.




'Tin-Can Tommy - The Clockwork Boy' - 'Chimney Sweep' - The Beano c1946
Does anyone have the comic which contains this strip?
Please let me know the date & if possible let me have a scan of this episode? ( Paul Mason at buryanpaul@yahoo.com )

on the reverse of this artwork, hand-written neatly in green ink, apparently by the artist, are George Drysdale's contact details:-
950823  L.A.C.  Geo Drysdale  RAF  172 South Market Street  Aberdeen

Originally entitled Le Avventure di Roberto Robot, 'Tin-Can Tommy' was the work of an art agency in Milan, Italy, run by the Torelli brothers, who supplied at least one other comic title to publishers D C Thomson. Le Avventure di Roberto Robot was re-titled and translated into English for re-publication in Britain, and on 30th July 1938 appeared as 'Tin-Can Tommy The Clockwork Boy'filling the back page of the very first Beano comic.

The 'Tin-Can Tommy' storyline, detailed in issue one of The Beano, suggested that Tommy the clockwork boy was built by his professor 'father' for wife, Mrs. Lee, as a substitute for the son they had lost the year before. In time Tommy was given a pal (Babe), and a mechanical cat (Clanky) and also even a horse made of metal (Ironsides). The Torelli brothers continued supplying fresh strips for many months, but with the advent of World War II hostilities erupted between Britain and Italy, and the Torelli Brothers migrated to France, so Thomson's were forced to source new artwork in Britain. From issue 69 of The Beano (18th November 1939) 'Tin-Can Tommy' was drawn by Sam Fair, who was followed in this work by two other staff artists,  Charles 'Chick' Gordon and George Drysdale. 'Tin-Can Tommy' strips continued to appear in The Beano up to issue 303, in 1947.


'Tin-Can Tommy - The Clockwork Boy' - 'Chimney Sweep' - The Beano c1946
George Drysdale



List of other British comic artists currently featured on this website

(left-click below to select chosen artist)


Leo Baxendale
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Herbert Foxwell

Mervyn Johnston


Bob MacGillivray


Alfredo Marculeta

Allan Morley

Vic Neill

Robert Rankin

Lew Stringer


If you have any vintage comic artwork to sell,
please email details, image & asking price to:-

buryanpaul@yahoo.com