With the advent of audio content available through i-phones and other small devices, the demand for a dedicated audio, easily portable player for the blind and vision impaired became louder and louder. Two organisations competed to deliver this and Canadian company Humanware developed the Victor Stream. A portable hand-held device that could deliver audio content from SD card and was small enough to fit into a pocket or handbag. It could read a variety of formats, such as DAISY, MP3 and txt files, and had a built in voice recorder via the inbuilt microphone or an external one. As part of the trial to introduce new deliver mechanisms for audio content, the Stream was in demand as books could be downloaded directly to it and were aimed at those who were comfortable using the technology with minimal support.Black and silver rectangle with silver buttonsaudio equipment, assistive devices

Gives the design details of the device or fitting known as a trolley wire ears that holds a tramway copper trolley wire in position. Notes that the drawing was traced in 1924 from a MMTB drawing. Has details for a splicing ear, straight line ear. feeder ear and curve ear along with details for nuts and screws.Yields information about the design of four different types of trolley wire fittings and how they were fabricated for use on the two tram lines, or electric street railways operated by the Victorian Railways.Dyeline print of Victorian Railways drawing number 4057 - Ears for Tramway Overhead ConstructionHas number "7513 D.33" in black pen in bottom right hand corner.tramways, trams, overhead, victorian railways, trolley wire, engineering, electrical engineering

Standard issue item as used by Australian servicemen during the conflict in Vietnam. A plotting board is a mechanical device used as part of a firing control system to track the observed course of a target, project its future position, and derive the azimuth (or direction) and range needed to direct the fire of the guns of a battery to hit that target.White plastic base. A circle marked with grid lines is printed on the base and a vernier for finding azimuth deflections in along top edge. Rotating disc pivots at the centre atop the disc with distances measured radially form 0 at the centre to 3400 metres around the rim range form 0-6400 metres. A scale pivoted at the centre assists in reading distances.Nth and Sth top and bottom on rotating disc. East and West in centre distances in black on outer of disc. Distances in green on inner North, South, East, West. Varn W left bottom of disc. varn E on right bottom of disc.plotting board, m16

This is a miniature book and container which was known as ‘the Smallest English Dictionary in the World’. It is a copy of a Dr Johnson dictionary. It was intended to be worn as a locket and sold with an accompanying magnifying glass. It was an advertising feature for the Pears Soap company. This item has no local significance but it is a very interesting one, showing the type of novelty adornment popular in the late Victorian era. This is a miniature book with a red leather cover and 384 pages. The name of the book and the name ‘Pears’ are stamped in gilt on the covers. The book is enclosed in a silver-coloured metal container with a thickened glass window in front to view the title of the book. The glass acts as a magnifier. The container has a hinged closing device. It has a ring at the top to attach the item to a chain or belt. The container is much rusted.Front cover of book: ‘Bryce’s English Dictionary’ Back Cover: ‘Pears’ bryce’ english dictionary, warrnambool, dr johnson dictionary

Henry Sutton was born in Ballarat into the musical Sutton Family. He is known as an important Australian inventor. Photograph of Hertford Lock. lockkeepers house. A lock is a device used for raising and lowering boats, ships and other watercraft between stretches of water of different levels on river and canal waterways. Hertford Lock is situated on the River Lea on the eastern side of Hartham Common, Hertford in the English county of Hertfordshire. It is owned and managed by British Waterways and is the first lock of the River Lee Navigation.henry sutton, glass plates, photography, swans

Souvenir token issued to acknowledge the return of Australian troops from the South African (Boer) War in December 1900.Two sided circular copper coloured disc struck as a souvenir to welcome home troops from the South African War. The device has a profile of a woman's head surrounded by flags & a crown. Under the head are words: British Transvaal 1899-1900. The reverse has two hands joined. Surrounded by words. A hole has been drilled in the top to take a chain.Obverse side: “British Transvaal 1899-1900” Reverse side: “Return of troops from South Africa Dec 1900. Welcome home Australians”numismatics - medals - commemorative, metalcraft - copperware, souvenir, boer war

Has a strong association with the crewman and demonstrates the work in placing a trolley pole on the overhead.Black and white photographs of the conductor (or motorman) placing the trolley pole of a single trucker on the overhead, shielding his eyes, at the Mt Pleasant terminus, corner of Cobden and Barkly Streets. A lady in a hat is speaking to him. Photo shows the trolley pole positioning device in the overhead. Possibly No. 30, see Reg item 6803. Photo by Charles Craig, probably August 1971.trams, tramways, trolley poles, mt pleasant, conductors, tram 30

A wooden, transitional flat-top racquet with a solid, convex throat, and a plain handle. Across the throat on the obverse is a decal of the model 'HARVARD' above the Bliss company trademark of a 'B' linked to an anchor, within a shield device. On right side of handle is stamped the barely legible inscription: ORIENTAL GUT. Materials: Wood, Gut, Ink, Metal, Glue, Lacquer, Leather, Painttennis

A Wilson, Mary Hardwick Victory tennis racquet. Base of head features Wilson logo. Shaft features decal head and neck illustration of Hardwick. Lower shaft and butt cover features 'W' trademark. Throat features stylised crown and chevron devices. Materials: Wood, Nylon, Leather, Adhesive tape, Ink, Glue, Lacquer, Metal, String, Paint, Ribbon, Clothtennis

A Masterbuilt 100 tennis racquet, painted from shoulder to handle, with whipping on shoulders and shaft, and featuring a mottled black leather handle grip. Throat features model name accompanied by a heraldic shield containing various devices. Masterbuilt logo features along shaft. Materials: Wood, Nylon, Ribbon, Paint, Ink, Leather, Adhesive tape, Glue, Lacquer, Metaltennis

An Universal Top Notch tennis racquet, with ribbon whipping around shoulders and shaft. Model name features across base of head. Universal Racket Co. trademark features on throat, comprising of a globe resting on a triangular base, and flanked by crests and crowned with a star device. Materials: Wood, Ink, Glue, Lacquer, Metal, Ribbon, Enamel, Leather, Nylon, Adhesive tapetennis

A Wilson Kramer Cup tennis racquet. Base of head features Wilson logo. Throat features rendered gold trophy cup device. Shaft and butt cap feature 'W' trademark. Leather handle grip features triangle-pattered perforations. Materials: Wood, Nylon, Leather, Ink, Glue, Lacquer, Metal, Plastic, Paint, Ribbon, Adhesive tape, Stringtennis

A Wilson Chris Evert Champion tennis racquet. Base of head features Wilson logo. Throat features model name, and 'CE' initials within a shield device. Lower shaft and butt cap feature 'W' trademark. Leather handle grip features X-formation perforations. Materials: Wood, Nylon, Leather, Glue, Metal, Lacquer, Paint, Plastic, Ribbontennis

A Bancroft Pro Model tennis racquet, with ribbon whipping on shoulders and shaft, and leather handle with lozenge-patterned perforations. Bancroft logo features across base of head. Throat features model name with wreath device. Red 'B' trademark on butt cover. Materials: Wood, Nylon, Leather, Glue, Lacquer, Metal, Ink, Plastic, Ribbon, Adhesive tape, Painttennis

The pulley block illustrates a moment in Harcourt history. According to the reminiscences of William Sanders the granite block for the Burke and Wills monument was of such weight that, in hauling it from the quarry, the weight split the yokes and snapped the chains of the bullock team employed in the task. "So Mr Blight got ropes and tackle, as, as there were plenty of trees along the route, they served as anchors to attach the ropes" Thus, with pulleys such as this, Joseph Blight moved the monolith, at snail's pace, to the Harcourt railway station in 1864.The object is significant for its connection with the explorers Burke & Wills and the foundation of the granite industry on Mount AlexanderA wooden pulley block designed for two ropes. Used for lifting heavy objects. A rope slung around the pulley block fixed the device to the rafters of the shed. Ropes were threaded over the pulley and used to lift heavy weights. Use of a pulley halves the effort required to lift or move an object. Possibly of nautical origin but applied to workshop use in later years.

Steel framed paraffin lamp with steel base. Glass bulbous chimney with embossed writing and makers mark. Thin steel wire for protecting glass, and as handle on top with hook indent, attached to frame. Mechanism for raising and lowering glass casing by small handle attached to frame for facilitating lighting. Wick trimming device on side of base, and cap covering hole in base for filling.On glass - 'Feuerhand, Made in Germany' embossed. On opposite side, company logo of hand holding flames. On base - 'Made in Germany', embossed. Company logo. '*Nr. 327' Company logo on oil cap, wick trimming knob and on top of framelighting, kerosene and oil, hurricane, lamp, paraffin, feuerhand, lighting. dora buckley

This device allows easy threading of needles with ease. Place the needle in the most suitable casing (either white or black edged) then wrap the thread along the base of the groove. Push the corresponding white knob across slowly and pull the thread that appears on the other side slowly until the shorter end appears, and the needle is threaded.Blue plastic rectangle with two insert tubes and two white push tabs, a leaflet of multilingual instructions and a needle'INFILA' in gold writing on the front 'INFILA A60 Automatico Automatic needle threader' in blue on the backassistive devices, ditta fenzo martinelli

Information from Norman F. Dalton: Ballarat had a reticulated DC supply in the early part of last century and in 1905 had sufficient generating capacity to enable the trams to be changed from horse drawn to DC electricity. The use of electricity increased with the main power station located on Wendouree Parade, near Webster Street, under the ownership of The Electric Supply Company of Victoria. AC generating plant was installed in 1925 and conversion to AC proceeded. In 1934 the company was taken over by the State Electricity Commission Victoria (SECV) and more AC generation was installed and the changeover of customers was accelerated. This is around the time that the Synchronome Frequency Checking Mast Clock was installed at the Wendouree Parade Power Station. The SECV Annual Report of 1921 states: ::Section 11 of the act directed the COmmission to enquire into the question of securing the adoption of such standards of plant and equipment of a system, frequency and pressure for the generation and distribution of electricity as will admit of the efficient interconnection of undertakings throughout the State. In 1934 when the SECV took over the Ballarat operations the question of linking with the State grid had been a planned operation for some years but due to financial considerations had hindered it and in fact would continue to do so for a further 10 years. So while the need for close frequency control for interconnection was hardly an issue, the need to keep electric clocks correct was important, particularly as this item was a frequent sales point to cover the inconvenience and sometimes expense of converting from DC to AC. The clock is a very accurate pendulum clock with provision for varying effective length during operation for precise time regulation. There are two normal time dials and one is controlled by the pendulum and the other is operated by the system frequency. When the clock was in use it was installed by the MEter and Tests Laboratory and the time was checked daily by radio time signals. The two dials were repeated in the operators control panel in the Power Station. A maximum deviation between the two dials was set in the operating instructions (eg 5 seconds) and the operator would correct this when necessary by remote manual alteration of the turbine governor set point. The clock was used to drive and regulate a system of "slave" clocks which were used to display the time in various locations around the power station. A slave clock is a simple clock which is driven by a small electric motor, its accuracy is regulated by the master clock every 30 seconds to ensure that it and all the other slave clocks in the station are on exactly the right time; slave clocks were placed in various locations, from common rooms to workshops. A master clock could potentially run thousands of slave clocks at one plant. The clock also contains a rectifier. A rectifier is a device that is used to convert AC power to more stable DC current.Two clocks in a timber case. Both are electric, one is powered by the main pendulum mechanism, the other is a self contained electric clock. The main mechanism is of the gravity arm and roller type, which sends an impulse to the slave clocks every 30 seconds. The This Synchronome Frequency Checking Master Clock was used at the Ballarat Power Station. Below the main section of the case is a smaller cabinet containing a rectifier to provide consistent DC power for the clock. The rectifier was made by the Victorian company Hilco, which was located in Burwood. There is a high chance this is not the original rectifier from this clock as there appears to be brackets to hold a larger device in the space the rectifier occupies.Front below main clock face on front of case: "Patented Sychronome Brisbane" Lower left-hand clock face: "Frequency time" Lower right-hand clock face: "Standard Seconds" Synchronous electric clock mechanism on door (Frequency time clock): >200/250 V. 50~ >"Synchronomains" Made in England >Direction indicator for clock starting switch >"To start move lever in direction of arrow and release" >"Patent applied for" Mechanism for "standard seconds" clock: >"English Made" >"Patented" >Serial number "321" >0 above right-hand pillar on front-plate Mechanism for "standard seconds" clock: >"English Made" >"Patented" >Serial number "321" >0 above right-hand pillar on front-plate Mechanism for main clock face: >"English Made" >"Patented" >Serial number "8751" >0 above right-hand pillar on front-plate Inside case, back panel, top enamel plate: >Seconds Battery + Pos. > Battery Common or - Neg. >1/2 min dials Inside case, back panel, bottom enamel plate: external seconds dial Inside case, right hand side, electrical knobs: two switches, both "A.C. mains" Pendulum rod, below suspension spring: Serial number (?) 0000005 Rectifier in bottom cabinet: >"Hilco Rectifier" >"A.C. Volts 230/240" >"Model 1060/S" >"A.C. Amperes" >"Serial No. 1060/S >"Phases 1" >"D.C. Volts 6" >"C.P.S. 50" >"D.C. Amperes 1" >"Made in Australia by Hilco Transformers McIntyre St., Burwood, Victoria." Bakelite electrical plug: makers mark Lower cabinet, RH side panel, pressed tin plate: "AC" (upside down) Brass speed adjustment, outer right RH side: "S" and "F" Ivory and wood pendulum beat ruler: >Ruler, with 0 in centre and numbers 1-5 in ascending order from centre on left and right. > "Synchronome Patent." Steel plate, back panel, inside case, right hand side: >N R A" (descending) >"2191" serial number/part number Face of main clock: "Synchronome Electric" synchronome frequency checking master clock, electricity, state electricity commission, wendouree parade power station, secv, clock, time, pendulum, electric supply company of victoria, norman f. dalton, ballarat power station, rectifier, slave clock

This bean slicer is one of the household labour-saving devices that became increasingly popular in the early to mid 20th century. In those times vegetables such as beans were often grown in the backyard of a house or farm and bean-cutting was a laborious task, especially when providing for a large family. Processed sliced beans were not then freely available.This bean slicer has no known local provenance but is retained as an interesting example of a 20th century household labour-saving device. This is a metal object with a round disc with three metal blades underneath on a turntable for slicing. The blades are attached by six screws. There are two funnels on the top of the disc for inserting the beans. A handle that turns the blades is attached by a screw to the round disc. Attached to the disc also is a vice that enables the slicer to be bolted to a bench or table. The slicer has been painted green but the paint is wearing off and the whole object is rustywarrnambool, bean slicer, household items

Very old. Ref. Pages 6 and 7 Tools for all Trades Catalogue. The braces vary in quality (strength) depending on what materials are used to make them.The brace is a hand operated tool for boring holes in wood, consisting of a crank-shaped turning device. The brace that grips and rotates the hole-cutting tool, the bit.Used by woodworkers in the Kiewa Valley.Vintage hand drill braces. All different and not all complete. Made of cast iron, steel with wooden handles. The drills fit into one end of the brace which is turned to make a drilling motion. A brace is a hand tool used with a bit (drill bit or auger) to drill holes, usually in wood. Pressure is applied to the top while the handle is rotated.brace and bit, woodwork, hand drilling

Dr. Allen De Vilbiss (1841-1917) of Toledo, Ohio, developed his first atomiser around 1887. This device was designed to allow for dissolving cocaine, as a local anaesthetic agent, in oil, and spraying into the nose and throat. In the early to mid 20th Century, The DeVilbiss Company began making perfume atomisers instead of medical ones. Red, heavy cardboard box with manufacturer's label at one end, containing a glass bottle with metal spray attachment, and a khaki rubber bulb for pumping liquid through the atomiser.Stamped into top of metal atomiser: DE VILBISS TOLEDO USAatomiser, local anaesthetic

Endgate seeders consisted of a hopper, feeding device, (early models had only one distributor - later models had two. Could sow seed up to 50 feet, however not very accurate due to wind aggravation. This type of seeder arrived in Australia from America and was soon manufactured in South Australia and Victoria.Flat tray,(wooden) two wheeled vehicle with spreader mounted at rear. It was pulled by a farm tractor. Spreader appears to be operated by mechanical (chain gearing) means. Also used for sowing grass & clover seed.F16A moulded into the spreader support.rural industry, orcharding

This device, which consists of 2 slideable cork balls on nylon thread, is designed to gauge the height of liquid (hot or cold) in a receptacle such as a tumbler, jug, bowl without having to touch the liquid with the fingers. Print instructions are included with the instrument on how to operate the instrument, the instructions mention a braille copy is included, however this copy is missing. 2 slideable cork balls on nylon thread with instruction leaflet, inside cardboard boxRoyal National Institute for the Blind Liquid dispenser Catalogue no. 9290assistive devices, equipment

Annual report providing overview of activities and achievements including: sudden loss of Stephen Crook and Robert Moir, retirement of Theresa Smith-Ruig, Don Fraser, Liz Alison, opening of the Leigh Garwood Mobility Training centre, introduction of Iris Vision, and Tech Buddies program introduced to provide after sales support with devices.1 volume with illustrations providing overview of organisational achievementsvision australia, corporation records, nicola cotton, julie hall, jessica timmons, micah cheung, ron hooton, andrew moffat, david woodbridge, kelly o'dwyer, james holloway, dung nguyen, vu nguyen, martin stewart, sir peter cosgrove, denis walter, sylvie palladino, marina prior, david hobson, serena melissari, sonya hardman, jack hardman, neslihan sari, grant uther, anthony testa, julie newton, lucian galbraith, bashir ebrahim, daniel keogh, marion dickinson, werner brand, alison jones

Copy of a document from an original source, handwritten and partly typed. Provides 70 different rules or instructions to the drivers of horse trams for the Beaumaris Tramway Company Limited - what they "MUST" do, personal behavior, tickets, ticket punches, instructions with regard to trip slips, handling of the Ticket Punch Register device and tramway operations.Yields information about the rules for tram drivers for the Beaumaris Tramway Co. Ltd.Blue paper, typed notes, six sheets, titled Beaumaris Tramway Company Limited - Rules for Drivers - three duplicate sheets of pages 4 to 6.Each of the first six sheets have a pen mark signifying, that it has been retyped.tramways, trams, beaumaris tramway co. ltd, horse trams, ticket punches, instructions, rules, behaviour

These are sales photographs for William Tatham Ltd. of Rochdale. These photographs are taken in the fitting shop at William Tatham Ltd. where final assembly would have taken place. An Automatic Feeding Machine automatically and sequentially supplies uncarded wool to carding machines, The photographed machine was made by William Tatham Ltd, a textile engineering company based in Rochdale, UK. Established in 1866 Tatham developed innovative textile machinery and send their products to Australia and other countries around the world.A black and white photo of a Patent Automatic Feed Machine in a portrait format. Black wiritng on the rear, typed with a typewriter.Front - mid left corner - Wm. TATHAM Ltd. ROCHDALE. Machine Maker Front bottom right corner - 1129 Rear - Patent Automatic Feed with Extended Hopper fitted with balanced pressure plate which operates through Variable Speed Device to regulate speed of spiked lattice in accordance with material in Hopper. Electro-Magnetic Clutch Drive to spiked lattice controlled by Mercery Switch on scale arm. Diagonal Scale Pan with improved knife edge suspension. Dual Trap Doors over Pan actuated by Solenoid. Automatic device to slow spiked lattice just prior to weigh being obtained. Ball or roller bearings to main shaft, combs and other parts. Self-aligning bearing to timing shaft etc.textile machinery, tatham, wool manufacture, carding, automatic feeding machine, wool

Under the shadow of the tree is a two-horse dray, typical of the time around Box Hill, used by Council for cleaning the streets. The dray had a tipping device so that when full, it could be tipped up like a dump truck to empty the load. Alongside the horse and dray is a Wolsley 24/80 manufactured by BMC Australia (1962-1965).Digital TIFF file Scan of 35mm Ilford FP3 black and white transparencybmc wolseley 24/80, box hill, box hill council, george coop collection, level crossing, street cleaning, tait train, two-horse dray

On the Colac-Beech Forest-Crowes railway line the section from Ferguson to Crowes was closed in December 1954, but reopened as far as Weeaproinah in January 1955. The section to Crowes, left to its own devices, was rapidly covered with vegetation which had to be cleared when rail recovery trains later ran. The track to Crowes was pulled up in 1961. Crowes track being dismantled at the ashpit ready for loading into NQR wagons. colac; beech forest; crowes: railway;

Image of Ballarat tram 40 at the Mt Pleasant terminus 1-12-1970. The tram has roof adverts for Eureka Roofing Tiles and Electric Cooking. The metal device above the trolley pole, assisted crews to put the pole back on the overhead, especially at night. The mixed business on the right-hand side has an advert for The Sun newspaper.Yields information about the Mt Pleasant terminus in late 1970.Digital image of Ballarat Tram 40 at Mt Pleasant terminus 1-12-1970trams, tramways, mt pleasant, ballarat tramways, tram 40, trolley poles

Bosuns chair and harness with pulley. This device suspended a person from a rope and seat to perform work duties in safety. It includes a chair made from a flat piece of wood threaded through with a cable attached to pulleys, which move people or goods up or down heights such as the lighthouse, where it was used for painting the lighthouse and other tasks. It has first level contributory significance for its relative completeness, historic value and provenance to the lightstation.Chair (wooden piece of wood with cable threaded through 4 holes) with cables joining together above seat. Two metal pulleys with wire cable attached.