The Mechanical Horse was a very simple and sturdy vehicle constructed on a steel channel frame with a cab made of wood, the early versions having canvas doors. It came in two sizes, capable of carrying loads of 3-ton and six ton. The vehicles were very manoeuvrable and had a road speed of about 20 mph and could do between 10 and 20 mpg. They were used by quite a number of companies including the armed forces where they were used in stores and on aircraft carriers as well as with railway companies. Shell- Mex and BP Ltd was a joint marketing venture between Shell and British Petroleum. It was formed in 1932 when both companies merged their UK marketing operations in response to the difficult economic conditions of the time – the operations were demerged in 1976.