Siebe Gorman & Company Ltd was a British company that developed diving equipment and breathing equipment and worked on commercial diving and marine salvage projects. The company advertised itself as 'Submarine Engineers'. It was founded by Augustus Siebe, a German-born British engineer chiefly known for his contributions to diving equipment. Siebe Gorman traded as an engineering firm for over 180 years from 1819 to 1999. The early success of the business was due to its founder, the Prussian immigrant Christian 'Augustus' Siebe (1788-1872). For business reasons, he applied for and was granted British citizenship in 1856. He was a gifted engineer who was able to translate theoretical problems into practical, working products. During the industrial Victorian period, the business traded as 'A. Siebe' at 145 High Street Holborn London, but in 1828 new premises were acquired at 5 Denmark Street, Soho. The family firm produced a wide range of manufactured goods including paper-making machinery, measuring machinery, water pumps, refrigeration equipment, and diving apparatus. Augustus Siebe specialised in submarine engineering early on and the company gained a reputation for the manufacture of safe, reliable diving apparatus. Augustus Siebe is best remembered for the development and manufacture of the ‘closed’ Diving Dress based on the ideas of Charles and John Deane, George Edwards, and Charles Pasley. Apart from some small modifications to valves and diver communications, the basic 12 bolt ‘closed’ diving dress remained relatively unchanged after the 1870s. Later company successes were also based on innovation, with new products that could be successfully developed and manufactured to high standards. This was largely attributed to the inventive nature, foresight, engineering, and entrepreneurial skills of Robert Henry Davis (1870-1965). In 1882, RH Davis joined the company of 'Siebe & Gorman' as a young 11-year-old office boy and he was to remain with the company until he died in 1965. Augustus Siebe retired in 1869 and handed over the company to a new partnership of Henry H. Siebe (1830-1885) and William A. O'Gorman (1834-1904). The new firm traded as 'Siebe & Gorman' (1870-1879) from premises in and around Mason Street, Westminster Bridge Road, Lambeth, London. The two partners soon recognised the potential of R.H. Davis and in 1894, aged 24, he became General Manager of Siebe & Gorman. Davis increasingly ran the company until the surviving partner (W.A. Gorman) died in 1904. The firm was disposed of to the Vickers (armaments) family and a new company 'Siebe Gorman & Co. Ltd.' (1905-1998) was formed. Under the chairmanship of Albert Vickers, R.H. Davis was kept on as Managing Director, and the company forged ahead. However, after WW1, the Great Depression caused manufacturing output and share prices to slump. In 1924 Robert Davis made a deal with the Vickers Board and acquired control of the company through majority shares. Under his leadership, the Siebe Gorman Company flourished and within time, four of his sons also joined the firm. The company gained a worldwide reputation for the manufacture of diving apparatus, decompression and observation chambers, and safety breathing apparatus of all types for use on the land, in the air, and under the sea (including mine rescue, tunneling, aircraft, diving, submarine escape and in other hazardous environments). Close research and development links with the MOD (especially the Admiralty), also provided a lucrative outlet for the company products. In 1932, Robert Davis was knighted by King George V, principally for his invention of the ‘Davis Submerged Escape Apparatus’ (D.S.E.A.). Siebe Gorman essentially remained a family firm from the beginning (under A.Siebe) until it became a public company for the first time in 1952. However, following WW2, British manufacturing stagnated through stifled investment and post-war austerity, and there was little innovation. Siebe Gorman's fortunes began to decline as an aging Sir Robert Davis failed to invest, or change the company's business and management practices. In 1959, Siebe Gorman was acquired by the “Fairy Group” and the ailing Sir Robert was made Life President. Consequently, nothing changed and the slow decline continued until Sir Robert's death in March 1965. Around 1960, Siebe Gorman acquired the diving apparatus manufacturer C E Heinke, and for a brief period, it manufactured some diving equipment under the combined name of Siebe Heinke. Around 1964, Mr E. 'Barry' Stephens was appointed as the new Managing Director to modernise Siebe Gorman. Changes were made, including a move to a new factory in Wales in 1975. The new company concentrated on fire-fighting breathing apparatus and escape equipment, and the move coincided with the loss of many of the older, traditional craft skills. Between 1985 and 1998, Siebe expanded through acquisitions, and several other companies were acquired. The Siebe Gorman (diving apparatus) company has therefore traded as A. Siebe (1819-1870); Siebe & Gorman (1870-1879); Siebe Gorman & Co (1880-1904); Siebe Gorman & Co. Ltd (1905-1998). (For information regards the diving helmet & Frank King see Notes Section at the end of this document)The items are very significant as a snapshot into marine history and the development of diving equipment generally especially that used for salvage operations before and during WW2. The company that made the equipment was a leading inventor,developer and innovator of marine equipment with its early helmets and other items eagerly sought after today for collections around the world. The items in the Flagstaff Hill collection give us an insight as to how divers operated and the dangers they faced doing a very necessary and dangerous job. Frank Kings' diving helmet and compressor (communication pipe stored separately). Compressor is hand cranked. US Navy diving helmet, Mark V. Two maker's plates attached. Made in 1944.On rear "WATER SUPPLY" On front 'PATENT" " Logo: Images (Lion, Crown, Horse, Shield within an oval) "SIEBE, GORMAN & Co. Ltd. SUBMARINE ENGINEERS, LONDON.flagstaff hill, warrnambool, maritime museum, great ocean road, us navy diving helmet, commonwealth government salvage, diving helmet, marine salvage, frank king, diver, siebe. gorman & co ltd, submarine equipment, diving equipment, communication under water, hand cranked, diving compressor

coloured photo of 173rd Airbourne Brigade Flag used from Europe to Vietnam.'First In Last Out "vietnam war 1965/1971, 173rd airborne brigade

Timber framed, black matt board. Coloured photograph of a Huey flying above the jungle. The photograph is taken from onboard another Huey flying just ahead. Door & Gunner's knee is in the photo on the side.My Vietnam Collection - "The Huey", Vietnam icon, 1971, c. copyright, Leon Pavich.photograph, huey helicopter, my vietnam collection

A Photograph of U.S. soldiers charging from a celicopter under heavy fire at 3,000 feet on Hamburger Hillphotograph, helicopter, u.s. soldiers

Made by internee at Compound A Camp 3 Tatura VictoriaDarning mushroom made from turned wood and polished. Comes with a sewing box. (see C0219).

Celebration of Baraga House HostelIst AnniversaryBlack and white photo

Yellow Tobacco tin 'Perfection Aromatic Flake Tobacco' written in red.personal effects, smoking accessories, containers, commercial

Harold Bakes obtained this item from the Hawthorn Line Depot of the P.M.G, at 385 Burwood Road Hawthorn,following up information provided by Stan Boreham..Hand operated petrol pump or bowserThis pump with tank and fittings and equipment is the property of VACUUM OIL CO PTY LTD V2946. on metal plate.on an alloy plate---Self measuring pump|G+B model 1-2179 14* 117704|manufactured by Gilbert + Barker Mfg Co Springfield Mass U.S.A.|important - Keep all Stuffing Boxes tight.transport, motor vehicles, machinery, pumps

Used in the Mitcham Primary School office.Black manual Typewriter.REMINGTONcommerce, office equipment / stationery

Six round containers which contain phonograph cylinders. Edison Gold Moulded --- Immediately terminates.musical instruments, accessories, audio-visual technology, audio accessories

ballarat railway station

The last sale at the Delacombe Saleyards took place in December 2018. The closure comes after around 130 years after the parcel of land that is home to the Ballarat saleyards was permanently reserved from sale by then Colony of Victoria Governor, Sir Henry Brougham Loch, with advice of the Executive Council.Colour photographs of the Ballarat Sale yards, LaTrobe Street, Delacombe. ballarat saleyards, saleyards, cattle yards, cattlerace, agriculture

Queen Victoria's jubilee took place in 1887.Bronze coin featuring the Daylesford Town Hall on one side, and a profile of Queen Victoria on the other. daylesford borough queen victoria jubilee medallion, daylesford, queen victoria, numismatics, medallion, anniversary, jubilee

WW2 Newspaper sold in Melbourne in August 1945

The capsule was put together and buried in the school grounds during the Australian Bicentenary Celebrations, which acknowledged 200 years of white settlement in Australia.A coloured photographof the teacher putting documents into the school capsule while the students are looking on.schools, bulla primary school

24 pages, illustrated.

Metal object with a handle which made the official school of the Ballarat School of Mines. ballarat school of mines, seal, seal maker, legal

Coonara Race steam train passing through the Golden Square Station, 5th March 1986Edith Lunn

Three photographs the building and garden facing Rosiland Park of the Sandhurst Club, View Street, Bendigo 6A gate entry to Sandhurst Club 6B & C gardem and veranda facing Rosiland ParkEdith Lunn

photograph of Strathlachlan, Barkly Place, Bendigo. The home of Lachlan McLachlan, known as 'Bendigo Mac' house built in 1858Edith Lunn

Dudley House, View Street Bendigo repair and maintenance underway 5/08/1995Edith Lunn

Gold Mines Hotel - External facade to Marong Road, Bendigo, showing the wrought iron trimmed verandaEdith Lunn

two photographs of Burnewang House, Elmore Appears to show rear aafcade of Burnewang HouseEdith Lunn

Frederick & Bassemir's Old Bakery building on the corner of Edwards & Wills Streets photo taken form Edwards & Garsed Streets cornerEdith Lunn

Quarry in the vicinity of Goldfields Cairn, near Forest Creek, taken 19/08/1989 22A Cairn to mark Gold Discovery (the first ) on the Mount Alexander Goldfields at Forest Creek in 1851 22B At the site of the Cairn to mark gold discovery at Forest Creek in July 1951 22C the quarry near Goldfields Cairn 22D quarry in the vicinity of Goldfields Cairn, near Forest Creek 22E Quarry near Cairn to gold discaovery on Mount Alexander , Forest CreekEdith Lunn