This butter or cheese knife is a decorative example of electroplated cutlery that had become an affordable alternative to more expensive silver cutlery in the late 1800s to early 1900s. The knife has stamp marks in the back of its handle that are a combination of letters and symbols used by British silversmiths to identify their workmanship. The design and type of this knife was not normally used by everyday people but rather those of a higher social class with time and money to have a particular decorative knife to serve butter or cheese. The marks on the handle tell that it was made of nickel silver, and electroplated with superior quality Stirling silver. The Barker Brothers of Birmingham made the knife between 1885 and 1907, but most likely before 1895. It was made for the British, or British colonial, people, connected with a government department such as the navy or defence. This story may be slightly inaccurate, as some silversmiths added extra ‘pseudo marks’ to their wares to disguise the quality. THE MARKS and their meaning – - ‘A1’ The silver used in electroplating this knife was the highest level, ‘superior quality’, measured in grams of silver per table spoon or table fork, with ‘A1’ being 2 2/3 grams, and ‘D’ being 0 1/2 grams of silver. - ‘BB’ The Baker Brothers used these initials from 1885 to 1907. - ‘[crown symbol]’ – This symbol is used for Sterling silver but this knife is a metal alloy. The crown is also the town mark of Sheffield (appointed by the Sheffield Assay Office) but this knife was made in Birmingham, which has the town mark of an anchor. The Barker Brothers may have added the crown mark to this electroplated silverware as a ‘pseudo hallmark’, leading the buyer to think that it was actual Sterling silver. The use of pseudo hallmarks by electroplaters of the Victorian era was common practice but it was illegal. In 1895 the unlawful practice was seen as imitating the Sheffield Silver Mark and the law was firmly applied to eradicate the deception, so items with this mark probably date before 1895. - [EPNS] Electro Plated Nickel Silver, called nickel silver or German silver, is a metal alloy that usually combines copper, nickel and zinc (60 percent copper, 20 percent nickel, 20 percent zinc). It has a silver-white appearance and is sometimes referred to as ‘white ware’. It does not contain any silver but is often used as a base for electroplating, when the item is covered with a thin layer of silver to give it the polished appearance of pure silver. It became popular in the late 19th and early 20th century as an affordable substitute for sterling silver. - Broad Arrow - an official stamp that indicates it was once the property of Britain government, either in Britain or one of its colonies, and used in the defence force. In Great Britain, from an 1875 government act, it was, and still, is a crime to forge or wrongfully use, the broad arrow symbol. The BARKER BROTHERS of Birmingham - Barker Brothers were one of the earlies firms of Birmingham silversmiths, established in 1801 by Mary Barker. They became Barker & Creed, then William and Matthias Barker, then from 1885 they were the Barker Brothers. They were operating in Paradise Street in 1871 until in 1903 they moved to Unity Works, Constitution Hill, in Birmingham. The firm also had a showroom at 292 High Holborn, London, from the early 1900s to the 1980s. In 1907 the firm became Barker Brothers Silversmiths Ltd, then in the 1960s they merged with Ellis & Co, becoming Barker Ellis Silver Co. Ltd. In 1979 they were registered in USA as Ellis & Co., Barker Ellis, and Ellis Barker. The business went into administration in 1992, after almost 200 years of production. The firm advertised as specialists in electroplating, and used the trademarks BRITANOID, UNITY PLATE and THE HYGENIA.This knife is historically significant, dated from 1885 to 1907 but most likely pre-1895, and made by the longstanding Birmingham silversmiths, the Barker Brothers, established in 1801. The knife is an example of decorative flatware used by people of ’class’. It also has the broad arrow stamp, connecting it to the British government, in particular the ordinance department. The stamp also connects it to other items in our collection with that stamp. It may have been connected to pre-Federation government organisations and officials such as the army Garrison, government naval vessel, police, lighthouse keepers, harbour masters. The knife is the only example of its kind in our collection, being a decorative silver butter or cheese knife, made by the Barker Brothers of Birmingham. Butter knife, or cheese knife, electroplated nickel silver (EPNS). Upper blade edge has decorative shape and engraved motifs, lower blade edge is bevelled to a cutting edge, and narrow plain handle flares out to a wide, rounded end. Maker’s marks are stamped on the reverse. Made by Barker Brothers of Birmingham in the late-19th century. Stamps: “flagstaff hill, warrnambool, maritime village, maritime museum, flagstaff hill maritime museum & village, shipwreck coast, great ocean road, butter knife, cheese knife, electroplate, electro plate, nickel silver, nickel alloy, alloy composition, copper nickel zinc, german silver, epns, barker brothers, birmingham, london, silversmiths, victorian era, 19th century, a1, bb, crown inside square, broad arrow, flatware, tableware, cutlery, cutler, dining utensils, eating utensils, superior quality, pseudo hallmark, stirling silver, silver-white metal, mary barker, barker & creed, william barker, matthias barker, barker brothers silversmiths, barker ellis silver co, ellis & co, barker ellis, ellis barker, britanoid, unity plate, the hygenia, british, colonial, government use, defence department use, naval use, knife, serving knife

Colour photograph of the E.J. Barker taken from near the Tree of Knowledge.e.j. .barker library, mount helen library, mount helen campus, tree of knowledge, brutalism, brutalist

Colour photograph of the front of the E.J. Barker Library on Mount Helen Campuslibrary, e.j. barker library, mount helen campus

Two women stand behind a tub and a stand in the E.J. Barker Library.e.j. barker library, library, mount helen library

School of Mines is a predecessor of Federation University 3 pages of handwritten correspondence from Geo Barker to School of Mines Ballarat geo barker, invincible carriage and wagon works, school of mines ballarat

Colour photograph of the E.J. Barker Library on Mt Helen Campus on Open Day.e.j. barker library, library, open day, courtyard, mount helen

A number of groups visiting Ballarat were interested in touring the facilities at the Ballarat School of Mines.White page with blue letterhead of HRH The Duke of Edinburgh's Third Commonwealth Study Conference Australia. A letter is handwritten to Principal of the Ballarat School of Mines, E..J. Barker, requesting a tour of the School, and the proposed Mt Helen Campus. The letter is signed by Alice Horner of the Ballarat Study Group Committee. Other members of the Ballarat Committee were J. Hanford Stevens, Jack Chisholm, J.T. Kilfoyle, Dr A. King and B. McOrist. A typed response from Jack Barker invites a visit, but outlines there will be no students due to the holidays.ballarat school of mines, barker, horner, prince phillip. duke of edinburgh

Colour photograph of E.J. Barker Librarians and Staff outside the library on Mt Helen campus.mt helen library, e.j. barker library, librarians, gerry anderson, kevin jewell, bill hitchins, david edwards, alan brady, lance duncan, lee-anne pitman, library, suellen crouch, debbie ford, sue taylor, jenny leviston, kerry wilson, jill nicholls, rose counsel, carol wren, jacqui greenbank, noemi mckinnon, carmel grant, liz hartman, natalie radomski, jan mccallum, helen wiseman, lloyd stinton, arno besse, andrew segrott, garry wood, ian lovejoy, tim o'doherty, mike gustus, trevor day, john stojanovski, jeff dowsley, herman ?, andrew shiells, bill casey, jason rankin, chris andrews, jo ford, julie lasinger, narelle lamb, john fogarty

Large format transparency depicting the Ballarat University College students outside the E.J. Barker Library.e.j. barker library, alumni, library

Colour photographs from the Caro Conference Centre Courtyard looking towards the E.J. Barker Library.e.j. barker library, albert coates centre, mount helen library, mount helen campus

Researched and Published for the 150th anniversary of permanent settlement celebrated in 1995Published to coincide with the 150th anniversary of the first permanent white settlement in the Harcourt valley.which was the occasion for community celebrations and of publication of a short history of squatting era pioneer Dr William Barker FRCS. Booklet of 8 pages in a hard cover“Dr Willam Barker and the beginnings of permanent settlement in the Harcourt Valley 1845”

Colour photograph of two staff members at the service desk at the E.J. Barker Library on Mt Helen Campus.e.j. barker library, library, courtyard, mt helen campus

Letters. Four letters written in pencil from J H (Johnter) Barker to his aunt Miss L Prout, 290 Williamson St, Bendigo. J H Barker belonged to RAAF, Flight 146 in 1943. a. Dated 8 June 1943 written from 5 RD, Rocklands Dam, via Hamilton, Victoria. b. Dated 14 July 1943 from same address as (a). c. Dated 25 July 1943 from same address as (a). d. Dated August 1943 written from RAAF, Adelaide. All letters written on RAAF letterhead except item (a). All letters with envelope except item (d). 'RAAF Concessional Postage Rate' stamped on envelopes. Salvation Army, ACF and YMCA logos printed in red on envelopes.J H Barkerperson, individual, personal, j h barker, johnter, miss l prout, raaf, ww2 letters

Frank Wright was a renown resident of Smeaton, where he was born on 2 August 1901. He lived at Laura Villa, and attended Smeaton State School. His father William was a gold miner and his mother's name was Sarah. Their family won many singing and instrumental awards. Frank was tutored by Percy Code and was awarded a gold medal for the highest marks in the ALCM examinations in the British Colonies at the age of seventeen years. He became the Australian Open Cornet Champion by the age of eighteen. A year later, Frank conducted the City of Ballarat Band, and later the Ballarat Soldiers’ Memorial Band. He formed the Frank Wright Frisco Band and Frank Wright and his Coliseum Orchestra. These bands won many South Street awards, and Frank as conductor won many awards in the Australian Band Championship contest. In 1933 Frank Wright sailed to England to conduct the famous St Hilda’s Band and was later appointed Musical Director of the London County Council, where he organized many amazing concerts in parks, in and around the London district. He was made Professor of Brass and Military Band Scoring and conducted at the Guildhall of Music and Drama. Frank was often invited to adjudicate Brass Band Championships around Europe, in Australia, including South Street and in New Zealand. The Frank Wright Medal at the Royal South Street competition is awarded to an individual recognized as making an outstanding contribution to brass music in Australia.This single sheet of paper with the black printed header of The National Band Festival, is a typed letter of reference for Frank Wright. It is signed by Founder and Director J Henry Iles.Signature in black penfrank wright, j henry iles, the national band festival, crystal palace, brass band

non-fictionQuarto sheet. Memo from A. J. Jones Wholesale Floristtunstall flower farm, jones flower farm

Letter on foolscap paper, typed on State of Victoria letterhead from the Premier R. J. Hamer to Mr. W. Aird, MMTB thanking the Board for its work on arrangements for the visit of the Queen and Duke of Edinburgh for the Jubilee year of her accession. Notes the work of Mr. N. Elliott. Dated 29/3/1977. Signed by R. J. Hamer as Premier. Has the received stamp of 30 March 1977 and the Chairman's stamp of the same date.trams, tramways, royal visit, victorian government, mmtb

Federation University E.J. Barker Library Under Construction. The Coates Building (formerly the Union Building) is located in the right foreground of the photograph.federation university, e.j. barker library, mt helen library, union building, coates building