This cable tram Gripman’s badge, or driver’s badge, was part of a tram driver’s uniform. The inscriptions on the front of the badge identify it as belonging to Gripman number 14, at the South Melbourne Car House depot of the Tramways Board. The Gripman Badge would be re-issued whenever another Gripman takes over the position. Cable trams were invented in America in 1873. In Melbourne, cable trams were in use from 1885 until 1940, with a network of up to 1200 cable cars or 'dummies' and trailers travelling at around 9.5 miles (15km) per hour along 46 miles (74km) of double tracks. The Gripman drove the dummy car, operating the heavy levers to connect the gripping gears to the cable installed in a slot in the road. To turn at intersections he would skilfully disconnect, freewheel around the corner and carefully reconnect to the continuously operating steel cable. Large winding gears in an Engine House along the line pulled the cable along, powered by steam engines and later electric engines. The gripping gears were in the centre of the car's floor with seating all around the sides, a dangerous place for curious children. , whose worried parents would guide them into the tram that was towed behind the dummy car. The Melbourne Tramways Board operated the cable trams between July 1916 and November 1919 after taking over from the privately operated Melbourne Tramway and Omnibus Company. In 1919, the Melbourne and Metropolitan Tramways Board (MMTB) took over the Tramways Board. Stokes & Sons: - The maker of the badge, Thomas Stokes, migrated to Melbourne from Birmingham in 1854 and set up business in Mincer Lane as a die-sinker, producing medals, tokens, buttons and silverware, and an engraving service. He moved to Flinders Lane in 1856. After a time, in 1894, the business became Stokes & Sons Pty: Ltd, electroplates and badge makers at Post Office Place in Melbourne. The maker's mark 'Stokes & Sons' was made on badges until 1962. LOCAL CONNECTION: -t was common practice to recycle the used cables from the tramway. For example, the Wollaston Bridge in Warrnambool, Victoria, is suspended by recycled cable tram Melbourne. (Other recycled cables were used for fencing wire.) -Portland's cable tram is an example of the cable trams used in Melbourne from 1885 to 1940.This badge was used to identify a Gripman who operated a cable car tram's dummy car for the Tramways Board in Melbourne between 1916 and 1919. It represents the need for people to be able to identify workers in the service industry, a need still addressed today by staff ID badges and digital identification. The badge also represents the period in Melbourne's history when cable cars were used for public transport for over four decades, gradually changing from steam to electric power. Trams still have an important role in Melbourne's public transport. Badge, round hollow metal dome with two open metal guides on the back. A cable tram Gripman (driver) badge with embossed inscriptions on the front and stamped on the back. There is a logo of entwined letters T and B on the front. It identifies Gripman number 14, South Melbourne, Tramway Board. It was made by Stokes & Sons of Melbourne. Impressed into the front: "S / 14 / M" "GRIPMAN" Logo intertwined "T" and "B" Embossed on reverse "STOKES &o SONS"flagstaff hill, flagstaff hill maritime museum and village, warrnambool, maritime museum, maritime village, great ocean road, shipwreck coast, badge, gripman, stokes & sons, numesmatics, tramway, tram, tram driver, uniform, cable tram, identification, cable car driver, tramway board, south melbourne, melbourne tramways board, tb, mtb, mmtb, melbourne and metropolitan tramways board, tramway button, gripman button, id, identification badg, staff badge, name badge, employee, grip car, dummy car

Summer dress uniform, dress, jacket and slacks. Fabric - light green colour, wool/polyester. 1. Dress - with wide collar, front opening with five button holes, no buttons, short sleeves with self cuff. Two inset front pockets and pair of box pleats. Manufacturer's label back below collar - white cotton label. 2. Jacket - with wide collar, front opening has button holes, no buttons, short sleeves with self cuff, two inset front pockets. Two manufacturer's labels - back below collar and exterior of left pocket. 3. Slacks - full length slacks - no belt loops. Front metal and nylon zipper fly, green colour plastic button at waist. No pockets. Two manufacturer's labels, inside back of waistband, exterior back of waistband (to be removed when worn). White cotton/polyester fabric. 4. Belt - with keeper and gold colour plastic buckle.Manufacturer's labels - black ink print. 1. "A.G.C.F./ VICTORIA/ 1978/ ^/ 8410-66-097-0796/ size 18 AV HEIGHT/ AV HIP/ 100 CM BUST/ 80 CM WAIST/ 105 HIPS/ FABRIC/ WOOL/POLYESTER/ NAME/ SERVICE NO." with "LAUNDRY INSTRUCTIONS" 2. Inside collar "A.G.C.F./ VICTORIA/ 1980/ 6/ 8410-66-097-0841/ SIZE 14 AVE HEIGHT/ FULL HIP/ 90 CM BUST/ 70 CM WAIST/ 100 CM HIPS/ FABRIC/ WOOL/POLYESTER/ NAME/ SERVICE NO." Pocket - THIS TAG IS FOR IDENTIFICATION ONLY/ PLEASE REMOVE BEFORE WASHING" with printed and handwritten information. 3. Inside back of waistband - same as 2. Inside collar label. Exterior back of waistband - same as 2. exterior of left pocket. uniform, summer service dress, army, browne, passchendaele barracks trust

Refer Cat. No. 6939.6Service Dress Shirt with neck scarf. Fabric - cotton polyester colour, patterned with alternating bands of dark and light green vertical stripes of varying width. 1. & 3. Shirt - with wide collar, six white colour plastic buttons on front placket, long sleeves with two white colour plastic button cuff. No pockets. Manufacturer's label - inside back of collar. White cotton fabric. 2. & 4. Scarf - long rectangular shape with each end cut on the Diagonal.Manufacturers label - black ink print. 1. “SANDRA LEIGH/ QUEENSLAND/ 1981^/ 8410-66-097-4954/ SIZE 14 TLL/ NAME/ SERVICE NO". Followed by "WASHING INSTRUCTIONS" 2. "WILLS INDUSTRIES/ WESTERN AUSTRALIA/ 1983/ ^/ 8410-66-097-4954/ SIZE 16 AVE/ NAME/ SERVICE NO". Followed by washing instructions.uniform, women's service dress, army, browne, passchendaele barracks trust

Raincoat - garment part of Women's Service Dress Uniform. Possibly issued to "BALAAM" Service No. F320519. Refer also Cat No. 6916.Raincoat - dark green colour plastic waterproof fabric. Below length coat with collar, long sleeves, two front patch pockets with flaps, front opening with concealed button placket. Five dark green colour plastic buttons. Two manufacturer's labels sewn to fabric - white cotton fabric. First label - front placket lining. Second label - inside behind left pocket.Manufacturers information - black ink print. First label - "INSTRUCTION LABEL" with details on laundering and drying garment. At bottom "NAME/ SERVICE NO". Second label - "KINDRED MANUFACTURING/ PTY LTD/ QLD 1983/ D.S.N. 8410-66-030-2060/ SIZE 10/ SERVICE NO./ NAME."uniform, raincoat, army, balaam, passchendaele barracks trust

Slacks - garment is part of a Women's Service Dress uniform. Possibly issued to "BALAAM", Service No. "F380519" Refer also Cat No. 9616.1. Slacks - dark green colour wool and polyester, full length slacks with belt loops. Front nylon zipper fly, brown colour plastic button at waist - no pockets. Manufacturers labels - two, inside back of waistband, exterior back of waistband - (to be removed when worn). White colour polyester fabric. 2. Belt - fabric as above with keeper and metal press stud closer.Manufacturers label - black ink print. Inside back "A.G.C.F. VICTORIA 1980 ^/ 8410-66-096-5182 size 10, AVE HGT/ FULL HIP/ WAIST 60 CM HIP 90 CM" Garment care instructions under headings "HAND WASH, MACHINE WASH IRONING", Followed by "NAME/ Service No.". Outside back "THE TAG IS FOR IDENTIFICATION ONLY/ PLEASE REMOVE BEFORE WEARING" with printed and handwritten information.uniform, womens trousers, army, balaam, passchendaele barracks trust

Cardigan - garment part of a Women's service dress uniform. Item issued to "BALAAM" Service No. F320519". Refer also Cat. No. 6916.Cardigan - dark green colour, wool blend ribbed knitwear with front edges and collar. Five button holes, no buttons. Pale green colour rank insignia sewn each upper arm. Two manufacturers labels - inside collar - white cotton fabric with handwritten information.First label - "BROMLEY K/W/ ^ 1981/ DSN 8410-66-097-7813/ SIZE 14/ SERVICE NO./ NAME" Second label - detail cleaning instructions under the headings "Machine wash" and "Hand Wash". Handwritten information - black ink pen. "F3205719/BALAAM".uniform, cardigan, army, balaam, passchendaele barracks trust