[oldtimer]

I have a battered copy of Forbidden Worlds No2 British Edition cover priced 1 shilling and has  a Ogden Whitney cover picture for the first story "The Iron Brain".

Inside front cover gives the publisher as Arnold Book Co., however reference works I have checked, including the late great Denis Gifford's The Complete Catalogue of British Comics, give the publisher as Strato. Can someone help clear up the my mystery.
Are Stratos and Arnold Book Co. the same company? If not why is Stratos quoted in reference sources and not Arnold?

Oldtimer

[narfstar]

I do not know the answer but we would like to have a scan of the book

[oldtimer]

Already in process of scanning it.

Oldtimer

[paw broon]

A puzzler, Oldtimer.  Arnold Book Co. produced a lot of comics, many of which were American reprints and Strato, I think, did British editions of Classics Illustrated.
The Pure Nostalgia site has an issue of Forbidden Worlds and lists publisher as Strato but their reprints of Adventures into the Unknown are listed as Arnold.  Masterman, of which we have #1 on site, seems to have changed publisher and this extract from 30th Century Comics diary, years ago, has a minor explanation:-
http://ccgi.thirtiethcentury.free-online.co.uk/diary/archives/00000415.htm
So, I think that comics did change publishers, or, perhaps, publishers simply changed names.  I might be being a bit simplistic here and any further insight would be seriously welcome.

[oldtimer]

Thanks Paw Broon although your answer has given me more leads to explore it also shows how difficult it is to get a clear history of British Comics. Maybe that's part of the reason I've been hooked on them for nearly 70 years.

Oldtimer

[oldtimer]

Found ref to Thorpe & Porter Ltd on two bottom page Ads for Adventures into the Unknown & Mystery in Space UK Editions In Forbidden worlds No.2. searched on the internet for Thorpe & Porter Ltd and come up with the following:-

[paw broon]

Now I've had a bit of time, (had to finish painting the decking or I would have been in trouble) I've had a browse through on old British guide and Adventures into The Unknown is listed as, " Arnold Book Co./Thorpe & Porter"  and Forbidden Worlds as "Strato".  Other titles, e.g. Space Comics are listed as "Arnold Book Co."  There seems to be no consistency.  I'll ask my pal Russell if he can shed any more light on this.
Adding this - I missed this first time through the guide.  Haunt of Fear (only 1 issue, 1952) listed as Strato and The Haunt of Fear (only 1 issue, 1954) is listed as Arnold Book Co... For anyone else who's interested, both titles reprinted EC material and The Haunt of Fear was cited in the U.K. horror comics campaign.
Make of that what you will.