Showing 552 items
matching use of machinery
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Maldon Vintage Machinery Museum Inc
Furniture Storage Shelf
Wooden furniture storage shelf with sloping front. Seven wooden shelves, each divided vertically into compartments of various widths, 6 to a shelf. "Furniture" is used to set spaces between sections of print. -
Maldon Vintage Machinery Museum Inc
Printing Machine, John Key, Engineers, Kircaldy et al
Electrically driven platen machine. Used by Gordon & Gotch Publishers Australia & New Zealand. Metal with wooden tray for printed sheets. Automatic paper feed pickup.Plate naming it as "Auto Platen Machine" British patent No's 463542, 463617, 480587, 490661, 512459, 513892, 413818. Plate on side "John Key / Engineers / Kircaldy. -
Maldon Vintage Machinery Museum Inc
Pump - Centrifugal & Catalogue
60.1 & 2 Single stage end suction top discharge chemical pumps as used in refineries. Oil lubricated and fitted with a mechanical seal. 1 1/2" suction branch, 1" discharge branch. Painted grey. 60.2 DURCO ANSI Pumps catalogue.1K 1.5 x 1 - 8. Label on side of bearing housing "3 ANSI"machinery; pump; centrifugal; metalwork -
Maldon Vintage Machinery Museum Inc
Pump - Centrifugal
Single stage end suction top discharge chemical pump as used in refineries. Magnetically coupled with a self contained sealing system. 1 1/2" suction branch, 1" discharge branch. Painted grey. FG 1.5 x 1 - 82. Guardion Series Drive Pump.machinery; pump; centrifugal; metalwork -
Maldon Vintage Machinery Museum Inc
Steam Engine, C 1849
Thought to be the world's only working example of this engine. Used for driving overhead shafts in workshops, sawmills etc. Restored by members of the MVMM. Found at the Demsters property Shelbourne. Thought to be the only one of its kind in the world.Horizontal steam engine driving a flat belt pulley. Pulley shaft at right angles to engine shaft also carries a large flywheel. A mechanical oiler mounted on the engine base is activated by the engine valve shaft. Engine cylinder and valve housing painted dark green. Engine base, pulley and flywheel painted maroon. Oiler painted mid green.On engine valve box cover - Light green cast iron oval plate with "Cornelius Pettet / Engineer / Edinburgh" Brass plate on oiler - "Delvac Mechanical Lubricator / Design No 18376 / Made for and supplied by / Vacuum Oil Company Pty. Ltd. / Australia"machinery; engines; steam power source -
Maldon Vintage Machinery Museum Inc
Motorbike, Late 1940's
Restored for use in the movie "Romulus my Father".Two cylinder shaft drive motorbike with pillion seat on back mudguard. Restored for use in the movie "Romulus my Father". Spedometer in chromed headlight housing. Springing for front and back wheels, kick start. Black leather seat, black kneepads on petrol tank, bronze / gold petrol tank and mudguards, wire spoked wheels.On petrol tank, circular yellow enameled badge with a crown at top, central sun motif with rays and "Sunbeam" at bottom.transport ..... motor -
Maldon Vintage Machinery Museum Inc
Baker's Cart, Early 20th century
Two wheeled horse drawn cart that belonged to John Sexton, Maldon baker c 1940. Painted pale yellow with "Hudson Terraplane" wheel hubcaps. Flat bed with a full width step across the back. Leaf springs.Brass cast plate at the back end of the bed with "Maldon" cast in. Brass engraved plate on the side "The Baker's cart is known to have been used / in Maldon between 1930 and 1950 by bakers / "Doughy" Wells 30/40 and John Sexton 40/50" followed by restoration details.trades; horse drawn; -
Maldon Vintage Machinery Museum Inc
One Ton Truck
Used in annual Maldon Easter parade.Graham Brothers flat bed one ton truck. In-line four cylinder engine. Blue body with white engine housing, red engine block, cream wheel trim and upholstery maroon chasis. Natural timber seat frame, tray and running boards. Chrome radiator housing and headlights. Retrofitted electric turning indicators.Etched plate on dashboard "1 Ton CAUTION Truck / Over-loading or over-speeding / will void your warranty / Speed 25 miles per hour / Maximum allowable load capacity 2000 lbs / Allowable for weight of body 1000 lbs / Total weight of chassis body -------- / and load not to exceed 5515 lbs / deduct excess body weight from rated load / Graham Brothers Detroit. U. S. A. / A division of Dodge Brothers Inc." On cast wheel hub nuts "GB" -
Maldon Vintage Machinery Museum Inc
Steam Engine, 1877
Restored by Maldon Flywheelers Association. Originally owned and used by Zemster Brothers of "Brook Mount" Shellbourne.Known as "Aunty Jack"Large 4 wheeled 9 HP single cylinder (horizontal) steam engine, designed to be towed. Front wheels smaller than rear. Folding smoke stack with spark arrestor. Fire box and smoke stack painted black, boiler and steam cylinder green, wheels grey. In working order but engine is connected to an independent steam/air source to be operated for display purposes. 150 cm flywheel on LHS looking forward toward the front. Timber front turntable and back brake pad assembly. Brass water drain tap on firebox. Also other brass fittings on firebox.On brass ring near top of firebox:- "Serial No. 5672, Marshal Sons & Co. / Limited / Engineers / Gainsborough England". Metal plate on front turntable:- "Restoration of the Front Undercarriage / and retubing of the boiler by / Castlemaine Technical School / 1979". Cast in relief on wheel hubs:- "Marshal Sons & Co. Gainsborough".machinery - engines - steam -
Maldon Vintage Machinery Museum Inc
Tip Dray, Late 19th century
Used for carting rock to crushing batteries, road making, railway track building.Single horse drawn tip dray, restored by G & S Little in 1999. Made of timber with metal fittings and wheel rims. Enclosed sides with hinged front and rear panels. Chassis and wheels painted dark red, body in dark blue.Rectangular brass plaque on LHS looking forward detailing restoration and possible usage.transport ..... horse-drawn -
Maldon Vintage Machinery Museum Inc
Molten Metal Ladle Tipper
Device for tipping molten metal ladles. In use it would be suspended from a crane. Unpainted in a lightly rusty conditionMakers name (EBELING) cast on an oval brass plate.machinery; casting; foundry -
Maldon Vintage Machinery Museum Inc
Treadle Lathe, Post 1875
The first metal working machine used by David & James Thompson in 1878. Brought by ship by David Thompson who used it on the journey to make working models.The first machine used by David & James Thompson in their engineering section.Treadle lath for metal turning. Some brass accessories for metal working are laid out on a timber bench attached to the back of the lathe. Painted gunmetal grey and mounted on a black wooden platform for display purposes.Nonemachinery; tools; metalwork -
Maldon Vintage Machinery Museum Inc
Car Jack, Possibly 1960s
Mechanical mobile car jack made by the TREWELLAH company of Trentham for APAC Industries Ltd. Known as a "Service Jack" used for servicing cars and light vehicles. Mounted on 4 wheels, two being castors. Painted red. On a brass plate fixed to top of body "APAC / Service Jack No. 247 / Range 4 5/8" to 19 3/4" / Capacity 5000 lb / Caution: Do not overload / This jack is guaranteed to raised 5000 lb / Overloading renders this guarantee null and void / lubricate jack thoroughly before using / always keep jack clean and well oiled / Manufactured in Australia / APAC Industries Limited. / South Australia"tools, automotive, servicing -
Maldon Vintage Machinery Museum Inc
Rock Drill, Estimated second half to late 1800s
This was the first rock drill to be made in Australia and was made in Maldon. It was used in the Carmen's Tunnel mine Maldon.Oswald pneumatic rock drill. What appears to be an operating lever extending to one side. Body only, no drill bits. Unpainted.Cast in relief on body "Late / R. D. Oswald / Maldon".tools, machinery, metalwork, mining -
Maldon Vintage Machinery Museum Inc
Drive Belts, Estimated c 2000
Type used in wool weaving at Castlemaine Woolen Mill.Six new wooden drive belts used in Woolen Mills. Comprising rectangular pierced wooden blocks held together by short lengths of chain.weaving, manufacturing, wool -
Maldon Vintage Machinery Museum Inc
'Romulus ' Costume
The costume was worn by the character of Romulus in the movie "Romulus My Father" which was filmed in Central Victoria and used a motor bike in the Maldon Vintage Machinery Museum's collection. the film company subsequently donated the entire outfit to the museum..1) Cream Shirt &.2) Charcoal grey trousers with button fly and rayon? lining down to knee level. .3) Brown leather helmet with black, cotton lining, ear flaps and chin strap with buckle fastening. Makers name indicates helmet is of German origin. .4) Brown leather belt with buckle. .5 & .6) Pair brown leather boots. Right boot has hole drilled through the sole to accommodate a supporting spike on the display manequin's base. .4) is marked on inside surface near the buckle : "HERO/38" Left boot sports a white sticker with "hora" printed in black. Right boot has black "X" on outside top edge. Both boots have "ooded(?) /MURRAY42" moulded into leather on inner top edges.. .2) bear a stick-on label printed with "ROM 4" on inside back waistband.costume - male - headwear - footwear: costume accessories - clothes accessories; -
Maldon Vintage Machinery Museum Inc
Drawing Machine, Pre WW2
"Ray & Gilbert" articulated arm type manual drawing machine as used in a drawing office. Fitted with "W & G" scale rulers. Rulers are plastic coated timber. Black arms and handle, white rulers. Mounted on a wooden drawing board.. .4) Metal adjusting spanner..1) At mounting pivot point of drawing machine "Ray & Gilbert / Drafting Machine / Serial No. ? / Melbourne. Aust." .2) Scale rule "W & G E 18". .3) Scale rule "W & G E 12". .4) No inscriptions.drafting, engineering -
Maldon Vintage Machinery Museum Inc
Drawing Machine, Pre WW2
"Ray & Gilbert" articulated arm type manual drawing machine as used in a drawing office. Fitted with "W & G" scale rulers. Rulers are plastic coated timber. Black arms and handle, white rulers. Mounted on a wooden drawing board. Almost identical to VMVM 113.3 but in better condition. .4) Metal adjusting spannerSimilar to VMVM 113.4drafting, engineering -
Maldon Vintage Machinery Museum Inc
Ink, Bottled
Glass square walled bottle of black ink used for replenishing stamp pads. Labelled, black metal screw top. In white on a black paper label, "Superior / Rubber Stamp Pad / Ink".domestic items, writing equipment, glass technology, bottles -
Maldon Vintage Machinery Museum Inc
Programmable Calculator
First programmable calculator used by Thompsons Castlemaine Ltd..1) Hewlett Packard programmable calculator model HP9100A. Cream coloured metal housing. Four segment keyboard with keys coloured grey, cream and fawn. .2) Selection of 10 diagnostic cards for above in a plastic case with a clear plastic hinged push back lid..1) Serial number on rear plate "816-00508". .2) Cards part number 5060-5919.engineering, programmable calculator -
Maldon Vintage Machinery Museum Inc
Wooden Trays
A set of plain wooden trays used by the "Tea Lady" at Thompsons Castlemaine Ltd. Plain wood with some lacquer. .1 & .2) Have hardboard bases with cut out sections on the front lips. All have finger slots on the right and left sides.domestic items, trays, trades, carpentary -
Maldon Vintage Machinery Museum Inc
French Curves
.1) Wooden box with hinged lid. 22 wooden and 3 plastic flat curved patterns loose in the box. Several are numbered. .2) 3 clear plastic curves in a pouch. Made in Italy. .3) 3 clear plastic curves in a pouch. Made in Italy. .3 .....31) Plastic curves. French curves are used in a drawing office to draw a smooth best fit line through a number of points..25) "42 / Engineering / TB5" etched into plastic. .2 & .2) Pouches marked "LONGO Made in Italy" in gold.trades, drafting -
Maldon Vintage Machinery Museum Inc
Manufacturing Plates
Set of 8 steel plates for Thompsons Kelly & Lewis Castlemaine and Melbourne. .1 & .2) Used for Worthington pumps. Printed with specification categories, serial number, year of manufacture etc..metalcraft, commerce, advertising -
Maldon Vintage Machinery Museum Inc
Circular Slide Rule Calculator, First half 20th century
.1) Hinged lid wooden box with brass fittings and green felt covered rests inside. .2) "Fuller" type circular slide rule calculator Model No. 1. .3) Brass stand which slots into one end of box and holds calculator in position for ease of use. .4 ...7) Instruction booklets for operating the calculator. .8) Letter from importer re enquiry for circular slide rules to be used at Thompsons Engineering and Pipe Works.Imprinted on bakelite base of cylinder "Stanley / Trade Mark".trades, drafting, instruments, measuring -
National Wool Museum
Advertising Sign, 'Hearlcrowne Brand' Emery Fillet
Advertising display card for "Hearlcrowne Brand" Emery Fillet, produced by Hearl Heaton & Sons Ltd, Crown Steel Works, Liversedge, Yorkshire. Posssibly sold by DALGETY MERCHANDISE for use in shearing sheds for grinding tools'HEARLCROWNE BRAND' / EMERY FILLET / [further text follows]shearing machinery, shearing sheds, hearl heaton and sons ltd dalgety and company limited, emery, shearing -
National Wool Museum
Functional object - Blades and Weights
Blades were used for cutting cloth, and weights were used on a weaving loom.Seven metal blades, each having one end square shaped, tapering to narrower end which has metal handle attached. Five metal weights, cylindrical. One has hooked metal pieces attached to its top.Wording: DA 203;Method: Cast;Location: Bottom of one weight Wording: 573;Method: Cast;Location: Bottom of one weightweaving, textile, machinery, textile industry, blades, weights -
National Wool Museum
Textile - Skirt, Tina Knitwear, 1980-2000
Part of a selection of garments knitted by ‘Tina Knitwear’. Tina Knitwear was a successful made to order knitwear business in Brighton from the mid-1960s to around 2010, run by Assunta and Franco Liburti. Daughter Melissa Persi writes: Our parents Assunta (Mum) and Franco (Dad) Liburti ran a successful made to order knitwear business in Brighton from the mid-1960s to around 2010. Assunta was affectionately known to her family as Assuntina, therefore the business was named "Tina Knitwear" after her. Assunta and Franco were born in the beautiful seaside town of Terracina in Italy in 1933 and 1930 respectively. As was so common in Italy in the 1950s, Assunta who was in her late teens and early twenties learnt the intricate skills of machine knitting, dressmaking and pattern making. Franco on the other hand, learnt the building trade with his 2 brothers and specialised in bricklaying and tiling. As was so common after the war, Assunta and Franco yearned for a better life so they decided that they would get engaged and then migrate to Australia to be married and raise their family in Australia, a land of much opportunity which they no longer felt their beloved Italy held for them. Assunta migrated to Australia first in 1957 and later Franco joined her in 1958 where they were married. For the first few years, Franco (also known as Frank) worked as bricklayer /tiler on buildings such as the Robert Menzies building at Monash University in Clayton and various buildings in the Melbourne CBD. Assunta on the other hand put her machine knitting skills to use working in factories doing piece machine knitting for various knitwear companies. The hours were long, the conditions were difficult, and travel was onerous without a car. After their 2 older children were born, it was decided that dad would leave the building trade and they would start their own made to order knitwear business. That way they could work from home and raise their family together. Mum taught dad everything he needed to know so he could operate the knitwear machinery. They purchased COPPO knitting machines from Italy and a Linking machine from Germany. Initially they had a knitwear shopfront in Bay Street Brighton where a store assistant would take the orders and client’s measurements and Assunta would then make the garments from a small workshop in their home. Unfortunately, the assistants were not skilled dressmakers and often measurements and orders were incorrectly taken. Assunta being the perfectionist and highly skilled machinist that she was, decided that she needed to oversee the entire process from meeting the client, to taking their order, right thru to the fittings and completion of the garment. It therefore made sense that they should close the shop front and run their business from their own home in Brighton and hence “Tina Knitwear” was born. Together, for more than 40 years they ran their very respected and successful business and were well known in the Bayside area. They specialised in made to order knitwear for both men and women using mainly pure wool (from Patons, Wangaratta Mills, Japan and Italy) but also lurex and estacel. Over those years, many of their clients became their close friends. It wasn't unusual for clients to come to order garments and then end up in the kitchen chatting over a cup of Italian espresso coffee and homemade biscuits. Some of their clients were especially memorable and became lifelong friends. Mrs Connell was a dear friend of mum’s, each year she would buy tickets for the “Gown of the Year” fashion show. She would insist on taking Assunta and her 2 daughters so that we could see the latest fashions. Then there was their dear friend Ms Griffiths. She had been a Matron nurse at the Queen Victoria Hospital when she met my parents in the 1970s. She returned to live in New Zealand in the 1980s but came back to Melbourne every year to stay for 2 weeks with the sole purpose of visiting my parents (she adored them) and order garments. For those 2 solid weeks, mum and dad would only knit for Ms Griffiths and she would go back to New Zealand with at least 5 or 6 new outfits. I actually think she enjoyed mum’s homemade pasta almost as much as her new clothes! Over the years, my parents learnt to speak English very well given that majority of their clients were not Italian speaking. Their oldest child John born in 1960 learnt to speak English with the help of those clients who were such a big part of our childhood. Mum and dad always went above and beyond to ensure their clients were satisfied. Mum was an absolute perfectionist and it showed in her attention to detail and the quality of their beautiful work. You only need to look at the garments that have stood the test of time or speak to their clients to know that this is true. Their clients would always comment on how well their clothes would last and much of their clients came via word of mouth and recommendations. Occasionally there would be disagreements because mum had found an error in dad's knitting (either a wrong stitch or a sizing mistake mainly) and would ask him to redo a piece, he would argue back saying that it was fine, but we always knew who would win the argument and that the piece would get remade! Similarly, we recall discussions where mum would ask dad to find a particular colour of wool in the garage where the stock was kept. He would try to convince her that they were out of stock of that colour and that the client should choose a different colour. She would insist they had it and then after hours of searching, he would return into the house sheepishly holding the wool! Our childhood is full of beautiful memories of mum and dad always being present, clients coming and going, mum humming her favourite songs as she worked often late into the night and sometimes, we even fell asleep to the hum of the machinery. They put their heart and soul into "Tina Knitwear" and took pride in providing only the best quality garments for their clients. In Italian there is a saying “lei ha le mani d’oro” which literally translated means “she has hands of gold”. Franco enjoyed his work but for Assunta, it was more than just work and there is no better way to describe her skills, passion and dedication to her machine knitting… she truly did have “hands of gold”. We will forever be grateful that our parents’ life journey gave us the opportunity to live in a home filled with creativity, dedication and passion, amazing work ethic and mutual respect, lifelong friendships and a lifetime of love. Red ribbed skirt with elastic waistband.knitwear, clothing, italy, migrants, brighton, knitting machine, linking machine, garments, business, family, community -
National Wool Museum
Textile - Skirt, Tina Knitwear, 1980-2000
Part of a selection of garments knitted by ‘Tina Knitwear’. Tina Knitwear was a successful made to order knitwear business in Brighton from the mid-1960s to around 2010, run by Assunta and Franco Liburti. Daughter Melissa Persi writes: Our parents Assunta (Mum) and Franco (Dad) Liburti ran a successful made to order knitwear business in Brighton from the mid-1960s to around 2010. Assunta was affectionately known to her family as Assuntina, therefore the business was named "Tina Knitwear" after her. Assunta and Franco were born in the beautiful seaside town of Terracina in Italy in 1933 and 1930 respectively. As was so common in Italy in the 1950s, Assunta who was in her late teens and early twenties learnt the intricate skills of machine knitting, dressmaking and pattern making. Franco on the other hand, learnt the building trade with his 2 brothers and specialised in bricklaying and tiling. As was so common after the war, Assunta and Franco yearned for a better life so they decided that they would get engaged and then migrate to Australia to be married and raise their family in Australia, a land of much opportunity which they no longer felt their beloved Italy held for them. Assunta migrated to Australia first in 1957 and later Franco joined her in 1958 where they were married. For the first few years, Franco (also known as Frank) worked as bricklayer /tiler on buildings such as the Robert Menzies building at Monash University in Clayton and various buildings in the Melbourne CBD. Assunta on the other hand put her machine knitting skills to use working in factories doing piece machine knitting for various knitwear companies. The hours were long, the conditions were difficult, and travel was onerous without a car. After their 2 older children were born, it was decided that dad would leave the building trade and they would start their own made to order knitwear business. That way they could work from home and raise their family together. Mum taught dad everything he needed to know so he could operate the knitwear machinery. They purchased COPPO knitting machines from Italy and a Linking machine from Germany. Initially they had a knitwear shopfront in Bay Street Brighton where a store assistant would take the orders and client’s measurements and Assunta would then make the garments from a small workshop in their home. Unfortunately, the assistants were not skilled dressmakers and often measurements and orders were incorrectly taken. Assunta being the perfectionist and highly skilled machinist that she was, decided that she needed to oversee the entire process from meeting the client, to taking their order, right thru to the fittings and completion of the garment. It therefore made sense that they should close the shop front and run their business from their own home in Brighton and hence “Tina Knitwear” was born. Together, for more than 40 years they ran their very respected and successful business and were well known in the Bayside area. They specialised in made to order knitwear for both men and women using mainly pure wool (from Patons, Wangaratta Mills, Japan and Italy) but also lurex and estacel. Over those years, many of their clients became their close friends. It wasn't unusual for clients to come to order garments and then end up in the kitchen chatting over a cup of Italian espresso coffee and homemade biscuits. Some of their clients were especially memorable and became lifelong friends. Mrs Connell was a dear friend of mum’s, each year she would buy tickets for the “Gown of the Year” fashion show. She would insist on taking Assunta and her 2 daughters so that we could see the latest fashions. Then there was their dear friend Ms Griffiths. She had been a Matron nurse at the Queen Victoria Hospital when she met my parents in the 1970s. She returned to live in New Zealand in the 1980s but came back to Melbourne every year to stay for 2 weeks with the sole purpose of visiting my parents (she adored them) and order garments. For those 2 solid weeks, mum and dad would only knit for Ms Griffiths and she would go back to New Zealand with at least 5 or 6 new outfits. I actually think she enjoyed mum’s homemade pasta almost as much as her new clothes! Over the years, my parents learnt to speak English very well given that majority of their clients were not Italian speaking. Their oldest child John born in 1960 learnt to speak English with the help of those clients who were such a big part of our childhood. Mum and dad always went above and beyond to ensure their clients were satisfied. Mum was an absolute perfectionist and it showed in her attention to detail and the quality of their beautiful work. You only need to look at the garments that have stood the test of time or speak to their clients to know that this is true. Their clients would always comment on how well their clothes would last and much of their clients came via word of mouth and recommendations. Occasionally there would be disagreements because mum had found an error in dad's knitting (either a wrong stitch or a sizing mistake mainly) and would ask him to redo a piece, he would argue back saying that it was fine, but we always knew who would win the argument and that the piece would get remade! Similarly, we recall discussions where mum would ask dad to find a particular colour of wool in the garage where the stock was kept. He would try to convince her that they were out of stock of that colour and that the client should choose a different colour. She would insist they had it and then after hours of searching, he would return into the house sheepishly holding the wool! Our childhood is full of beautiful memories of mum and dad always being present, clients coming and going, mum humming her favourite songs as she worked often late into the night and sometimes, we even fell asleep to the hum of the machinery. They put their heart and soul into "Tina Knitwear" and took pride in providing only the best quality garments for their clients. In Italian there is a saying “lei ha le mani d’oro” which literally translated means “she has hands of gold”. Franco enjoyed his work but for Assunta, it was more than just work and there is no better way to describe her skills, passion and dedication to her machine knitting… she truly did have “hands of gold”. We will forever be grateful that our parents’ life journey gave us the opportunity to live in a home filled with creativity, dedication and passion, amazing work ethic and mutual respect, lifelong friendships and a lifetime of love. Red wide ribbed pleated skirt with a plain yoke, navy blue band at bottom edge and elasticated waistband. A purple x is located inside to mark centre back of skirt.knitwear, clothing, italy, migrants, brighton, knitting machine, linking machine, garments, business, family, community -
National Wool Museum
Textile - Men's Coat, c1940s
Franco Liburti was wearing this coat when he farewelled his wife Assunta in Naples, Italy in 1957, the day she departed for Australia. Tina Knitwear was a successful made to order knitwear business in Brighton from the mid-1960s to around 2010, run by Assunta and Franco Liburti. Daughter Melissa Persi writes: Our parents Assunta (Mum) and Franco (Dad) Liburti ran a successful made to order knitwear business in Brighton from the mid-1960s to around 2010. Assunta was affectionately known to her family as Assuntina, therefore the business was named "Tina Knitwear" after her. Assunta and Franco were born in the beautiful seaside town of Terracina in Italy in 1933 and 1930 respectively. As was so common in Italy in the 1950s, Assunta who was in her late teens and early twenties learnt the intricate skills of machine knitting, dressmaking and pattern making. Franco on the other hand, learnt the building trade with his 2 brothers and specialised in bricklaying and tiling. As was so common after the war, Assunta and Franco yearned for a better life so they decided that they would get engaged and then migrate to Australia to be married and raise their family in Australia, a land of much opportunity which they no longer felt their beloved Italy held for them. Assunta migrated to Australia first in 1957 and later Franco joined her in 1958 where they were married. For the first few years, Franco (also known as Frank) worked as bricklayer /tiler on buildings such as the Robert Menzies building at Monash University in Clayton and various buildings in the Melbourne CBD. Assunta on the other hand put her machine knitting skills to use working in factories doing piece machine knitting for various knitwear companies. The hours were long, the conditions were difficult, and travel was onerous without a car. After their 2 older children were born, it was decided that dad would leave the building trade and they would start their own made to order knitwear business. That way they could work from home and raise their family together. Mum taught dad everything he needed to know so he could operate the knitwear machinery. They purchased COPPO knitting machines from Italy and a Linking machine from Germany. Initially they had a knitwear shopfront in Bay Street Brighton where a store assistant would take the orders and client’s measurements and Assunta would then make the garments from a small workshop in their home. Unfortunately, the assistants were not skilled dressmakers and often measurements and orders were incorrectly taken. Assunta being the perfectionist and highly skilled machinist that she was, decided that she needed to oversee the entire process from meeting the client, to taking their order, right thru to the fittings and completion of the garment. It therefore made sense that they should close the shop front and run their business from their own home in Brighton and hence “Tina Knitwear” was born. Together, for more than 40 years they ran their very respected and successful business and were well known in the Bayside area. They specialised in made to order knitwear for both men and women using mainly pure wool (from Patons, Wangaratta Mills, Japan and Italy) but also lurex and estacel. Over those years, many of their clients became their close friends. It wasn't unusual for clients to come to order garments and then end up in the kitchen chatting over a cup of Italian espresso coffee and homemade biscuits. Some of their clients were especially memorable and became lifelong friends. Mrs Connell was a dear friend of mum’s, each year she would buy tickets for the “Gown of the Year” fashion show. She would insist on taking Assunta and her 2 daughters so that we could see the latest fashions. Then there was their dear friend Ms Griffiths. She had been a Matron nurse at the Queen Victoria Hospital when she met my parents in the 1970s. She returned to live in New Zealand in the 1980s but came back to Melbourne every year to stay for 2 weeks with the sole purpose of visiting my parents (she adored them) and order garments. For those 2 solid weeks, mum and dad would only knit for Ms Griffiths and she would go back to New Zealand with at least 5 or 6 new outfits. I actually think she enjoyed mum’s homemade pasta almost as much as her new clothes! Over the years, my parents learnt to speak English very well given that majority of their clients were not Italian speaking. Their oldest child John born in 1960 learnt to speak English with the help of those clients who were such a big part of our childhood. Mum and dad always went above and beyond to ensure their clients were satisfied. Mum was an absolute perfectionist and it showed in her attention to detail and the quality of their beautiful work. You only need to look at the garments that have stood the test of time or speak to their clients to know that this is true. Their clients would always comment on how well their clothes would last and much of their clients came via word of mouth and recommendations. Occasionally there would be disagreements because mum had found an error in dad's knitting (either a wrong stitch or a sizing mistake mainly) and would ask him to redo a piece, he would argue back saying that it was fine, but we always knew who would win the argument and that the piece would get remade! Similarly, we recall discussions where mum would ask dad to find a particular colour of wool in the garage where the stock was kept. He would try to convince her that they were out of stock of that colour and that the client should choose a different colour. She would insist they had it and then after hours of searching, he would return into the house sheepishly holding the wool! Our childhood is full of beautiful memories of mum and dad always being present, clients coming and going, mum humming her favourite songs as she worked often late into the night and sometimes, we even fell asleep to the hum of the machinery. They put their heart and soul into "Tina Knitwear" and took pride in providing only the best quality garments for their clients. In Italian there is a saying “lei ha le mani d’oro” which literally translated means “she has hands of gold”. Franco enjoyed his work but for Assunta, it was more than just work and there is no better way to describe her skills, passion and dedication to her machine knitting… she truly did have “hands of gold”. We will forever be grateful that our parents’ life journey gave us the opportunity to live in a home filled with creativity, dedication and passion, amazing work ethic and mutual respect, lifelong friendships and a lifetime of love. Men's coat featuring a charcoal herringbone weave, with three buttons down the front and on each sleeve cuff.knitwear, clothing, italy, migrants, brighton, knitting machine, linking machine, garments, business, family, community, naples -
National Wool Museum
Textile - Child's Pinafore, Tina Knitwear, 1980-2000
Part of a selection of garments knitted by ‘Tina Knitwear’. Tina Knitwear was a successful made to order knitwear business in Brighton from the mid-1960s to around 2010, run by Assunta and Franco Liburti. Daughter Melissa Persi writes: Our parents Assunta (Mum) and Franco (Dad) Liburti ran a successful made to order knitwear business in Brighton from the mid-1960s to around 2010. Assunta was affectionately known to her family as Assuntina, therefore the business was named "Tina Knitwear" after her. Assunta and Franco were born in the beautiful seaside town of Terracina in Italy in 1933 and 1930 respectively. As was so common in Italy in the 1950s, Assunta who was in her late teens and early twenties learnt the intricate skills of machine knitting, dressmaking and pattern making. Franco on the other hand, learnt the building trade with his 2 brothers and specialised in bricklaying and tiling. As was so common after the war, Assunta and Franco yearned for a better life so they decided that they would get engaged and then migrate to Australia to be married and raise their family in Australia, a land of much opportunity which they no longer felt their beloved Italy held for them. Assunta migrated to Australia first in 1957 and later Franco joined her in 1958 where they were married. For the first few years, Franco (also known as Frank) worked as bricklayer /tiler on buildings such as the Robert Menzies building at Monash University in Clayton and various buildings in the Melbourne CBD. Assunta on the other hand put her machine knitting skills to use working in factories doing piece machine knitting for various knitwear companies. The hours were long, the conditions were difficult, and travel was onerous without a car. After their 2 older children were born, it was decided that dad would leave the building trade and they would start their own made to order knitwear business. That way they could work from home and raise their family together. Mum taught dad everything he needed to know so he could operate the knitwear machinery. They purchased COPPO knitting machines from Italy and a Linking machine from Germany. Initially they had a knitwear shopfront in Bay Street Brighton where a store assistant would take the orders and client’s measurements and Assunta would then make the garments from a small workshop in their home. Unfortunately, the assistants were not skilled dressmakers and often measurements and orders were incorrectly taken. Assunta being the perfectionist and highly skilled machinist that she was, decided that she needed to oversee the entire process from meeting the client, to taking their order, right thru to the fittings and completion of the garment. It therefore made sense that they should close the shop front and run their business from their own home in Brighton and hence “Tina Knitwear” was born. Together, for more than 40 years they ran their very respected and successful business and were well known in the Bayside area. They specialised in made to order knitwear for both men and women using mainly pure wool (from Patons, Wangaratta Mills, Japan and Italy) but also lurex and estacel. Over those years, many of their clients became their close friends. It wasn't unusual for clients to come to order garments and then end up in the kitchen chatting over a cup of Italian espresso coffee and homemade biscuits. Some of their clients were especially memorable and became lifelong friends. Mrs Connell was a dear friend of mum’s, each year she would buy tickets for the “Gown of the Year” fashion show. She would insist on taking Assunta and her 2 daughters so that we could see the latest fashions. Then there was their dear friend Ms Griffiths. She had been a Matron nurse at the Queen Victoria Hospital when she met my parents in the 1970s. She returned to live in New Zealand in the 1980s but came back to Melbourne every year to stay for 2 weeks with the sole purpose of visiting my parents (she adored them) and order garments. For those 2 solid weeks, mum and dad would only knit for Ms Griffiths and she would go back to New Zealand with at least 5 or 6 new outfits. I actually think she enjoyed mum’s homemade pasta almost as much as her new clothes! Over the years, my parents learnt to speak English very well given that majority of their clients were not Italian speaking. Their oldest child John born in 1960 learnt to speak English with the help of those clients who were such a big part of our childhood. Mum and dad always went above and beyond to ensure their clients were satisfied. Mum was an absolute perfectionist and it showed in her attention to detail and the quality of their beautiful work. You only need to look at the garments that have stood the test of time or speak to their clients to know that this is true. Their clients would always comment on how well their clothes would last and much of their clients came via word of mouth and recommendations. Occasionally there would be disagreements because mum had found an error in dad's knitting (either a wrong stitch or a sizing mistake mainly) and would ask him to redo a piece, he would argue back saying that it was fine, but we always knew who would win the argument and that the piece would get remade! Similarly, we recall discussions where mum would ask dad to find a particular colour of wool in the garage where the stock was kept. He would try to convince her that they were out of stock of that colour and that the client should choose a different colour. She would insist they had it and then after hours of searching, he would return into the house sheepishly holding the wool! Our childhood is full of beautiful memories of mum and dad always being present, clients coming and going, mum humming her favourite songs as she worked often late into the night and sometimes, we even fell asleep to the hum of the machinery. They put their heart and soul into "Tina Knitwear" and took pride in providing only the best quality garments for their clients. In Italian there is a saying “lei ha le mani d’oro” which literally translated means “she has hands of gold”. Franco enjoyed his work but for Assunta, it was more than just work and there is no better way to describe her skills, passion and dedication to her machine knitting… she truly did have “hands of gold”. We will forever be grateful that our parents’ life journey gave us the opportunity to live in a home filled with creativity, dedication and passion, amazing work ethic and mutual respect, lifelong friendships and a lifetime of love. Red and green plaid children's pinafore with green hem binding and in-built petticoat with lace edging.knitwear, clothing, italy, migrants, brighton, knitting machine, linking machine, garments, business, family, community