Showing 82 items
matching brass clock
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Puffing Billy Railway
Ballarat Station Parcels Office Clock
This historic railway clock , originally installed in the Parcels Office at Ballarat Station Station Clock - Ballarat Station A Victorian Railways Station clock that was located in the Parcels Office at Ballarat. In the 19th Century, time was not seen as an urgent requirement to be somewhere or do something. There was sun up and sun down. A number of towns in Victoria operated on different times to other towns in the state. With the coming of the railways in Victoria from 1854, time became more important not only from the public side, but from a railway operational safety side. Clocks started appearing at railway stations, sometimes showing a different (standard) time to that of the local town. Eventually all of Victoria was bought into the same time zone, which matched the railway standard. Historic - Station Clock - Ballarat Station - which was used in the Parcels Office at the Victorian Railways Ballarat railway stationStation Clock - Ballarat Station Parcels Office Clock Antique timber cased railway clock. Circular face with Roman numerals. By Foster of London, with numbered brass plaque '631'. Single barrel fusee movement. Foster London 631 puffing billy, ballarat station, station clock -
Clunes Museum
Functional object - CLOCK, Jerome & Co
... of door Clock face has brass centre with numbers 1-12 imprinted ... of door Clock face has brass centre with numbers 1-12 imprinted ...Wooden striking alarm clock with white face and clock numbers and hands, brass mechanism, glass door in front with three figures, 2 x female, 1 x male and bird transfer on lower part of door Clock face has brass centre with numbers 1-12 imprinted Pencil marking on back 2339.M Paper on back of inside of clock with printing; "E Pluribus Unum Small Sharp Gothic One Day Time Piece Alarm" NOTICE "If the clock should go too fast, lower the ball; if too slow, raise it" "The figure on brass dial, indication time wanted to alarm should be turned forward under short hand"time piece, clock -
Anglesea and District Historical Society
Long Case Pendulum Clock, Estimated date 1920's
Long case clock in painted wooden case. Timber moulding to top. Gold coloured dial with Arabic numerals. Black (1-24) metal. No makers name on dial. Brass pendulum on wooden hanger with 3 brass weights.longcased clock -
Sunshine and District Historical Society Incorporated
Functional object - H.V. McKay Sunshine Factory Whistle
This whistle was mounted on H.V. McKay Store Building. It was used to indicate the factory's clock on / off times. The whistle could be heard throughout the district.Brass steam whistle -
National Wool Museum
Clock
This clock was owned by Mr Bruce Scott, the late husband of the donor. Mr Scott studied wool classing at the Melbourne Technical College in the 1930s. It is not known how this clock came to be in his possession. The clock was presented to Mr W. Stewart of the Australasia Wool Stress by his fellow employees on 1 July, 1890.Presentation clock made from slate with inlaid marble decoration. Brass plaque: "Presented to W. Stewart by his fellow employees, Australasia Wool Stores, 1st July 1890"PRESENTED TO W. Stewart / BY HIS FELLOW EMPLOYEES / Australasia Wool Stores / 1st July, 1890.australasia wool stores, stewart, mr w. - australasia wool stores -
Whitehorse Historical Society Inc.
Domestic object - Clock, c1900
German Pendule de Portative, Eight Day time clock. Movement by H.A.C. c.1900. Brass coloured with Roman numerals. Handle on top. Glass sides allow mechanism to be seen.horology, clocks -
Whitehorse Historical Society Inc.
Leisure object - Chess Clock Timer
The Mitcham Chess Club was established in 1970 and disbanded Dec-1976. The Nunawading Chess Club reformed from Mitcham Club Jan-1977 and disbanded permanently in 1998. It operated from The Avenue Neighbourhood House, Blackburn.Wooden rectangular box sitting on rectangular base. The box contains two timing windup clocks used to time chess games. Two starter knobs on top. Metal label on top marked 'Olympia'. Metal clock faces with yellow background with brass coloured numbers and hands. Each clock has a red arrow on top. Back has brass circles with wind up mechanism; left hand side has knob to adjust time but not right clock.'Olympia' and repaired 8/83 Mitcham Chess Clubhorology, clocks, toys, games -
Bendigo Historical Society Inc.
Functional object - BLACK MANTLE CLOCK
Black wooden mantle clock with pendulum bob, made in U.S.A. by the Sessions Clock Company, mounted on ornate metal feet with metal handles on each end, four faux marble columns in green with metal tops & bases. Round gold dial with black numerals and hands, brass bezel with flat glass. 8 day time and strike, chiming the hours on a gong and half hour on a bell. Original paper label on back with manufacturers details and operating instructions.The Sessions Clock Cohorology, clocks, mantle -
Bendigo Historical Society Inc.
Functional object - WIEGARD COOPER COLLECTION: BLACK MANTLE CLOCK, 1926
Object. Black wooden mantle clock with pendulum bob made in U.S.A by the Sessions Clock Company, mounted on ornate metal feet, and decorated with four columns supporting Gothic arches, with torch like ornamentation between them and an ornate handle on each end. Round white enamel dial with black numerals & hands, a brass bezel with convex glass. 8 day running with gong strike on hour & half hour. Brass plaque on front reads presented to Mr.P.Cooper by his fellow employees of the Water Commission Bendigo on his retirement 30.6.1926.Sessions Made in U.S.Ahorology, clocks, mantle -
Kew Historical Society Inc
Functional object, Jas Murray & Co, Wall Clock & Key, 1860s
The clock was purchased from Jas Murray & Co. of 107 Bourke Street East, Melbourne by Francis Barnard. James Murray & Co were well known clock and watchmakers operating from premises in London with branches in Calcutta and Melbourne. They were watchmakers and jewellers in Melbourne from 1860 to 1888. Francis Barnard established Barnard’s Pharmacy on the corner of Bulleen Road (later renamed High Street) and Cotham Road in 1857. In the early 1860s, after purchasing the clock, he placed it in his pharmacy where it could be seen by passers by. When he relocated across the road to 49 Bulleen Road (now 167 High St.) in 1880 he took the clock to the new premises. He maintained the accuracy of the clock so that local residents consulted it for the correct time, even after the Post Office building with its clock tower was opened in 1888. When Francis Barnard retired, his son took over the pharmacy. In 1925, the Barnard Pharmacy was sold to David Paton. The Paton’s were at first puzzled why people constantly peered in the door until they realised that the timepiece was the drawcard. When David Paton died in 1941, his widow sold the pharmacy but took the clock with her to her new florist shop at 145 High Street. When Mrs Paton retired in 1953, she took the clock to her home in Boronia. In 1973 her daughter donated the clock to the Kew Historical Society.Significant locally to Kew as an example of a timepiece that was used by the local community during the 19th century to tell the time.Barnard’s clock is a typical wall clock of the nineteenth century, variants of which could be seen in shops, offices, public buildings and stations. It has a mahogany case with a moulded wooden bezel encasing a hinged brass bezel housing the glass face which protects the dial and hands when working. The clock face has an off-white hand painted tin dial with black painted Roman numerals. The hands are black painted metal; the hour hand has a wide spade shaped point whilst the minute hand is much thinner. ‘Jas Murray & Co’ is painted above the centre, with ‘107 Bourke Street East’ and ‘Melbourne’ below, with the key hole in between. The clock movement is a fuse chain attached to a brass mainspring barrel which powers the pendulum for eight days. This is housed within a rectangular wooden casing with a convex curved base housing a hinged door giving access to the pendulum which is attached to the back of the clock by four wooden pegs.Jas Murray & Co / 107 Bourke St East / Melbournefrancis barnard, f g a barnard, high street - kew (vic), pharmacies - kew (vic), clocks, paton's pharmacy --- kew (vic.), bulleen road -- kew (vic.) -
Vision Australia
Functional object - Object, Cyma Watch Co, Cyma Amic alarm clock, c.1935
... A Cyma Amic alarm clock, composing of brass and metal... A Cyma Amic alarm clock, composing of brass and metal. Raised ...A Cyma Amic alarm clock, composing of brass and metal. Raised dots to indicate each hour of the day instead of numbers, hands on clock exposed so can be felt by vision impaired person and alarm function is a round raised brass plate with a dot so can be set. Back of clock has alarm function and wind-up mechanism, no braille information, each function has engraved picture or words. Clock sits on a small square base.Metal clock with raised dotsassistive devices, braille -
City of Greater Bendigo - Civic Collection
Ceremonial object - Eaglehawk Bell, unknown
The Borough of Eaglehawk was a local government area which covered the northwestern suburbs of the regional city of Bendigo and covered an area of 14.54 square kilometres (5.6 sq mi). Eaglehawk was first incorporated as a borough on 29 July 1862. It had nine councillors, who represented the entire borough. Councillors met at the Town Hall (incorporating the Star Cinema) at the intersection of Sailors Gully Road and Loddon Valley Highway, Eaglehawk. The Town hall has always been the centre of the Borough's activities and was built in 1901 on the site of an earlier town hall which had stood on the location since 1865. The Victorian Heritage Database notes: "The present building replaced this earlier building and was opened on 14 August 1901. The architects were the Melbourne firm of Wilkinson and Permewan. As a much larger and more sumptuous building of brick and stone featuring a central clock tower, the new hall reflected prevailing architectural fashion and was a remarkable investment for a town consisting predominantly of poor mining families. The condition of the town hall is substantially as built. The design is almost identical to the Castlemaine Town Hall." On 7 April 1994, the Borough of Eaglehawk was abolished, and along with the City of Bendigo, the Rural City of Marong and the Shires of Huntly and Strathfieldsaye, was merged into the newly created City of Greater Bendigo.Brass bell with eaglehawk topper / handle on timber stand. The lower front section of the topper has the Borough of Eaglehawk seal attached. No hallmarks or makers stamps visible.borough of eaglehawk, star cinema -
City of Greater Bendigo - Civic Collection
Functional object - Commemorative Clock and Plaque
Unclear if this clock in memory of Cr T Somerville is related to Cr T Somerville of Strathfieldsaye who served as President three times 1892 - 3, 1901 -2 and 1910 -11 Dates would indicate that he was perhaps a son or nephew. Metal clock with accompanying wooden and brass plaque.In memory of / Cr T Somerville / 1888 - 1940shire of strathfieldsaye -
Mont De Lancey
Clock, Circa 1900
Owned by Lance SebireBlack wood cased mantel clock with Roman classical design on front and sides. Hinged brass/glass face cover. Face has blue/floral decoration.mantel clocks, clocks -
Parks Victoria - Mount Buffalo Chalet
Bell
Was attached to a wall near reception but was removed to storage in approx.. 2000 - 2002. The bell has strong associations with the Victorian Railways Era reflecting the service and ethos of Railways with its uniformed Porters welcoming and on duty as Night Porter and day for all guests needs. (Especially lost keys) assistance with luggage, room service and co-ordinating transit and transport with Railways buses and services. A personal recollection is of Joseph the Night Porter welcoming and assisting when as a family with four sleeping children we would arrive after midnight to the Chalet where rooms would be ready, beds turned down and all unpacking of the car supervised by Joseph. (J. Skeggs) "A number of specific items, which have been useful in the day to day operations of the Chalet, remain in the building with each complementing the other to provide context ,meaning and character to their setting. Items such as the hall porter bell, the many signs providing information to the guests, the wall clock, barometer and dinner bell point to the Chalet being a well-run social institution with a pleasant environment for rest, recreation and congenial company." (Pg 81 Historica, MBCC) Listed in Draft Inventory of Significant Collection items A.3 Fixtures and Fitttings. (Pg 165. Historica MBCC)Circular brass disc with inner (separate ) maroon button mounted in raised circular disc. Hall Porter is embossed with black colouring around half of outer, larger disc."HALL PORTER" -
Mont De Lancey
Domestic object - Clock, Waterbury Clock Co. USA, c1857
... clock components clock keys mantle clocks Duff brand brass ...Used by Harold and Jean ParkerAntique wooden mantle clock made in USA with an Australian made Duff brand oak case with a plain angled top with round shaped pillar styled sides. It has a white ceramic dial face with black digits and black metal hands. The dial is covered by a glass and gold trimmed covering that may be opened on the right side. Inside the case is a Waterbury Clock Co of USA key and the internal workings are visible. It is not in working order.Duff brand brass plaque on back of cover. Key has Waterbury Clock co USA stamped on it.clocks, timepieces, clock components, clock keys, mantle clocks -
Wodonga & District Historical Society Inc
Domestic object - Electric Toaster, Hecla Electrics Pty Ltd, c1940s
Hecla produced a wide range of appliances for domestic use, beginning with heaters and later branching out to a wider range of kitchen appliances Hecla was established by Clarence William Marriott, a young Melbourne metal worker. He began manufacturing Australia's first carbon filament electric radiators in 1899. He originally worked for his father James Marriott who commenced business in Melbourne as an art metal worker in 1872 and was, in 1907, appointed as the official art metal worker to the Victorian Government producing items including the ornate iron gates and gas lamp standards outside Melbourne's Parliament House. With the invention of nickel chromium wire after 1900, C.W. Marriott began making more efficient heating elements using this new material in 1916. After being influenced by the eruption of Mount Hekla in Iceland, on 19 December 1918, Clarence registered the brand name "HECLA" with an erupting volcano as its logo. The company Hecla Electrics Pty Ltd was officially registered in 1922. In 1928 the company adopted the advertising slogan, 'By Hecla, it's Good'. The Hecla range rapidly expanded to include electric heaters and radiators, electric foot warmers, electric kettles, ceramic & metal electric jugs, immersion hot water elements, electric fans, electric coffee percolators, electric toasters, electric grillers and stoves, electric irons and electric frypans, clocks and curling wands. Electric blankets were introduced shortly after WWII.In 1930, a controlling interest in Hecla Electrics Pty Ltd was acquired by General Electric Corporation. Clarence William Marriott died in June 1967 in Melbourne, Victoria.This item is representative of a common domestic appliance used throughout Australia. It was manufactured by a pioneering Australian company.A small chrome steel toaster manufactured by Hecla Australia. It has a door on either side which flips down to insert or remove a slice of bread on each side, Each door has two black Bakelite knobs. The electric element is placed down the centre of the cavity. A detachable electric cord is included.240 Volts, 600 Watts. Cat. No. T4 Submitted to Electrical Approval Board Ref Application A1/AD01 SECV 240 Volt 600 Watt MANFED. IN AUSTRALIA SOLID BRASSelectrical appliances, hecla corporation australia, clarence william marriott, domestic appliances -
Ballarat Tramway Museum
Functional object - MMTB Cincinnati "bundy" clock keys, Cincinnati Time Recorder Co. of Ohio, 1930s
... Recording Clock comprising a circular brass section with a key... for a Cincinnati Time Recording Clock comprising a circular brass section ...Item used to operate and record the time in the Cincinnati Time Recording clock. This type of clock was used by the MMTB in the 1930s. The key would be issued by the depot staff to crews for use in the clock to record times so that they could be matched up against the timetable to see whether tram or bus services were running on time. Understood that this style of key was last used on the Port Melbourne bus route. The Museum has one of these clocks at its depot which was obtained from The Met in? The second photo shows the key in position before turning the handle around it. By the 1960's (or earlier) they were only used on the M&MTB bus routes. All the tram routes had M&MTB copies with a very different style of key. Only used on two man bus routes and the conductor held the key due to the half-cab bus design. On the tram routes the driver was responsible for the key and recording the time. The key number represented the crew's shift number. For a while towards the end of their use on the trams they were the Run number. This change led to many lost keys! See item 9568 for an example of the time recording clock itself.Demonstrates a Cincinnati "Bundy" time recording clock key.Key - or Bundy Clock key made for a Cincinnati Time Recording Clock comprising a circular brass section with a key number section secured by a screw at one end and a flat steel strip inserted into the brass section, with a hole at one end that could be placed on a hook. The steel strip is riveted into the brass round section. Two keys held.Steel section stamped "tramways" and "55" and "263"tramcars, tramways, bundy clock, cincinnati, time recorder clocks -
Northern District School of Nursing. Managed by Bendigo Historical Society Inc.
Functional object - Wall Clock
The Northern District School of Nursing opened in 1950 in to address the issues around nurse recruitment, training and education that had previously been hospital based. The residential school was to provide theoretical and in-house education and practical training over three years. The students would also receive practical hands-on training in the wards of associated hospitals. The Northern District School of Nursing operated from Lister House, Rowan Street, Bendigo. It was the first independent school of nursing in Victoria and continued until it closed in 1989.A circular cream coloured clock face with black roman numerals and hands, surrounded by gold trim and mounted on a dark brown wooden base. The back has a hollow section for batteries and a brass loop to hang on a wall. Mounted on the clock face is an eight centimetre by two centimetre black rectangle with "Presented to NDSN with appreciation School 98 June 1984" in cooper plate writing.ndns, wall clock, ndsn school 98 -
Mont De Lancey
Functional object - Wall Clock, late 1800's
History of Clock Wandin North 8th Jan'y 1952. This clock was bought by the late Henry Sebire of 'Mont de Lancey' Wandin Yallock, at a clearing sale of Mrs Newey's at Seville about the year 1890; After his death in July 1902 the clock was given to his eldest son, one of his Executors, (Henry T. Sebire) of Ivanhoe, who died on 29th November 1935. On 6th February 1945 nearly 10 years later Mrs H. T. Sebire gave the clock to Wandin T. Sebire of Wandin North, who very much appreciated the gift. The clock was called for at Ivanhoe by Len Sebire, on 21st March 1945. Wandin T. Sebire. The clock was oiled and repaired by Mr Upton Watchmaker of Wandin North returned by him on 4th Dec 1951. Oiled again and returned 7th Feb. 1953.A tall narrow pendulum wooden wall clock with a white round clock face, with Roman numerals, elaborate fine hands and a brass pendulum enclosed in a glass faced compartment which has a decorative dark wood at the top. There are small clips at the top and bottom to open the case door. A brass key is stored inside the cabinet.This note was attached to the donation sheet. 'History of Clock Wandin North 8th Jan'y 1952. This clock was bought by the late Henry Sebire of 'Mont de Lancey' Wandin Yallock, at a clearing sale of Mrs Newey's at Seville about the year 1890; After his death in July 1902 the clock was given to his eldest son, one of his Executors, (Henry T. Sebire) of Ivanhoe, who died on 29th November 1935. On 6th February 1945 nearly 10 years later Mrs H. T. This note was attached to the donation sheet. Sebire gave the clock to Wandin T. Sebire of Wandin North, who very much appreciated the gift. The clock was called for at Ivanhoe by Len Sebire, on 21st March 1945. Wandin T. Sebire. The clock was oiled and repaired by Mr Upton Watchmaker of Wandin North returned by him on 4th Dec 1951. Oiled again and returned 7th Feb. 1953.'wall clocks, plaques -
Flagstaff Hill Maritime Museum and Village
Equipment - Pattern, Briggs Brass Foundry, Early 20th century
The wooden pattern is part of a set that are stored in a strong wooden crate. It was used at Briggs’ Brass Foundry for making sand casts. It may fit together with one of the other patterns with a similar outline. The traditional craft of sand casting is over 2000 years old. The handcrafted process produces brass and copper alloy goods that are well suited to marine use; bells, boat hooks, cowls, propellers, handles, lids, rowlocks, hooks, letters, bolts, rail holders, brackets, deck plates, flanges, rudder guides, portholes and covers. Briggs’ Bronze mixture is a copper-based alloy made from local ingots of copper, tin, zinc and lead in carefully measured quantities. The finished product is non-ferrous and can last indefinitely. The crate of patterns was donated by the Briggs family in the early years of Flagstaff Hill, along with other related items such as brassware, tools and machinery. The donated items were displayed in a simulated Brass Foundry in the Village along with other working crafts, trades and services found in a Maritime town. The items were on show from the completion of the building in 1986 until 1994 when the building was repurposed. The patterns represent the trades of foundering and metalwork, both supporting maritime industries such as shipwrights and boatbuilders. Farmers, manufacturers and other local industries also needed the castings made by foundries. The Brass Foundry included a historic Cornish chimney set up as a working model, to tell the story of smelted metal heated in furnaces then be poured into the sand moulds. This chimney was made from specially curved bricks and is now about two-thirds of its full height when originally located at the Grassmere Cheese factory. The craft of sand-casting from carved wooden patterns to create metal is an example of skills from the past that are still used today. The foundry pattern set is significant for its association with brass foundries locally and generally in coastal areas of Victoria. Marine industries such as ship and boat building rely on good quality castings for their machinery, equipment and fittings. Briggs Brass was especially formulated using non-ferrous metals to ensure their longevity. The patterns are associated with the long-running firm Briggs Brass Foundry that specialised in cast goods for the marine industry, ready to supply the needs for once-off or mass-produced items. Their products would have been fitted to sail and steam vessels along coastal Victoria including Warrnambool. Briggs Marine was also a bell-founder specialist and is also associated with the Schomberg Bell at Flagstaff Hill, having restored it to is former state as a fine example of the bell from a luxury migrant vessel from the mid-19th century.Pattern; thick square mostly unopainted wooden block with a solid half-cylinder added to the top, which has rounded shoulders. A disc is added to the front, aligned with the curve at the top. The top curve has orange paint and the dial is pink. Three holes are drilled in the back, in a triangular configuration. It is similar in shape to a mantle clock or an early-style radio. The pattern is part of a set of foundry patterns from Briggs Brass Foundry.flagstaff hill, flagstaff hill maritime museum and village, warrnambool, maritime museum, maritime village, great ocean road, shipwreck coast, briggs' bronze, traditional method, trade, sand cast, cast, brass alloy, copper alloy, pattern, mould, foundry, brass foundry, metal foundry, casting, sand mould, sand casting, marine equipment, marine tools, marine fittings, copper tin zinc lead, non-ferrous, non-corrosive, brassware, metalware, foundering, metalwork, maritime, bell founders, ship chandlers, marine products, biggs, briggs family, herbert harrison briggs, h h briggs, george edward briggs, cyril falkiner mckinnon briggs, cyril briggs, briggs & son brass foundry, h h briggs & sons foundry, briggs marine, alliance casting & engineering solutions, grassmere cheese factory, cornish chimney, curved bricks, collingwood, moorabbin, collingwood foundry, moorabbin foundry, 1912 -
Flagstaff Hill Maritime Museum and Village
Decorative object - Brass Finial, Russell & Co, circa 1886
In the 19th century, the Industrial Revolution meant that shipbuilders could build ships using iron. These iron ships could be much larger, with more space for cargo and they didn't need as much work to keep them in good condition. Isambard Kingdom Brunel's "Great Britain" built in 1843, was the first ship to be built entirely of wrought iron. In the 1880's steel began to be used instead of iron. Ships also began to be fitted with steam engines although a great deal of coal was needed to travel even short distances. For this reason, ships continued to be fitted out with sails even though many came with engines. The iron-hulled, four-masted barque, the Falls of Halladale, was a bulk carrier of general cargo. She left New York in August 1908 on her way to Melbourne and Sydney. In her hold, along with 56,763 tiles of unusual beautiful green American slates (roofing tiles), 5,673 coils of barbed wire, 600 stoves, 500 sewing machines, 6500 gallons of oil, 14400 gallons of benzene, and many other manufactured items, were 117 cases of crockery and glassware. Three months later and close to her destination, a navigational error caused the Falls of Halladale to be wrecked on a reef off the Peterborough headland at 3 am on the morning of the 15th of November, 1908. The captain and 29 crew members all survived, but her valuable cargo was largely lost, despite two salvage attempts in 1908-09 and 1910. ABOUT THE ‘FALLS OF HALLADALE’ (1886 - 1908) Built: in1886 by Russell & Co., Greenock shipyards, River Clyde, Scotland, UK. The company was founded in 1870 (or 1873) as a partnership between Joseph Russell (1834-1917), Anderson Rodger and William Todd Lithgow. During the period 1882-92 Russell & Co., standardised designs, which sped up their building process so much that they were able to build 271 ships over that time. In 1886 they introduced a 3000 ton class of sailing vessel with auxiliary engines and brace halyard winches. In 1890 they broke the world output record. Owner: Falls Line, Wright, Breakenridge & Co, 111 Union Street, Glasgow, Scotland. Configuration: Four masted sailing ship; iron-hulled barque; iron masts, wire rigging, fore & aft lifting bridges. Size: Length 83.87m x Breadth 12.6m x Depth 7.23m, Gross tonnage 2085 ton Wrecked: the night of 14th November 1908, Curdies Inlet, Peterborough south west Victoria Crew: 29 The Falls of Halladale was a four-masted sailing ship built-in 1886 in Glasgow, Scotland, for the long-distance cargo trade and was mostly used for Pacific grain trade. She was owned by Wright, Breakenridge & Co of Glasgow and was one of several Falls Line ships, all of which were named after waterfalls in Scotland. The lines flag was of red, blue and white vertical stripes. The Falls of Halladale had a sturdy construction built to carry maximum cargo and able to maintain full sail in heavy gales, one of the last of the ‘windjammers’ that sailed the Trade Route. She and her sister ship, the Falls of Garry, were the first ships in the world to include fore and aft lifting bridges. Previous to this, heavily loaded vessels could have heavy seas break along the full length of the deck, causing serious injury or even death to those on deck. The new, raised catwalk-type decking allowed the crew to move above the deck stormy conditions. This idea is still used today on the most modern tankers and cargo vessels and has proved to be an important step forward in the safety of men at sea. On 4th August 1908, with new sails, 29 crew, and 2800 tons of cargo, the Falls of Halladale left New York, bound for Melbourne and Sydney via the Cape of Good Hope. The cargo on board was valued at £35,000 and included 56,763 tiles of American slate roofing tiles (roof slates), 5,673 coils of barbed wire, 600 stoves, 500 sewing machines, 6,500 gallons of oil, 14,400 gallons of benzene, plumbing iron, 117 cases of crockery and glassware and many other manufactured items. The Falls of Halladale had been at sail for 102 days when, at 3 am on the night of 14th November 1908, under full sail in calm seas with a six knots breeze behind and misleading fog along the coast, the great vessel rose upon an ocean swell and settled on top of a submerged reef near Peterborough on the south-west Victoria’s coast. The ship was jammed on the rocks and began filling with water. The crew launched the two lifeboats and all 29 crew landed safely on the beach over 4 miles away at the Bay of Islands. The postmistress at Peterborough, who kept a watch for vessels in distress, saw the stranding and sent out an alert to the local people. A rescue party went to the aid of the sailors and the Port Campbell rocket crew was dispatched, but the crew had all managed to reach shore safely by the time help arrived. The ship stayed in full sail on the rocky shelf for nearly two months, attracting hundreds of sightseers who watched her slowly disintegrate until the pounding seas and dynamiting by salvagers finally broke her back, and her remains disappeared back into deeper water. The valuable cargo was largely lost, despite two salvage attempts in 1908-09 and 1910. Further salvage operations were made from 1974-1986, during which time 22,000 slate tiles were recovered with the help of 14 oil drums to float them, plus personal artefacts, ship fittings, reams of paper and other items. The Court of Marine Inquiry in Melbourne ruled that the foundering of the ship was entirely due to Captain David Wood Thomson’s navigational error, not too technical failure of the Clyde-built ship. The shipwreck is a popular site for divers, about 300m offshore and in 3 – 15m of water. Some of the original cargo can be seen at the site, including pieces of roof slate and coils of barbed wire. This particular artefact was one of many found by John Laidlaw (a local Warrnambool diver) when diving on the Falls of Halladale in the 1960's. In August 1973, John Laidlaw and Stan McPhee went on to discover the underwater location of the Schomberg - a passenger ship that ran aground on December 26th 1855 near Peterborough and which now lies in 825 metres of water. When John Laidlaw died, his family donated a number of artefacts to Flagstaff Hill. The brass finial may have been part of a larger decorative item such as a lamp or clock bracket.This item is significant as it was taken from the Falls of Halladale shipwreck which is listed on the Victorian Heritage Register (No. S255). She was one of the last ships to sail the Trade Routes. She is one of the first vessels to have fore and aft lifting bridges. She is an example of the remains of an International Cargo Ship and also represents aspects of Victoria’s shipping industry. The wreck is protected as a Historic Shipwreck under the Commonwealth Historic Shipwrecks Act (1976)A brass, bell shaped object with a body approximately 3 cm high. It has an outer lip, straight sides that taper in and a flat "cap". The inside of the object is plain with evidence of vertigris. It has a decorative topping almost 2 cm high which has a double concave hollow neck.flagstaff hill, flagstaff hill divers, flagstaff hill maritime museum and village, great ocean road, warrnambool, falls of halladale, falls of halladale wreck, shipwreck artefact, artefact, brass artefact, brass finial, brass fitting, shipwreck coast, diver, john laidlaw, finial, brass decoration, handmade