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 the mending room, with the sloping tables which held the cloth to be mended. 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, mending

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

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

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

This stencil was used as a location stamp for the transportation of wool bales. HUDDERSFIELD Valley Worsted Mills is located in Geelong. Stencils marked HUDDERSFIELD would have been transported to the Worsted Mills to be made into yarn and fabric.Wool bale stencil - HUDDERSFIELDHUDDERSFIELDwool - transportation, wool sales

Gramophone record used in the mending room of the Foster Valley Mill.textile mills staff, valley worsted mill, textile mills - staff

Gramophone record used in the mending room of the Foster Valley Mill.textile mills staff, valley worsted mill, textile mills - staff

Gramophone record used in the mending room of the Foster Valley Mill.textile mills staff, valley worsted mill, textile mills - staff

Gramophone record used in the mending room of the Foster Valley Mill.Gramophone record - Outside of that I love you & I wonder what's become of Sally. Housed in a brown paper sleeve bound in a orange folder with a blue spine.textile mills staff, valley worsted mill, textile mills - staff, gramophone, record, foster va, foster valley mill pty ltd, mending, working life

Gramophone record used in the mending room of the Foster Valley Mill.textile mills staff, valley worsted mill, textile mills - staff

Gramophone record used in the mending room of the Foster Valley Mill.textile mills staff, valley worsted mill, textile mills - staff

Gramophone record used in the mending room of the Foster Valley Mill.textile mills staff, valley worsted mill, textile mills - staff

Photo depicts an early manager of the Valley Mills (c.1940s?). Thought to be Mr Pickles (on the advice of Judith Rice, whose father worked at the mill at the same time. Info given 01/08/07)Depicts a Manager of the Valley Mill.T. Lockwoodtextile mills management, valley worsted mill, textile mills - management

Part of set of 53 photographs taken of exterior and interior of Godfrey Hirst Ltd Mill.textile mills history, valley worsted mill, textile mills - history

Wrap reel manufactured at Valley Worsted Mill and possibly used in the laboratory. "Wrap reels were used to check the yarn count in a spinning mill. A set length of yarn was wound off several test bobbins and weighed, if the weight was not the correct amount expected the spinning machines draft could be re calculated and the machine draft wheel ( cog ) changed to achieve the required count". - Greg AldridgeA small hand operated wrap reel. The reel is on a wooden base, the winding mechanism is metal and turned by a wooden handle. There is a metal plaque on the base inscribed MAKERS VWM. A wood and metal yarn feeder has broken off its mount.MAKERS/ VWMtextile machinery textile production weaving, valley worsted mill valley worsted mill, warping machinery, textile machinery, textile production, weaving, wrap reel, skein winder

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 several Noble combs. 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. "These 12 machines ended their working life in 1981 when the mill switched from the Bradford system of wool combing to the Continental system, the reason being was that the cost of maintaining them became too high, also the replacement rectilinear combs production rate was far greater and achieved higher yields although it could be argued that the Noble combs quality was superior". - Greg AldridgeBlack and white image showing the interior of a textile mill with machinery. Slightly overexposed on the right side.valley worsted mill, combing, noble comb, geelong

Mr Mears father Horace Mear bought the rug c1933. He was ex British Navy and had migrated to Australia in 1920. Horace worked as a loom tuner at Valley Woollen Mill Geelong in the early 1920's then worked at Federal Woollen Mills as the Manager of the Weaving Room until his death in 1952.RETSOL RUG D E MEARwoollen mills - history, returned soldiers and sailors mill valley worsted mill federal woollen mills ltd, retsol rugs, weaving

W L Wright. General Manager, Valley Worsted, Geelong, addressing delegates at the 1955 International Wool Textile Research Conference. One of thirteen photographs related to the 1955 International Wool Textile Research Conference in Australia.W L Wright. General Manager, Valley Worsted, Geelong. addressing delegates at the 1955 International Wool Textile Research Conferencewool - research, gordon institute of technology valley worsted mill, lang, dr w. roy wright, mr w l - valley worsted mill

One of two albums presented to Mr EJ Fairnie in appreciation of his work towards the exhibitions of 1928 and 1938.Photograph album, 22pp - Loose leaf album, grey board pages with four holes punched at left side and tied with cord. "Geelong Made in Australia Exhibition 1928" is on front cover, the first page is inscribed in white ink. The rest of the album contains two handwritten letters and black and white photographs in connection with the exhibition.An Appreciation/ of Courtesy to/ E J Fairnie, esq Photographs by the Lockwood Studiostextile mills - history textile machinery textile mills, returned soldiers and sailors mill valley worsted mill collins bros mill pty ltd albion woollen mills co. pty ltd james munday & coy j c brown & co bright & hitchcocks pty ltd, fairnie, mr edward john - returned soldiers and sailors mill walter, mr a l, textile mills - history, textile machinery, textile mills

One of two albums presented to Mr EJ Fairnie in appreciation of his work towards the exhibitions of 1928 and 1938. Mr Fairnie was Hon Sec of the 1928 committee. The both exhibitions were in the Dennys Lascelles Bow Truss building.Presented to/ E J Fairnie esq/ whose efforts ..... Photographs by Lockwood Studiostextile mills - history textile machinery textile mills, returned soldiers and sailors mill valley worsted mill collins bros mill pty ltd albion woollen mills co. pty ltd felt and textiles pty ltd excelsior woollen and worsted mills federal woollen mills ltd gordon institute of technology, fairnie, mr edward john - returned soldiers and sailors mill, textile mills - history, textile machinery, textile mills

Fred Murgatroyd's twed fabric to be used in conjunction with Nino at Foster Valley for Loom in G2textile industry textile mills, foster valley mill pty ltd valley worsted mill, tweed, murgatroyd, mr fred, textile industry, textile mills

First prize exhibition G Kidman PC Goods/ suit lengths/Flannel/ Blazers/wool marketing woollen mills - history textile mills, returned soldiers and sailors mill valley worsted mill, kidman, mr g. l., wool marketing, woollen mills - history, textile mills

Donated when "Classweave Industries" closed downK G Luke Trophy Paramount Plate [hallmarks]textile mills - sporting teams textile mills - staff woollen mills sporting teams, classweave industries pty ltd federal woollen mills ltd foster valley mill pty ltd valley worsted mill, sport, textile mills - sporting teams, textile mills - staff, woollen mills, sporting teams

Swing tags for Foster Valley Mills products.Swing tags for Foster Valley Mills products.6229 5-0 70% 30% 6229 6-5 70% 30%woollen mills, valley worsted mill

Swing tag, guarantee that product is made in Australia from fabric knitted or woven by an Australian mill.Swing tag, guarantee that product is made in Australia from fabric knitted or woven by an Australian mill.woollen mills, valley worsted mill

Donated when "Classweave Industries" closed downBlue Triangle Basketball Association/ The A Schofield Cup for A grade Teams 1931 Valley "A"/ 1932 Collins Bros "A"/ 1933 Federal "A"/ 1934 Federal "A"/ 1935 Federal "A"/ 1936 Federal "A" [?] E Bradley & Son [?] Geelong/ paramount Plate/ EPNS Best Quality Platesporting teams woollen mills textile mills - staff textile mills - sporting teams, classweave industries pty ltd federal woollen mills ltd collins bros mill pty ltd valley worsted mill foster valley mill pty ltd, sport, sporting teams, woollen mills, textile mills - staff, textile mills - sporting teams

Gramophone record used in the mending room of the Foster Valley Mill.textile mills - staff, valley worsted mill