This is an early example of a mechanical device for the washing of clothes.It worked on a rocking motion making the chore of washday easier for the housewife.This is an early example of a mechanical device for washing of clothes.This Washing Machine is made of wood and the main barrel part is a rectangular shaped box with slopping sides.On the top is the lid and a handle.It is set on a stand which allowes it to be used with a rocking motion.F.WOLTER & ECHBERG"S PATENT WASHING MACHINE .NO 2955. 6 RUSSELL STREET MELBOURNE.ROYAL LETTERS PATENT GRANTED 1876.washing machine 1876.household appliance

A mangle or wringer is a mechanical laundry aid consisting of two rollers in a sturdy frame, connected by cogs and, in its home version, powered by a hand crank or electrically. A household mangle/wringer could be attached to a bench for easier use. The washing process itself involved lifting the items from the cold soak and wringing or mangling each item before transferring them, with more soap flakes, into the copper for boiling. Items that remained soiled, even after an overnight soak, were rubbed on a scrubbing board before being transferred to the copper. The clothes mangle would be used to squeeze out all the excess water. Clothes would then be hung out to dry on a clothes line, or laid over a clothes-horse next to the kitchen or living room fire. This one was owned by the mother of Bob Clarke, an Orbost resident.This item is an example of the typical laundry equipment used by families in the Orbost district in the early 20th century.Clothes mangle [wringer] which has a wooden and metal turning handle. It has a ratchet and 2 tap screws for pressure. It has of two rollers in a frame, connected by cogs and is powered by a hand crank.On top - "No. Hardwood Rolls 124" Front - "Household Clothes Mangle Steel ball bearings The American Wringer Company New York USA"laundry wringer mangle

Used under a wringer and screwed onto a trough or lower tub to rinse and dry clothes (by spinning) after they have been soaked and washed with soap.Used by a resident of the Kiewa Valley.Outer green metal tub. Inner silver metal tub with holes all around it. Metal pipe vertical in the centre. Inner tub can spin. Underneath is a steel stand which is attached to the centre pipe to the outer edge. A screw with a 'plug' enables it to be attached to a stand or a lower tub. Underneath the bottom is a red hose which is attached and at its other end a connection for a tap."Patented / Rinsan Dry"washing machine, washing tub, household work

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

These wooden clothes pegs of unknown manufacture were used to hang wet washing on a clothesline. They were also known as 'dolly pegs' because they were used as toy dolls by children. This type of peg was in use in the first half of the 20th century and earlier but was then gradually replaced by wooden spring pegs and plastic spring pegs. These pegs are an example of a once common household item no longer in use.Five wooden clothes pegs - wooden dowels with two 'legs'.Star on top of each peg

This little bag of "whitener" additive for the washing of white clothes was manufactured in Hull in the United Kingdom mid and later 1900's. The Manufacturer, Ricketts, was one of the first manufacturers to employ women in equal proportions with males (a rarity before 1914). This product was used to improve the appearance of white fabrics. This ability to use a product that would "whiten" clothes chemically rather than the "hard boiling" of clothes was a time saver and a lot easier on the fabrics. This is a boon to rural families where time was of the essence (boiling took time). The blue coloring was introduced because the white colour perception is enhanced by the blue (fadeable and not permanent). The "washing machine industry" of the late 1900's emphasised "whitening" agents that were not so haphazard in producing blue stains, and allowed a "gentle" washing action. This item is very significant in detailing the early 1900's rural household domestic "chore" of washing white clothes to a "social" standard of cleanliness. White shirts were the mark cleanliness that those outside of the family judged the family unit by. The best clothes were worn to church on Sundays. Hard and mostly rural activities/work in the Kiewa Valley encompassing farming, crop cultivation, cattle/sheep and "field work" to do with the SEC Vic Hydro Scheme involved provided a stain prone environment. As appearances, of clothing, was on the whole not significant it was a different scenario at social and religious scenes. The ability to attain "brilliant" white shirts, dresses and bonnets by a less drastic method to that of "boiling" of clothes in vats, was a boon of that "era". The anti establishment revolt came later in the 1950's onward took longer to migrate from the cities and larger rural townships to eventually sneak into the Kiewa valley.This "blue bag" is a whitening agent wrapped in flannel or muslin, or sold ready bagged (1 ounce).It was used in the final rinse to "whiten white coloured clothes" The string was used to facilitate finger grip onto the "bag" after the wash had finished for easy removal to stop the hand and other surfaces from being stained by the blue colour residue drips.domestic and commercial laundries, starch and whitening additive, washing brightener

Made in 1940s and brought to Australia by Dutch migrants in the 1950s. Typical Dutch household item of 1940s and 1950s. Washing up was usually done in a bowl such as this, not in a sink. An expression of Dutch domestic culture.Oval, two handles either end, green outside decorated around circumference with three gilded lines, white inside. Signs of wear and tear, including rust holehousehold item

It is not clear what this basket was used for; however the shape and the position of the handles suggests it was used for carrying washing. Cane baskets are commonly used in domestic situations. This basket has no known provenance but is retained for display purposes. This basket is woven with cane. It is oval in shape with a lid attached with wire hinges. The base is concave. There are handles at two ends. basket, cane weaving, household objects

This tub probably dates from the early to mid 20th century and would have been a common item in households in those times. It could have been used for laundry items or for other washing processes in the kitchen. Wash houses in the early to mid 20th century were usually separate buildings or sheds outside of the house.This item is retained for display and discussion purposesThis is an oval- shaped metal tub wider at the top than at the base. It has a ridged top, a strengthening metal band around the base and two metal handles. It is somewhat rusty.vintage household items, warrnambool & district historical society collection

Used by the Wlodarczyk family after migrating to Australia from Poland in the 1950'sWooden & Metal Washing BoardWashing Board 1950's Erahousehold, migrant, immigration

Originating from the Dutch province of Friesland, these samplers served as a way to practice and record various stitching techniques. Household linen was embroidered with initials to identify items after washing and draped in fields to dry. Fries sampler in the traditional style with multiple alphabets and traditional motifs, worked in silk threads on approx. 32 count linen. Worked selvedge to selvedge with top and bottom hemmed. Consisting of 4 sided stitch, cross stitch and eyelet stitches. In pale/faded blues, greens and beige.K.D. 1713-1714

significant household item for a large familyWashing Machine [Metal with plunger on leve ron a three legged base with tap at base for emptying] Wringer attachedOn the wringer :Made in Great Britain Acme Wringers Ltd Glasgow Washing Machine The Lehmann, compressed air and vacuum washing machine no.30614/30

Bathtub & washing trough used in Immigration Camps Post WW2Oval shaped bathtub (Gal Steel)|Rectangular washing trough (Gal Steel)bathtub, household, joseph 'joe' wlodarczyk

This hand wringer or mangle was made in the USA in the early 1900s and was used by a householder in Williamstown. Common in laundries before the advent of spin driers, wringers squeezed the water out of clothes and other items after washing to enhance drying. They were particularly useful for large or heavy items such as sheets, blankets, or workwear. This smaller wringer was used for smaller items. Wooden framed hand wringer with adjustable rubber rollers. Two wing-nuts screw down on a concave steel spring to increase pressure on laundry items. Winding handle engages cogs to turn rollers in the opposite direction. Two horse shoe shaped clamps (adjustable) to fit on all types of laundry troughs."The American Wringer Co, New York, USA" "‘Household’ ‘Horseshoe Brand’, standard high grade warranted 151 - 11 x 1 3/4. It’s all in the rubber. Horse shoe combination tub clamps will hold wringer securely to galvanised iron fibre or wood tubs. Pat. June ‘98, No. 300 (on adjustable screens), No. 26 on winding handle. No 151" laundry

Cragg Sisters Father William Grundy Cragg 1862-1938 a Cabinet Maker made the Honour Roll. Brother Henry also cabinetmaker. Mother Annie Cragg (ne Wearmouth) 1863-1948 married 1895. Elizabeth (Bess or Bessie) Cragg 1896-1985 of Smith Street in 1920 prepared WW1 Honour roll for shire while she was a part time student and part time instructor at the then School of Mines. Music teacher Annie (Nan) Cragg 1897-1984 Of Smith Street Stawell. School teacher from 1915. Taught at Watta Wella. (Fat Miss Cragg). Owned a car. Marjorie Cragg1900-1982 Schoolteacher in Melbourne. Married Henry Bird Jessie Cragg 1901-1998 School Teacher from 1922 of Smith Street (Skinny Miss Cragg) looked after Cragg household. Agnes Cragg 1903-1930 Schoolteacher in Melbourne Married cousin Lancelot Wearmouth D’Arcy Street. Agnes was murdered by her husband Lancelot.   Two women hanging sheets on clothesline. Family dog and metal bucket in picture. Bess Cragg (Elizabeth) Marjorie Cragg

Cragg Sisters Father William Grundy Cragg 1862-1938 a Cabinet Maker made the Honour Roll. Brother Henry also cabinetmaker. Mother Annie Cragg (ne Wearmouth) 1863-1948 married 1895. Elizabeth (Bess or Bessie) Cragg 1896-1985 of Smith Street in 1920 prepared WW1 Honour roll for shire while she was a part time student and part time instructor at the then School of Mines. Music teacher Annie (Nan) Cragg 1897-1984 Of Smith Street Stawell. School teacher from 1915. Taught at Watta Wella. (Fat Miss Cragg). Owned a car. Marjorie Cragg1900-1982 Schoolteacher in Melbourne. Married Henry Bird Jessie Cragg 1901-1998 School Teacher from 1922 of Smith Street (Skinny Miss Cragg) looked after Cragg household. Agnes Cragg 1903-1930 Schoolteacher in Melbourne Married cousin Lancelot Wearmouth D’Arcy Street. Agnes was murdered by her husband Lancelot.   Four Cragg sisters doing washing in buckets From Jess' sketch book. Washing day.

A significant household item used in the process of washing clothes by Melvin Newton Lovell who had started in 1869, as a young carpenter and later he became a successful businessman and manufacturer of household items.Small home appliance.A mangle or wringer is a mechanical laundry aid consisting of two rollers in a sturdy frame, connected by cogs and powered by a hand crank.domestic object, laundry, melton newton lovell

Basket weaving and brush making was a source of income for those who worked in the workshops at RVIB and other institutions in New South Wales and Queensland. A diverse range products could be produced with cane, such as cane chairs, cots, washing baskets and trolleys, and the Institution sought to highlight these in the annual report. Over time the demand for, and supply of, cane changed - particularly during World War 2 when Asian sources were under attack or destroyed. At home, other materials such as plastics as well as the ability to import cheaper pre-produced products further reduced the demand for workshop pieces. Generic style basket that would have been used for shopping or any household task requiring movement of multiple items. Cane baskets were the original green alternative to plastic shopping bags. Note that the handle is deliberately askew, for easier carrying against the hip.1 cane basket with askew handleemployment, royal victorian institute for the blind

Used in kitchen to cut carrots, cheese slices, onions. boiled eggs, etc.Painted black guillotine on a wooden stand. An iron pole keeps the guillotine in vertical position at one end of the block. Driven by two wheels when a handle is turned. A tilting beam moves the guillotine up and down to cut vegetables, etc. Blade 18cm long by 6.5cm wide. Metal plate missing under blade. A rotatable drum to contain the food to be chopped, which is rotated by a cog at the base (also missing) turns the container. The upright holding chopper blade e is a modification made because of the missing container.|The following description is from Ken Turner Booklet referred to under 'Reference'. ----|The Starrett food chopper would certainly have to be considered one of the more interesting inventions, which incidentally is now considered the ultimate in kitchen collectables. Laroy Starrett in later years' told of how the design of his food chopper was inspired by the action of the walking beam engine used on the Mississippi steam boats. When the crank handle of the chopper is turned, this sets in motion a mechanism which is just fascinating to watch. The crank activates a flywheel which in turn, by a series of cogs and levers, simultaneously rotates a food holding container and raises and lowers within the rotating container, a guillotine like 'chopping blade - the action does not only look like that of a beam steam engine, it even in a way sounds like one, although somewhat noisier. Starrett produced seven different models of these choppers, ranging in size appropriate for domestic use to heavy duty models for butchers, restaurants and for hotel use. The small model was capable of chopping 3lbs in three minutes, and the largest had a capacity for chopping something like 100 lbs in an hour. The mechanical chopper, which became affectionately known as the 'hasher', was the first of some one hundred of Starrett's inventions, and these include a washing machine patented in 1865 which had a similar action to his food chopper, a food press patented in 1873, and a device for lacing shoes he patented in 1886.domestic items, food preparation

These large tubs had multiple uses including washing clothes or bathing infants or children when water was not connected to the laundry or home in the early 1900's. The water was recycled by pouring it on the garden or fruit trees. It was used for containing crop harvesting too.A large vintage round galvanised iron tub tapering slightly to the flat base. It is seamed on both sides, made from two sheets of iron. It has two handles riveted on the sides and an overhanging rim at the top. It has been painted cream coloured on the inside. There is a wide steel band around the base which has been soldered on.laundry equipment, wash tubs, household objects

Heavy duty cast iron kettles were used as a domestic item to boil water safely without the concern that the metal may contain lead or arsenic as earlier utensils had. The household depended on constant hot water availability for all cooking, washing and other household chores.A large vintage rusted black cast iron heavy kettle with no lid. It has a flat base and mushroom shaped handle welded onto the pot below the rim of the pot opening. It has a rim to position the teapot lid. The goose neck spout has a shaped pouring end. It was used as a domestic item to boil water safely without the concern that the metal may contain lead or arsenic as earlier utensils had.kitchenware, kettles, kitchen equipment

Heavy duty cast iron kettles were used as a domestic item to boil water safely without the concern that the metal may contain lead or arsenic as earlier utensils had. The household depended on constant hot water availability for all cooking, washing and other household chores.A large heavy black cast iron kettle with a curved handle, goose neck spout with a shaped pouring end and a removable lid with a small looped open knob. It has a flat base and mushroom shaped handle welded onto the pot below the rim of the pot opening. There is a shaped grip underneath at the top hold it steady. It was used as a domestic item to boil water safely without the concern that the metal may contain lead or arsenic as earlier utensils had.On the base - 'England. First quality. No.3 6 pints. C. Clark and Co Ltd'kitchenware, kitchen equipment, kettles

Women in early settler days and 1900's managed the household and had to be self sufficient and were skilful cooks providing meals for their families. Normal daily life involved washing clothes, ironing, cooking meals and baking cakes, scones, bread, and pastries whilst caring for the children and making and mending the family's clothes. Nine round, one square vintage tin biscuit or pastry cutters: a set of five including a small, medium and large one with curved handles, plus two fluted and one plain cutter and one plain without handles.biscuit cutters, kitchenware, kitchen equipment, pastry cutters

Women in early settler days and 1900's managed the household and had to be self sufficient and were skilful cooks providing meals for their families. Normal daily life involved washing clothes, ironing, cooking meals and baking cakes, scones, bread, and pastries whilst caring for the children and making and mending the family's clothes. This was the precursor to the current hand held machine for making forcer biscuits. The metal cylinder was filled with biscuit dough and the wooden piece pushed down inside the cylinder to force the dough through different shaped, detachable, apertures to produce various shaped biscuits. The wooden forcer is missing from this set. The tin base has a movable end for cleaning the wooden press. An incomplete rusted long tubular tin cookie or icing press with four pattern attachments. There is no handle or forcer. There are four original shaped profiles which can be interchanged tied together with brown string. The tube was to be filled with biscuit/pastry mixture and a wooden press was used to force the mixture out of it. biscuit cutters, kitchenware, kitchen equipment, pastry cutters

This small kettle was from the home of Mrs Streizel and the family of Mrs Adamson. Kettles were used as a domestic item to boil water safely without the concern that the metal may contain lead or arsenic as earlier utensils had. The household depended on constant hot water availability for all cooking, washing and other household chores. These small kettles would have been used perhaps at the table to add water to the teapot instead of using the heavy large cast iron ones over the open fire or on the stove. This one is from the early 1900's.A small dark blue enamel hot water kettle with a black curved moveable handle riveted onto the top sides and a goose neck spout. It has a removable lid with a small knob. White enamel interior. kitchenware, kitchen equipment, kettles

Women in early settler days and 1900's managed the household and had to be self sufficient and were skilful cooks providing meals for their families. Normal daily life involved washing clothes, ironing, cooking meals and baking cakes, scones, bread, pastries and biscuits whilst caring for the children and making and mending the family's clothes. Animal shapes were fun for the children to help make and eat. Four animal shaped vintage tin biscuit or pastry cutters - a cat, dog, fish and duck. biscuit cutters, kitchenware, kitchen equipment, pastry cutters

Women in early settler days and 1900's managed the household and had to be self sufficient and were skilful cooks providing meals for their families. Normal daily life involved washing clothes, ironing, cooking meals and baking cakes, scones, bread, and pastries whilst caring for the children and making and mending the family's clothes. Shaped biscuit cutters were fun for children to make and eat. Four aluminium vintage biscuit or pastry cutters, including a star, bell, circle and flower shape with curved handles. Two have fluted edges the other have two have plain edges.biscuit cutters, kitchenware, kitchen equipment, pastry cutters

These vintage soap savers were used by the frugal housewife to use up pieces or slivers of leftover soap by swirling the soap saver in the water using up every last piece of soap.Three vintage wire mesh dish or clothes washing soap savers with a rectangular basket to contain the pieces of soap and a sliding wire clasp which allows opening and closing of the basket. Each holder has a thick long double wire handle to enable the user to froth the soap in a dish. Two have old soap pieces inside: one has Velvet soap, the other has half a piece of yellow soap with part of the brand ...TRY at the end of it.'Velvet' is stamped on one piece of soap and the broken piece has ...'TRY' on it.washing dishes, washing clothes, soap, soap savers, household item

Item of portable laundry equipment that might have multiple purposes including washing infants.Painted (exterior) galvanised iron oval wash tub. The portable tub has two handles and an overhanging rim.laundry equipment, wash tubs, galvanised iron household objects