This photograph shows the interior of the Valley Worsted Mill in 1923. The mill was first established at this time, and the photo shows the interior after tooling up but prior to the mill actually commencing operation. This photo is one of 31 in total and probably shows the mill maintenance shop, as a grinder, a diesel drum and a container for nuts and bolts can be seen. The donor worked at the Valley Mill for many years. This mill still exists in Swanston Street, Geelong and is now being used by Melba Industries (an Austrim-Nylex company) to produce Jumbuck Nylon wool packs.Interior of Valley Worsted Mill, c.1923.valley worsted mill

This photograph shows the interior of the Valley Worsted Mill in 1923. The mill was first established at this time, and the photo shows the interior after tooling up but prior to the mill actually commencing operation. This photo is one of 31 in total and shows an unknown area of machinery within the mill. The donor worked at the Valley Mill for many years. This mill still exists in Swanston Street, Geelong and is now being used by Melba Industries (an Austrim-Nylex company) to produce Jumbuck Nylon wool packs.Interior of Valley Worsted Mill, c.1923.valley worsted mill

This photograph shows the interior of the Valley Worsted Mill in 1923. The mill was first established at this time, and the photo shows the interior after tooling up but prior to the mill actually commencing operation. This photo is one of 31 in total and shows an unknown area of machinery within the mill. The donor worked at the Valley Mill for many years. This mill still exists in Swanston Street, Geelong and is now being used by Melba Industries (an Austrim-Nylex company) to produce Jumbuck Nylon wool packs.Interior of Valley Worsted Mill, c.1923.valley worsted mill

Photographic postcard depicting the newly constructed Valley Worsted Mill, c.1923.Photographic postcard, black and white. Depicts an aerial view of the newly constructed textile mill. A chimney stack and many saw toothed roofs can be seen.POST CARD / CORRESPONDENCE ADDRESS ONLY / KODAK / AUSTRALtextile mills, valley worsted mill foster valley mill pty ltd, aerial photography, factory, wool, industrial building

Combing removes the short or broken fibres and draws out the long fibres into even strands suitable for spinning. The process is necessary to produce long and soft strands needed for worsted yarn. These machines remove the short fibres and blend the remaining long fibres together to form the top. The short fibres that are removed, known as the noil, are used in the woollen system. The long fibres are drawn together, ready for spinning. To retain as many of the valuable long fibres as possible, a skilled operator always needed to be on duty in the factory to precisely set the machine. A Nobel Comb separates short (Noils) fibres while also blending long (Tops) fibres together. The long fibres are used for worsted materials while the short fibres are used for woollen fabrics. Woollen materials are soft, bulky and fuzzy, such as a picnic blanket; whereas worsted materials are fine, smooth and crisp, such as a suit jacket. The Valley Worsted Mills in Geelong, now the Little Creatures Brewery, ran 12 noble combs up until 1981. Gold plaque on display with machine until 2018 read: G.H. Mitchell & Son, Adelaide have celebrated 125 Years of involvement with the Australian Wool Processing Industry by contributing the funds necessary to restore The Carding Machine, Noble Comb & The Gill Box.Noble Comb with plates - 'Prince Smith & Sons, Burlington Shed, Keishley' (One plate located on each gear box). 'Prince Smith & Sons, Burlington Shed, Keishley' (One plate located on each gear box).wool manufacturing, noble comb, textile industry, geelong, little creatures brewery, valley worsted mills, fibres, wool, factory

Photograph album containing 15 photographs of the textile processes which took place at the Valley Worsted Mill which was established in 1923.Photograph album contains 15 photographic postcards of textile processes from the Valley Mill, c.1920s. Valley Mill, Geelong, c.1920s. Wool sorting at the Valley Mill, Geelong, c.1920s. Wool scouring at the Valley Mill, Geelong, c.1920s. Woollen carding at the Valley Mill, Geelong, c.1920s. Worsted carding at the Valley Mill, Geelong, c.1920s. Combing and drawing at the Valley Mill, Geelong, c.1920s. Woollen spinning at the Valley Mill, Geelong, c.1920s. Worsted spinning at the Valley Mill, Geelong, c.1920s. Winding at the Valley Mill, Geelong, c.1920s. Warping at the Valley Mill, Geelong, c.1920s. Weaving at the Valley Mill, Geelong, c.1920s. Mending at the Valley Mill, Geelong, c.1920s. Wet finishing at the Valley Mill, Geelong, c.1920s. Dry finishing at the Valley Mill, Geelong, c.1920s. Warehouse at the Valley Mill, Geelong, c.1920s.PHOTOGRAPHS THE / VALLEY WORSTED MILLS / GEELONG WOOL SORTING / WOOL SCOURING / WOOLLEN CARDING / WORSTED CARDING / COMBING & DRAWING / WOOLLEN SPINNING / WORSTED SPINNING / WINDING / WARPING / WEAVING / MENDING / WET FINISHING / DRY FINISHING / WAREHOUSE C.J. Frazer Photographer / Melbournetextile mills warehouses, weaving, textile production, textile mills, valley worsted mill, scouring, carding, combing, drawing, spinning, winding, warping, wet finishing, mending, milling, dry finishing, textile mills - warehouses

Display card with fold out stand and the back. Card is blue with embossed printed text in gold and white. front [printed]: the finest / pure wool cloths / are made by … / VALLEY WORSTED MILLS / Geelongvalley worsted mills, advertising, card, display, wool industry, geelong