Francis Powell (1861-) and Francis Hanmer (1858-1925) founded Powell and Hanmer Ltd in the Summer of 1885 for the manufacturer of bike and carriage lamps. Their first advertisements began to appear in November of 1885. Early models of the automobile, motorbike and bicycles used carbide lamps as headlamps. Acetylene gas, derived from carbide, enabled early automobiles to drive safely at night. Thick concave mirrors combined with magnifying lenses projected the acetylene flame light. These type of lights were used until reliable batteries and dynamos became available, and manufacturers switched to electric lights.Acetylene bicycle light carbide. Green and red side lens. 200 cm High. Inscription Powell & Hanmer Birmingham. Previous Catalogue Number 112.lighting, accessories, bicycle light

Photograph shows a group of five cable tramway employees with a cart containing batteries to supply power for lights in Melbourne Cable trams. This lighting was introduced by the Tramway Board (TB), the forerunner to the MMTB during 1917. A motor generator at each car house or depot provided the power to charge the batteries which were then placed in each tram for the day. Reference - The Commonwealth Engineer 1/8/1917 - Reg Item 2568. The equipment was provided by the General Electric Company. The cart has the letters "TB CH" possibly indicating Clifton Hill Depot and the batteries are lettered "NE" and then given a number. Photo date unknown - 1917 to 1940. This photograph is Public Records Office photo H84 in the Victorian Railways collection.Yields information about the type of batteries used to provide lighting power to cable trams and the workers involved and their clothing. Photograph - Black and White of a group of 5 cable tram battery workers and their cart.trams, tramways, cable trams, lights, depots, car houses, general electric, batteries, clifton hill, tramway board

Item used to switch on or off the red tail lights circuit on a tram. Made by the SECV. The board was located next to the 6V battery that was used to power the tram tail lights when the trolley pole was being reversed under a passenger seat.. Demonstrates an item fitted to a tramcar to switch an external lighting circuit.Softwood wood board with a bakelite two pole switch marked "on" and "off" and a Federal 250V 15A rewireable ceramic fuse attached. Has remnants of cloth covered copper wire on the rear. See item 9024 for an associated drawing."12" in blue pencil.fuse, tram 14, tramcars, tramcar maintenance, electrical switching

Item used to switch the power for the red tail lights circuit from the trolley pole to the battery circuit when the trolley pole was being reversed and not able to provide power to the internal and external lights. Made by the SECV. Salvaged from tram 14 during the project to renew the wiring and electrical arrangements of the tram. The box was located adjacent to the driver's windows and would click when the trolley pole was placed back on the overhead.Demonstrates an item fitted to a tramcar to switch an external battery tail lighting circuit.Wooden box made from softwood with bevelled corners, plywood top painted green containing an 8 Ohm "Post Office" type relay (see reference) fitted with two "break" contacts and associated insulated wiring soldered to the relevant contacts. See item 9024 for an associated drawing. Two examples held.fuse, tram 14, tramcars, tramcar maintenance, electrical switching

Photocopy of an article from The Commonwealth Engineer, dated 1/8/1917, titled "Electric Lighting of Melbourne Cable Cars". Describes the battery system, the number of cars, the use of a motor generator at each depot, the lamps and the system on each car. Also has a start of a short item on the Kalgoorlie Electric Tramways Annual report. Short report in the same journal, 1/11/1917 titled Electric Lighting for Melbourne Trams", about a contract issued by the Tramway Board to the General Electric company for approximately 40,000 pounds. Also has an item about King River hydro electric power and the standardisation of the electrical industry.trams, tramways, cable trams, tramcars, lights, depots, general electric

Set of two instructions, duplicated foolscap sheets. Both signed by H. A Wilcox, General Manager. .1 - "Rules and Instructions for Gripmen and Conductors re Electric Lighting of cars and dummies", notes care for lamps, battery leads, failure, electric shock (7 volts) and cautions. Two sheets, Two copies held. Dated 1/3/19. .2 - "Edison Car lighting system - rules for the guidance of employees" - 4 sheets with brass pin in top left hand corner, giving details of connecting the batteries for charging, charging, battery car, methodology of using the rheostat, cleaning, jumper cables, reports, faults and contact electrical foreman Mr. T Dawe. Not dated.trams, tramways, lights, cable trams, batterymen, equipment

In the 1890s, American Ever-Ready Company founder Conrad Hubert invented the electric flash light which worked with his dry cell batteries . The first Ever Ready flash light was patented in 1898. The first portable flashlights were hand-made from crude paper and fibre tubes, with a bulb and a rough brass reflector. Because batteries were weak and bulbs primitive, flashlights of the era produced only a brief flash of light- thus the name. This torch is named a Bullseye because of the glass lens at the top.This torch helps to interpret the development of lighting. The collection of whale oil lamps as well as gas and electric lighting. Silver coloured metal torch. It has a body and a lid/top. The body is hip flask shaped. On the side of the body is a silver coloured metal button which can be slid up and down. On both the front and back of the body and the top centre are tow small raised circles. The top, which can be removed has a glass dome on it. The inside of the body has a small piece of contact metal where the slide button on the outside turn the torch on and off. In the centre at the top there is the light bulb. The base of the body can also be removed. The base has the makers mark EVER READY stamped on it.Lid light: FY (within a diamond shape) / PATENT 40092 Base: EVER READYlight, torch, lighting, portland, glenelg shire

Handwritten notes on mining machinery sold at auction. South St Mungo - Winding Engine. Pair of 15 ? Cyl. Winding Engines. 7 ft Winding Gear. Also, Jackass Boiler. Feed Pump, Trucks, Rails, Flat Sheets, Poppet Heads, Housing, etc. Sold for 270 pounds. Purchaser H Ralph for Austral Drill Co. Lady Barkly Company - 12-inch Cylinder Winding Engine. 8 ft Winding Gear. Cornish Flue Boiler, Feed Pump, Rails, Poppet Heads, Housing, etc. Sold for 162 pound 10 shillings. Purchaser W. J. Sever, Mining Merchants, Melb. Crushing Battery - Complete 40 Head Battery. Tandem Compound Engine. 11 in & 22 in Cylinders. High Press, Boilers, Electric Lighting Plant. 6 in Cyl. High Speed Engine, Fire-proof, Feed Pump, Rails, Flat Sheets, Tools & Sundries. 1000 pound to R. Ralph. These three mining plants, complete. Sold by Messrs. Bell, Lambert and Nixon - Auctioneers. Ref; Bendigo Advertiser. July 14th, 1910, Page 2.document, gold, new chum & victoria lines of reef, mining machinery new chum line eaglehawk, south st mungo, h ralph, austral drill co, lady barkly company, w j sever, crushing battery, messrs bell, lambert and nixon