These glasses appear to be mainly sunglasses or ones for outdoors as the tinted glass and the shades indicate this. They would have been used commonly in the past (100 years ago or more) by those able to afford the cost of the item. Eye glasses were first used in the 13th century and bi-focals were invented in the late 18th century.These items have no known local significance and are kept as interesting souvenirs of eye glasses used in the past.This is a pair of spectacles or glasses in a case. The glasses are made of thin metal and contain dark tinted glass. The eye-glass pieces are oval in shape. On the outer rims of the eye-glass pieces are two curved metal mesh covers attached to the metal rims by two screws on each side. These act as shades for the sun and side protection for the eyes and fold down when not in use. One of the shades is detached from its metal rim. The glasses case is made of cardboard and has a black mottled outer covering and a light brown inside lining. The case is much scuffed. household items, history of warrnambool, spectacles

Miniatures such as these are still made today as collection pieces and can be seen on display in some houses. Some of these items might also be used as furnishing pieces in dolls houses though dolls houses with quality fittings are not bought or sold today as much as in the past. These china miniatures have no known local provenance but are retained for display purposes.These five items are miniature china pieces, used in a doll’s house or as collection pieces for display in a home. .1 Miniature house in red and cream colouring .2 Miniature basket in brown and cream colouring .3 Miniature jug or pot in brown and cream colouring (handle broken off) .4 Miniature jug in brown and cream colouring .5 Miniature brown urn .1 Englandwarrnambool, antiquarian household items, history of warrnambool

This kettle would have been used on top of a wood stove to boil water to make tea and other beverages and to use for other household purposes. It would have been a common household item in Australian homes from the beginning of European settlement up about the mid 20th century when wood stoves, although still in use in many country areas, were largely superseded by gas or electric stoves in most households. The kettle was made of durable material as it usually remained on the top of the stove for most of the day so that hot water was readily available. This kettle is retained as an example of an essential household item used in the past. It will be useful for display.This is a circular-shaped black iron kettle with a handle and a spout. The lid is circular. The kettle is rusting inside. vintage household items, history of warrnambool

The basic balance scale has been around for thousands of years and its accuracy has improved dramatically over the last several centuries, the principle behind this tool remains unchanged. Its parts include a fulcrum, a beam that balances on it, a pan at the end of the beam to hold the materials to be weighed, and a flat platform at the other for the counter-balancing weights. Balance scales that require equal weights on each side of the fulcrum have been used by everyone from apothecaries and assayers to jewellers and postal workers. Known as an unequal arm balance scale, this variety builds the counterweight into the device. Counter scales used in dry-goods stores and domestic kitchens often featured Japanned or (blackened) cast iron with bronze trims. Made by companies such as Howe and Fairbanks, the footed tin pans of these scales were often oblong, some encircled at one end so bulk items could be easily poured into a bag. Seamless pans were typically stamped from brass and given style names like Snuff (the smallest) and Birmingham (the largest). Some counter scales were designed for measuring spices, others for weighing slices of cake. In the 18th century, spring scales began to appear and would use the resistance of spring to calculate weights, which are read automatically on the scale’s face. The ease of use of spring scales over balance scales. One of the most common types of spring scales was the kitchen scale also known as a family or dial scale. Designed for horizontal surfaces, these vintage kitchen scales used the weight of goods in a pan at the top of the scale to force the spring down rather than the balance system. Such scales were common in early 20th century households and were sold by many companies. Many had flat weighing surfaces but some were topped by shallow pans. Companies such as Salters, Chatillon, and Fairbanks were the most popular brands used. These scales are significant as they identify one of the basic preparation items for the weighing of foodstuff in the family kitchen to prepare everyday meals. This item is significant as it gives a snapshot into domestic life within the average home in Australia around the turn of the twentieth century and is, therefore, an item with social relevance. Black cast iron, medium weighing scales, with a fulcrum which the beam that balances on, there is as scoop at one end for the material to be weighted and a flat circular disc at the other end that holds the weights. Around the cast iron base is an embossed leaf pattern. All the weights have their weight embossed within the casting.There are 5 weights, marked 2 oz, 4 oz,8 oz,1 lb,2 lb, This scale does not have any visual markings on the arms to identify a maker or true balance. It is therefore assumed that these scales were made for domestic use only.flagstaff hill, warrnambool, shipwrecked-coast, flagstaff-hill, flagstaff-hill-maritime-museum, maritime-museum, shipwreck-coast, flagstaff-hill-maritime-village, spring scale, scale

The first commercially available, Australian-made domestic refrigerator to operate without ice was produced by Edward Hallstrom in 1923. It used kerosene as a power source and was promoted as ideal for outback stations where ice was not available. According to Museum Victoria, Hallstrom introduced the 'Silent Night' which ran on electricity or gas in 1935. However, Hailstorm's great-grandson, stated that the Silent Night refrigerator was introduced in 1928. Although Australians were among the pioneers of refrigeration in the 1850s, the technology wasn't adapted for domestic use until many decades later. The first domestic electric refrigerator was sold in America in 1913. It had an air-cooled refrigeration unit mounted on top of an ice box. The Frigidaire and Kelvinator brands date from 1918 when the first self-contained fridges were sold. Before this food safes were used as well to keep food away from flies and to keep items cool.A significant item used from the late Victorian era until around 1940 when people were beginning to be able to afford domestic refrigerators. After the second world war, most households had replaced their food storage cupboards or safes with refrigerators. The subject item gives a snapshot of domestic life from this time.Wooden kitchen safe with 3 metal perforated panels & 2 shelves inside. Was painted light Green but has been restoredflagstaff hill, warrnambool, shipwrecked-coast, flagstaff-hill, flagstaff-hill-maritime-museum, maritime-museum, shipwreck-coast, flagstaff-hill-maritime-village, refrigeration, refrigerator, food storage, food safes, edward hallstrom

A hat coat and umbrella stand is a device used to store hats and often coats on, and umbrellas within. Some catalogues in Europe marketed this furniture as a portmanteau from the French words Porter (carry) and Manteau (cloak). The front hall was the introduction to the house, and as such was an important part of the Victorian home. Furnishings were selected not only to make it a useful place to hang a hat and coat, store an umbrella and leave a calling card but also to show family wealth, social position and knowledge of current styles. A hall stand or a hat rack was the most important piece of furniture in homes at this time. New and more elaborate designs began to appear about 1840, as homes became larger and social visits became more structured. Usually made of wood and standing at least 1.5 meters tall, they have a single-pole making up most of the height, with a sturdy base to prevent toppling, and an array of lengthy pegs or hooks at the top for placement of hats. Smaller houses had smaller front halls, so a single-pole type as by the 1920s houses had become smaller. A household furniture item possibly from the 1920s that was common in houses from the early 1840s, it's significance is social, demonstrating how furniture trends change over time with the more elaborate the item the more social standing was attributed to the owners' position in society. even today persons association and ownership with inanimate objects tend to represent their social standing along with their financial and community acceptability. Coat rack with four curved legs, circular holder for umbrellas and walking sticks. Four metal hooks, screwed onto main column of stand. Condition: one curved leg broken. 2 hooks broken.Noneflagstaff hill, warrnambool, shipwrecked-coast, flagstaff-hill, flagstaff-hill-maritime-museum, maritime-museum, shipwreck-coast, flagstaff-hill-maritime-village

A barometer is an instrument used for measuring atmosphere pressure thus determining weather changes.The first apparatus generally accepted as a barometer was that set up in Florence in 1644 by Evangelista Torricelli (1608–1647), a mathematician and physicist. Torricelli filled a glass tube with mercury, sealed it at one end, and inverted it with its open end in a dish of mercury. The level always fell a short way down the tube, then settled at a height of about thirty inches. He concluded correctly that the mercury column was sustained by the weight of the air pressing on the open surface of mercury, and further experiments convinced him that the space above the mercury in the tube was a vacuum. He noted that the level rose and fell with changing temperature, but he was unable to use his apparatus to measure variations in the weight of the atmosphere because he had not foreseen that temperature would affect the level of the mercury. News of this experiment circulated quickly among European scientists, who hastened to replicate the experiment. Torricelli's conclusions were not universally accepted because some disputed whether the air had weight, while both Aristotle and the Catholic Church denied the possibility of a vacuum. In France, the philosopher René Descartes (1596–1650) seems to have been the first person, probably in 1647, to attach a graduated scale to the tube so that he could record any changes attributable to the weather. At around this time Duke Ferdinand II of Tuscany organized the first short-lived meteorological network among scientists in other Italian cities, gathering observations of pressure, temperature, humidity, wind direction, and state of the sky.Theis barometer is an example of a household item from the early 20th century, used to determine the day's weather. The barometer is significant as an aid to human social, material and scientific development.Barometer, round, brass housing inset into carved wooden casing (lacquer mostly worn off). Decorative lettering for weather conditions "Stormy, Rain, Change, Fair, Very Dry". Workings are visible through opening in centre of dial. Indicator needle and another adjustable needle . Hook screwed into back of case.flagstaff hill, warrnambool, shipwrecked coast, flagstaff hill maritime museum, maritime museum, shipwreck coast, flagstaff hill maritime village, great ocean road, barometer, scientific instrument, weather forcasting instrument, weather gauge

Robert Harper and Co. Ltd. was an Australian company involved with sugar refining and starch and oatmeal production. Silver Star Starch was a well-known product and starch was used extensively in most households, mainly for shirt collars, aprons, nurses’ uniforms, household linen, tablecloths, doyleys etc. This item is of some interest, both for display and as a good example of housekeeping methods of the past (up to about the 1970s). However, the starching of clothing does continue today, mainly for special purposes – theatre costumes, clerical and ceremonial garb etc. The item can be specifically used by the Warrnambool and District Historical Society in any display connected to the 1896-7 Warrnambool Industrial and Art Exhibition as this exhibition had, as one of its competitions, the Silver Star Starch Ironing Competition (see pages 96-7, book, ‘The Great Warrnambool Exhibition’, by E. O’Callaghan, Collett, Bain and Gaspars, 2002)A box that contained 12 ounces of Silver Star starch for domestic use, mainly for ironing clothes. The box, a product of Robert Harper and Company Limited, Victoria, Australia, has several advertising captions – ‘Won’t Stick to the Iron’, ‘The Best in the World’. ‘Requires no Boiling’, and has directions for use. The front of the box has an illustration of two women from Victorian times using the product,warrnambool, silver star starch, robert harper & co ltd

A conch shell is a tropical marine mollusc with a robust spiral shell which bears long projections and has a flared lip No information is available about where this shell came from or when it was acquired by the Warrnambool and District Historical Society.This item has no known local provenance but would be useful for display as an attractive marine item which is no longer able to be taken from its original locationLarge white conch shell with pink and yellow coloured lip. Stands upright. Four points. One point broken off at tip and lip edge sightly broken.warrnambool, shell

John Gibson was a tea merchant in Warrnambool in the 1930's and later went on to run a clothing business in Fairy Street Warrnambool which also involved travelling to areas outside of Warrnambool and district farms with a range of clothing. His wife Mary was associated with the Nella Maris cafe in Liebig St where John Gibson was seriously wounded in a stabbing attack. He and his wife Mary were killed in a road accident in May 1965. It was not uncommon for items such as tea and other basic commodities to be purchased in large amounts. In an article on A common item from the early and mid 20th century with a link to a Warrnambool person and family businessRectangular metal tin with attached hinged lid.The front of the tin has a dark blue background with a white teapot and palm trees and buildings also in white. Text is in red.The tea of taste Renown Tea. J Gibson Warrnambool. Nett weight 12lbs.warrnambool, john alexander gibson, renown tea, j gibson warrnambool

An ink stand was a basic household item in the homes of the more affluent people in past generations before the more common use of the fountain pen and the biro (late 1940s). The ink stand in a home would have been used mainly for letter writing. It was also a basic item in business houses in the same time frame. There is no provenance for this particular item but it is of interest as a household object of the past and is useful for display. Wooden base with indentations for two ink bottles and pens and white metal handles (000633.1). Two ink bottles made of cut glass with white metal necks and hinged glass tops (000633.2 and .3). One ink pen with bone handle, brass top and rusty nib (000633.4).Pen marked 229.2 (old cataloguing number) Base has name in handwriting ‘Mrs A.H. Davidson’ (the donor) communication, ink set, writing set, warrnambool

No specific information is available on this item. Demijohns were used for holding spirits and wicker coverings (usually woven osier or willow) were commonly used from the 1700s to the early 20th century. This item is of interest as an example of the containers used to store wine and spirits 100 years ago. Breweries and wine and spirit stores have been important businesses in Warrnambool in the past.This is a large ceramic demijohn with a ceramic lid and a cork stopper. Both the lid and the cork stopper are broken in parts. The demijohn has a wicker covering with handles. The wicker cover is fraying in parts. On lid: ‘2’demijohn with wicker covering, warrnambool

No specific information is available on this item. Demijohns were used for holding spirits and wicker coverings (usually woven osier or willow) were commonly used from the 1700s to the early 20th century. This item is of interest as an example of the containers used to store wine and spirits 100 years ago. Breweries and wine and spirits stores have been important businesses in Warrnambool in the past.This is a ceramic demijohn with a ceramic lid and a stopper (made of a rubber composite?) and a wicker covering. It has one handle. The ceramic lid is chipped. The woven material is slightly broken in partsdemijohn with wicker covering, warrnambool

This 1890 document contains the will and probate papers of Benjamin Charles Jewell who died in 1889. English-born Benjamin Jewell was a Warrnambool stonemason who was the licensee of the Steam Packet Hotel (later Lady Bay Hotel) from 1883 to 1889. His executors were Christopher Beattie, a Warrnambool undertaker and James Tallent, manager of the Warrnambool Corporation Yards. Benjamin Jewell left his estate of property, household furniture and cattle to his wife, Ellen Jewell. The solicitor, Ernest Chambers, had his office in Kepler Street with Thomas Goodall, a legal clerk, managing this office. Tait collection: item 9 of 62This document is of interest because of its contents - the will and probate of Benjamin Jewell, a Warrnambool businessman of note in the 19th century - and because of its lawyer, Ernest Chambers, also well-known in Warrnambool at that time. This is a piece of parchment folded in two with a seal of the Supreme Court of the Colony of Victoria attached by a blue ribbon. The writing in handwritten in brown ink. One page is blank. There is some pencil writing at the top left hand corner. Apart from some discolouration the document is in good condition.‘13/9 E.J.W. Chambers, 7241’benjamin jewell, ernest chambers

These dishes were part of a crockery set used in the George Rolfe household at Lyndoch, Warrnambool. George Rolfe (1836-1919) was a Melbourne tea merchant who acquired land at the mouth of the Hopkins River in Warrnambool from the 1880s on as a holiday home. He developed the property over the years, adding a windmill and reservoir, bone and chaff sheds, a stable, jetty and boathouse and an extensive garden. In 1891 he married Mrs Annie Lake and it was his stepdaughter, Florence Lake who built the house, Lyndoch in the 1920s. This building today forms part of an Aged Care Facility. This item is part of the larger Rolfe dinner set as described on Victorian Collections at VC001421 and VC001422These dishes are of importance as they belonged to the George Rolfe family of Lyndoch, Warrnambool. They demonstrate the quality of the household goods used by more affluent families in the second half of the 19th century. These are four china serving dishes or plates which are part of a set of crockery used in the Rolfe Lyndoch household in Warrnambool. The dishes have a circular base with a circular dish resting on the base. The dishes have or had two handles with these handles and the edges of the dishes being gold trimmed. Around the rim of the dishes is a pattern of loops and dots etc of teal and gold. One dish (.1) has no handles, one dish (.4) has one handle only and two dishes are cracked (.3 & .4) . Two dishes are stained, one severely (.2 & .4) ‘Minton’ george rolfe, florence lake

These dishes were part of a crockery set used in the George Rolfe household at Lyndoch, Warrnambool. George Rolfe (1836-1919) was a Melbourne tea merchant who acquired land at the mouth of the Hopkins River in Warrnambool from the 1880s on as a holiday home. He developed the property over the years, adding a windmill and reservoir, bone and chaff sheds, a stable, jetty and boathouse and an extensive garden. In 1891 he married Mrs Annie Lake and it was his stepdaughter, Florence Lake who built the house, Lyndoch in the 1920s. This building today forms part of an Aged Care Facility. This item is part of the larger Rolfe dinner set as described on Victorian Collections at VC001421 and VC001422These cups are part of a crockery set, and are kept because they belonged to George Rolfe, a prominent property owner and farmer in Warrnambool in the late 19th century and early 20th century. The items, dating from 1864, have social significance showing the type of crockery used by a more affluent family in the 19th century.Four small white cups decorated with aqua band around the top of each cup . A scalloped pattern of dots are suspended from the solid band which is decorated with a row of gold dots. There is a gold rim at the base of the cup.Mintonrolfe, lyndoch, warrnambool, minton cups, mrs annie lake

These two serving dishes or tureens have been made by the English firm of Myott, Son & Co. early in the 20th century (Art Nouveau design). Ashley Myott established the business in 1898 and later his brother joined the business. In 1976 the firm merged with the Alfred Meakin Company but today it is owned by the Churchill Pottery Group. The dishes have no known local provenance. These dishes are kept because they are attractive items in good order and examples of the type of dishes bought for use in the more affluent households early in the 20th century They will be useful for display purposes These are two identical china serving dishes with lids. The bases of the dishes are circular with the bowl section having twelve-sided edges and two handles with black patterns. The tops of the bowl have two black lines around the edges with two ornamental patterns in red, grey and black on the top edges. The lids also have twelve sided edges and have the same black lines, four of the coloured designs and handles with black patterning. On the bases are a gold-coloured crown with the maker’s details. ‘Myott, Son & Co. Ltd.’ myott & co, art nouveau, warrnambool, art nouveau serving dishes

This box contained packets of Reckitts Blue and was probably displayed in a shop with the lid up showing the brand name and the items. Blue or laundry blue was a household product used up to about 1960 to improve the appearance of textiles during the washing process. It added a trace of blue dye which made white fabrics appear whiter and it was widely used. Reckitts was a firm established by Isaac Reckitt in Hull, England, in 1840. By 1888 it was a public company and in 1938 it merged with J.& J. Colman, a food manufacturer. Later it sold the Colman side of the business and today it trades as the Reckitt Benckiser Group. The firm established an Australian branch in the late 19th century.This box has been used to store the Charles Brittlebank birds’ eggs collection but it is of interest in its own right as a box that held Reckitts Blue packets. Most Australian households in the 19th and 20th centuries (up to about 1960) would have used blue bags or packets in the laundering process so they are part of our social history. Today a bleach is used as a replacement for a blue bag.This is a wooden box with a hinged lid (the hinges are hooks and eyes). The box once contained one gross of Reckitt’s Blue. The printing on the box is coloured but some of it is now faded. Inside the lid, pasted on, is the name of the manufacturer. The side of the box also has the name of the manufacturer pasted on but the printing has been discoloured at the edge by the application of maroon-coloured paint. On side of box: ‘Reckitt’s Round Blue, contains one gross of circular blocks’ Inside the lid: ‘Reckitt’s Round Blue’ social history, history of warrnambool, reckitt’ blue

A bathroom set would have been a common item in most households in the 19th century and up the mid 20th century. Not many of the bathroom sets, however, would have been as fine and as attractive as this one as this one would have belonged to a family with some wealth. Bathroom sets went out of common use once houses were sewered or had septic tanks and toilets and bathrooms were constructed inside the main house building. This set is of interest as an example of a common household item in houses 100 years ago or more. It will be useful for display.This is a five-piece china bathroom/ toilet set. The five pieces that comprise the set have a white background with a floral pattern in sage green monochrome with roses, carnations, sweet pea and dianthus. In the pattern are also tendrils and foliage. The jug is an elongated oval shape with a decorated handle. The interior of the lip is chipped. The circular bowl has an indented ridge at the top with interior and exterior decoration. The bowl is partly discoloured and there is some crazing. The toothbrush holder has a vase-like shape with an indented rim with fluting on the top. The chamber pot is circular with a decorated handle and one crack. The soap holder is circular and has three parts – the circular decorated base, the inset piece with a fluted edge and one large and six small holes for draining, and the decorated lid which is also fluted around the edge. The markings at the base of each item have a crown symbol as well as the lettering. Staffordshire England Camelia’ social history, bathroom set, china bathroom set

Candle snuffers were a common household item before lighting by electricity and gas became commonplace. They were used to trim the wick of the candle and extinguish the flame. items such as these are still used in homes and churches todayItems such as this have significance as it is a common item which would have been used by a many early people before the advent of electric lights. This item is typical of a decorative item having a functional use. Scissor action metal implement which sits on three small legs which have ball shape on the end.Silver in colour with scroll decoration on various parts of the implement.candle snuffer, candle wick trimmer

This is an early model of a hand-held juice extractor. It is a household item that is probably over 100 years old.This juice extractor has no known local provenance but it is an interesting item and useful for display. This juice extractor has a brass ring with a handle. Sitting in the ring is a heavy glass container with a concave base and a ridge inner base moulded in a shape to fit a whole or a half of a lemon or orange or other fruit or vegetable. The rim of the glass has two pieces broken off. Attached to the brass base is a metal scoop-shaped dish with a handle. The handle pushes up and down into the glass container to put pressure on the object in the glass container to extract the juice. The scoop section has the maker’s name on the front. ‘Williams’ history of warrnambool, social history, hand held juicer

Pen and ink sets were common household and business items in the 19th century and up to the mid 20th century (prior to the introduction of ballpoint pens). They would have been placed on a writing desk or table. The items here are attractive ones and would have been a relatively expensive purchase.These items are connected to the Toleman family from Warrnambool and may have been used by the donor’s father who was an accountant. These are four items:- .1 An oblong glass dish, partly rounded at the ends and with a criss-cross pattern on the base. Inside the dish, towards the ends, are two ridges for holding four pens or pencils. .2 An oblong polished black stone tray with a curved front and a ridge for holding a pen. On the oblong section are two square metal bases with four side clips on each to hold the inkwells. These metal pieces are attached to the black tray with metal screws. .3 & .4 Two glass (crystal?) cubes with a hollow inside for holding ink. The tops of the cubes are metal with circular openings. The lids are metal with metal hinges and polished black stone topshistory of warrnambool, writing implements and associated items, household items from the past

These inkwells would have been used in a household or business during the first half of the 20th century. By the 1950s fountain pens were in common use and, by the 1960s, ballpoint pens were used, making the use of ink obsolete in most situations. These inkwells have no known local provenance but are of interest as examples of a common household item over 100 years ago. These are two inkwells made of glass with black bakelite tops. One of the tops is broken on the side. The bases of the inkwells have an embedded star-shaped pattern with eight points. ‘Velos product’ household items, inkwells, history of warrnambool

There is no known history attached to this item. Lamps such as this one were common household items in the 19th century and the first three decades of the 20th century until electrical lighting became common in most households. This item has no known local provenance but it is useful for display as an item that was common in households in the past. This item has a cast iron base in a pyramidal shape with the four sides having identical scrolls and star shapes. A piece of brass attaches the base to a violet-coloured bowl. The bowl contains a white wick. The brass wick holder has an external knob for regulating the light intensity. There is more brass between the bowl and the mantle which is made of plain glass. On the base of the lamp: ‘Rd. No. 207869’ history of warrnambool, social history, ruby glass kerosene lamp

There is no known history connected to this item. A spirit lamp was an essential household item in the 19th century and the first three decades of the 20th century until electric lighting became a common feature of most homes. This lamp has no particular significance and is suitable for display as an example of family life in the past.This is a spirit lamp with a milk glass base in two sections (two pedestals in rings). The bowl is made of green glass emulating the shape of the base. There is a brass section connecting the bowl to the wick holder with the wick exposed. There is a small knob or handle external to the bowl for controlling the wick’s use. The clear glass lamp mantle is slim-line bulbous shaped. history of warrnambool, social history, spirit lamp

This lamp has no known history. Lamps such as this one were for indoor use and were essential items in households in the 19th century and the first three decades of the 20th century until electric lighting became common in most households. This item has no known local provenance and will be useful for display as an example of a common household item of the past.This is a lamp with a glass base which is fluted and mostly coloured green. The bowl is clear glass with a concave raised pattern on the base of the bowl. The bowl contains a discoloured white wick. The lighting mechanism is brass with an external knob for controlling the use of the wick. The lamp mantle is bulbous-shaped. social history, history of warrnambool, kerosene lamp

No information is available on the history of this item but it was common in the 19th and early 20th centuries to have household items made from animal bone. Sometimes it was bone from more exotic animals from Asia and India. This item may have been used to attach a decoration to the hair. This item has no known local significance but it is of interest as an item used in the past and will be useful for display.This is a hair comb with a curved handle and a coarse comb section . It is made of some sort of animal bone and has one of the edges of the comb section broken off. It has three holes on the handle for attachment to other objects and there are several holes in the material, one around one of the holes in the handle.hair comb, warrnambool, bone hair comb

No particular information is available on this item but as the matches were made at a Commonwealth Government factory they probably date from World War Two (1939-45). At this time many essential items that would be of particular use for the war effort were produced by Government factories to ensure a regular supply and to regulate the use within the community. This item has no known local provenance but is of some historical interest as an example of matches produced mid 20th century. Matches at that time were much more important as a lighting mechanism and a common household item. This is round cardboard box in two sections with a circular cardboard lid (slightly bent). The box has a striped black and cream pattern on it. The box has 21 waxed matches with blue or white tips.‘The Commonwealth Match Works, Melbourne, Waterproof’commonwealth match works, warrnambool

This tin of boot polish was a common household item in the 20th century (and is still used to a lesser extent today). This tan boot polish was sold under the brand name of ‘C & D’ at the general store of Cramond and Dickson in Liebig Street, Warrnambool. John Glass Cramond and James Dickson established their business in Warrnambool in 1855 and this general store operated (firstly in Timor Street and later in Liebig Street) until 1973, making it one of the longest-running and one of the most important businesses in Warrnambool’s history. By 1868 a London agency had been established and direct imports from England began on a large scale. Many of the articles they sold, including the boot polish, were made expressly for the Cramond and Dickson store. This tin of boot polish is of great interest as an example of the goods sold by Cramond and Dickson that were made expressly for the Warrnambool store. Cramond and Dickson were one of the most important stores ever to operate in Warrnambool.This is a round metal tin originally gold-coloured and with a red tape binding to prevent its opening. The front of the tin has printing and the image of a stylized rising sun and the bottom has more printing. The bottom of the tin is indented to allow the tin to rest on the rim only. The printing is legible but much faded. The tin contains the original polish. Top: ‘Use only C & D brand of Tan Boot Polish, Cramond & Dickson, Warrnambool. Port Fairy and London’ Bottom: ‘For best results remove all dust, apply a little C & D dressing, brush briskly. Rubbing finally with a soft cloth produces a brilliant surface. Weight when packed 1½ ozs. net’ cramond and dickson store

A tin of boot polish was a common household item in the 20th century (and is still in use to a lesser extent today). This dark tan boot polish was sold under the brand name of ‘C & D’ at the general store of Cramond and Dickson in Liebig Street, Warrnambool. John Glass Cramond and James Dickson established their business in Warrnambool in 1855 and this general store operated (firstly in Timor Street and later in Liebig Street) until 1973, making it one of the longest-running and one of the most important businesses in Warrnambool’s history. By 1868 a London agency had been established and direct imports from England began on a large scale. Many of the articles they sold, including the boot polish, were made expressly for the Cramond and Dickson store.This tin of boot polish is of great interest as an example of the goods sold by Cramond and Dickson that were made expressly for the Warrnambool store. Cramond and Dickson were one of the most important stores ever to operate in Warrnambool. This is a round metal tin, originally gold-coloured and with a red tape binding to prevent its opening. The front of the tin has printing and the image of a stylized rising sun and the bottom has more printing. The bottom of the tin is indented to allow the tin to rest on the rim only. The printing is legible but much faded. The tin contains the original polish. Top: ‘Use only C & D brand of Dark Tan Boot Polish, Cramond & Dickson, Warrnambool, Port Fairy and London’ Bottom: ‘For best results remove all dust, apply a little C & D dressing, brush briskly. Rubbing finally with a soft cloth produces a brilliant surface. Weight when packed 1½ ozs. net’ cramond and dickson store, warrnambool