Showing 172 items
matching mining tool
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Clunes Museum
Tool - ROD
Used for crushing quartz in dolly potSOLID COPPER ROD USED FOR TOOLINGdolly pot, gold mining equipment, manual ore crusher, hand tool -
Clunes Museum
Tool - ADZE HEAD
... with shoulder Nil Adze Hand tool Gold mining equipment ...Hand made iron adze head with hammer one one end with shoulderNiladze, hand tool, gold mining equipment -
Clunes Museum
Tool - PICK
... shoulder Nil Pick Hand tool Gold mining equipment ...Handmade iron pick, plat pointed, hammer other end, quarter shoulderNilpick, hand tool, gold mining equipment -
Clunes Museum
Tool - PICK
... at hammer end, no shoulder Nil Pick Hand tool Gold mining equipment ...Hand made iron pick head, no handle, slightly curved point at hammer end, no shoulderNilpick, hand tool, gold mining equipment -
Clunes Museum
Tool - TONGS
... Iron tongs for handling crucibles Nil Hand tool Gold mining ...Iron tongs for handling cruciblesNilhand tool, gold mining equipment, tongs -
Clunes Museum
tool - PICK HEAD
METAL PICK HEAD FOR INDUSTRIAL USENilpick, mining equipment -
Ballarat Heritage Services
Photograph, Clare Gervasoni, Metal Gold Pan, 2017
... gravel and dirt. gold pan mining gold mining tools tools Clare ...A gold pan was used to wash alluvial gold from gravel and dirt.Colour photographs of a large gold pan.gold pan, mining, gold mining tools tools -
Whitehorse Historical Society Inc.
Tool - Pick
Miner's Pick - Long metal shaft with two pointed ends and hole formed in middle for a handle.mining, prospecting -
Whitehorse Historical Society Inc.
Tool - Miner's Pick
Metal pick with sharp edge and large hole formed for handle.mining, equipment -
Federation University Historical Collection
Unknown - Object, Allan Mine Cage Safety Brake, c1873
... millwright mining gold mining tools equipment Victorian Board ...A mining safety cage was used in a mine lift. It was fitted with mechanisms to prevent the cage from dropping if the lifting rope broke. In the 1870s in Victoria, deaths and injuries from falling cages in vertical shafts of gold mines were a major problem. The inventor of this safety cage was Robert Allan, a machinery maker of Creswick Rd, Ballarat. He said his cage featured a ‘dissolving’ fulcrum. Others called it an eccentric (off centre) system. Note the pair of clutch levers designed to grab the side guides if tension ceases in the suspending rope from the poppet head pulley. Also, the hinged ‘lids’; designed to protect miners trapped in a braked cage from falling rope, and to enable rescue of the miners. This model was presented to The Ballarat School of Mines Council in November 1876. This model was shown at the Smeaton Show in November 1874, Ballarat School of Mines Museum from 1876, and examined by the 1879 Victorian Board of Inquiry (Pg 15 of FedUni Catalogue 3437) From the Argus of 13 November 1874: At Smeaton Show, Robert Allan of Ballarat won 1st prize for a Model of a Mining Cage, a Butter working machine, a Cheese press and a Curd Mill. By 1878 an Allan Safety-Cage was in operation in the Number 6 shaft of the Band and Albion Consols mine in Ballarat. This cage was judged the best inspected by the Victorian Board of Inquiry by 1879, p. 39.Mining was a big industry in Ballarat in the late 1800s and a lot of deaths were recorded because of mining accidents, the development of the mining safety cage brake limited the deaths and injuries from falling cages in vertical shafts. The model also has links to the Ballarat School of Mines, being presented to the council in 1876. Ballarat School of Mines is the oldest Technical School in Australia and is a predecessor of Federation University. The model is significant to Ballarat's mining history.Model of a mine safety cafe. A grey painted wooden frame with metal model of cage and safety brake system. When tension ceases in rope a pair of crutch levers grab strongly onto the wooden guide strips which run down the sides of a vertical shaft. This safety cage was discussed in "Safety Mining Cages. Report of the Board of Enquiry on Safety Cages 1878-9; together with proceedings of the Board and Appendices".safety cage, mine cage safety brake, robert allan, model, safety cage model, machine maker, millwright, mining, gold mining, tools, equipment, victorian board of inquiry -
Federation University Historical Collection
Book, Glenfine South and South Berry Journal
This Book is associated with former Ballarat School of Mines Student Richard Squire (1875-1876). Gift of the Squire FamilyGreen water marked linen covered journal with maroon spine with red feint lined blue pages. Label on front cover is cream with black printing JOURNAL with handwritten DATA RISIS GLENFINE SOUTH -SOUTH BERRY G.S & S.B Hand written in black and red ink. Plan in back with scale 20 chains to one inch - Has an index. Handwritten on title page in black ink Address of sawmiller T. J. Brown, Mount Rowan D. W. Hambly 317 Ligar St, Ballarat J. Freeman, C/O Mrs H Simons, Lynch St, Footscray Sleemans Prescription for the bladder in 19009 Mixture No 55983 Tabloids No 55982glenfine south, south berry, sleemans, mining, gold mining, glenfine consols, reef, weights of quartz, blacksmiths tools, australian and eagle, davies south east reef drive, brawns, eaglehawk junction, simons letter, machinery, puddlng plant, poppet heads, winding plant, creswick, mosquito creek, frenchmans gully, spring hill, a. h. welsh, squire, petticoat gully -
Rutherglen Historical Society
Functional object - Tomahawk, 1850 (Approximate)
... for mining? tools hand tools ...Could have been used for mining?Tomahawk with metal head & wooden handle. Head has hammer one end, cutting edge other end, nick in blade possibly for pulling nailstools, hand tools -
Rutherglen Historical Society
Tool - Handle, 1900
Wooden handle with metal attachment to which two screws are attached, used as one handle (there were two) for a cross cut sawcutting wood, mining, farming, building, transport, sale -
Rutherglen Historical Society
Tool - Winch Bucket Fitting, 1900 to 1920
component of lowering and lifting a bucket into the mineChain of 4 links with swivel fittinggold, mining, carrying, carting ore -
Rutherglen Historical Society
Pick head, 1870-1900 (Approximate)
... on end Possibly used for gold mining Tools Gold Mining ...Possibly used for gold miningIron pick head / space for handle / hammer head on endtools, gold mining -
Federation University Historical Collection
Booklet, Gold Fields Statistics, 1863, 1864
... goldfields alluvial mining quartz mining gold price tools ...Blue foolscap printed report foron the Parliament of Victoriamining, statistics, goldfields, alluvial mining, quartz mining, gold price, tools -
Federation University Historical Collection
Tool - Object, E. Thomas & Williams Limited, Cambrian Lampworks, Kop Staszic Carbide Lamp
Carbide lamps, or acetylene gas lamps, are simple lamps that produce and burn acetylene (C2H2) which is created by the reaction of calcium carbide (CaC2) with water. Acetylene gas lamps were used to illuminate buildings, as lighthouse beacons, and as headlights on motor-cars and bicycles. Portable acetylene gas lamps, worn on the hat or carried by hand, were widely used in mining in the early twentieth century. A mining or caving lamp has calcium carbide placed in a lower chamber, the generator. The upper reservoir is then filled with water. A threaded valve or other mechanism is used to control the rate at which the water is allowed to drip into the chamber containing the calcium carbide. By controlling the rate of water flow, the production of acetylene gas is controlled. This, in turn, controls the flow rate of the gas and the size of the flame at the burner, and thus the amount of light it produces. Staszic is a coal mine located in Katowice , in the district Giszowiec, Poland This type of lamp generally has a reflector behind the flame to help project the light forward. An acetylene gas powered lamp produces a bright, broad light. Many cavers prefer this type of unfocused light as it improves peripheral vision in the complete dark. The reaction of carbide with water produces a fair amount of heat independent of the flame. In cold caves, carbide lamp users can use this heat to help stave off hypothermia. When all of the carbide in a lamp has been reacted, the carbide chamber contains a wet paste of slaked lime (calcium hydroxide). This is emptied into a waste bag and the chamber can be refilled. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Carbide_lamp, accessed 06/05/2015)Metal Carbide Mining lamp with light reflector and hook.miners lamp, mining lamp, statszic, poland, carbide, mining -
Federation University Historical Collection
Tool - Object, J.K. Dey & Sons, Mining Safety Lamp, c1967
... Object Tool Mining Safety Lamp Metal mining safety lamp ...The Mining Safety Lamp is used in flammable atmospheres, and consists of a wick lamp with a mesh screen enclosing the flame. It was created for use in coal mines, to reduce the danger of explosions due to the presence of methane and other flammable gases, called firedamp or minedamp. J. K. DEY & SONS was established in 1947 and manufactures Safety Lamps, Torches and Carbide Lamps. In 1967 the Mining Authority of India issued approval of the Velox GL5 Flame Safety Lamp ( Kerosene burning ) self-extinguishing type. At that time J.K. Dey captured the whole mining market of safety lamps in India. (http://www.jkdey.com/history.html, accessed 06/05/2015)Metal mining safety lamp with copper bas and hanging hook. The Dey Velox GL5 Gas Testing Flame Safety Lamp boasts sharp detection of methane gas; detection of the shortage of oxygen; detection of the presence of Carbon-dioxide, is magnetically unlocked; ncludes a top feed device for testing Methane Gas close to the roof; contains an auto extinguisher. J.K. Dey & Sons Calcutta Velox Velox Gmining lamp, safety lamp, miners lamp, calcutta, india, mining -
Federation University Historical Collection
Photograph - Photograph - Black and White, Ballarat School of Mines Assay Room, c1900, c1901
The depicted Ballarat School of Mines Assaying Furnace probably dates back to the mid 1890s. The photo first appears in the Ballarat School of Mines Calendar for 1900, but references to these facilities were mentioned in 1887. These facilities were updated and expanded on several occasions. Black and white photograph of the assay furnaces at the Ballarat School of Mines. The Assay-room contained 16 smelting furnaces, 16 muffle furnaces fro coke, charcoal, bituminous coal and gas, and featured all the usual tools and appliances. There was an adjoining weighing room.ballarat school of mines, scientific equipment, assaying, laboratory, mining -
Federation University Historical Collection
Print - Images, Cornish Miner
A number of images relating to mining in Cornwall dating from around 1927.mining, cornish, cornish mining, underground workings, underground mining, cornish miner, cornwall, child labourers, candles, pick, tools -
Federation University Historical Collection
Tool - Picks, Miner's Pick
... . This type of pick used in mining and tunnelling. mining pick tools ...This type of pick used in mining and tunnelling.Metal, slightly curved sharp end with hammerable top end. Open hole for handle which would have been wood.mining, pick, tools, trades -
Federation University Historical Collection
Book, The Economics of Mining (Non-Ferrous Metals), 1938
The book was used by Charles Bacon who studied at the University of Nevada in the late 1930s/early 1940s. Bacon worked at Bunker Hill Mines and Kellogg Idaho, before arriving in Australian in 1951. He worked for CN Myers, a company involved with paper converting. CN Myers was a family business (on Charles Bacon's maternal line). The Mackay School of Mines, Nevada was established in 1908. At the time of writing this mook T.J. Hoover was Professor of Mining and Metallurgy and Dean of the School of Engineering at Stanford University. Theodore Jesse Hoover, brother of the 31st President of the United States, was born in West Branch, Iowa, on January 28, 1871. He attended Stanford and received the Bachelor of Arts degree in Geology and Mining in 1901. Following graduation his professional career started with the position of assayer for the Keystone Consolidated Mining Company. After one year, he became assistant manager for the Standard Consolidated Mine, and a year later he was promoted to manager of the operation. In 1907 Hoover went to London as general manager of Minerals Separation, Ltd. This company was developing the froth flotation process for recovering minerals from ores. Hoover took an active part in the development of the flotation concentration process and authored one of the first books on the concentration of ores by flotation. After four years with Minerals Separation, Ltd., Hoover entered private practice as a consulting mining and metallurgical engineer with offices in London and in San Francisco. He was very successful and held positions of consulting engineer, managing director, director, and president of many mining companies in America, Europe, Asia, Africa, and Australia. He returned to Stanford in 1919 as Professor of Mining and Metallurgy and Executive Head of the Department of Mining and Metallurgy. His experience and ability in organization made him a natural leader. He was influential in the formation of the School of Engineering at Stanford. The School was formed in 1925 and he was made dean, a position he held until his retirement in 1936. As dean of engineering, he promoted a broad fundamental training program for undergraduate engineering students. Under his guidance, emphasis was placed upon graduate work and he was responsible for developing strong graduate engineering curricula at Stanford. While dean he continued teaching and his course, "The Economics of Mining," developed into a book which was published in 1933. He became interested in the functions of engineers and, with Professor Fish, wrote a book entitled "The Engineering Profession" which was published in 1940 and revised in 1950. In addition to his academic activities he was generous in his hospitality. Faculty and students alike enjoyed the annual field day and barbecue at his Rancho del Oso, near Santa Cruz. He was widely read and had a lively interest in all the things he encountered. He speculated on the antiquity of man and man's early production processes. To verify an idea regarding flint tools, he studied their shapes and became proficient in making arrow heads. He was also interested in wild life, and was one of the founding members of the Cooper Ornithological Society. (http://engineering.stanford.edu/about/bio-hoover) Blue hard covered book of 547 pages including an index. Contents include mine valuation (sampling, ore deposits, ore reserves, financial provisions, sale of mineral product, metal prices, reports) and Mining Organization (Co-operative effort, Mining Companies, Promoting Mining Enterprises, fluctuations of share prices, valuation of mining shares, fakes and fallacies, the mining Engineer and the law) and Mine Management (Organization of staff, mine manager, efficiency, industrial relations, training and discipline, safety). Inside front cover 'Charles Bacon Mackay School of Mines"charles bacon, mining engineering, metallurgy, university of nevada, mackay school of mines, stanford, bacon, mining, economics, divining, theodore hoover -
Federation University Historical Collection
Photograph - Photograph - black and white, Sluicing in a creek bed
... sluicing creek bed mining tools prospecting ...Photograph included in book "Victoria: Gold and Minerals" issued by Mines Department Victoria, 1935Image of a man sluicing in a creek bed. victoria, gold mining, prospecting method, sluicing, creek bed, mining, tools, prospecting -
Flagstaff Hill Maritime Museum and Village
Instrument - Barometer, 1867
Langlands Company History: Langlands foundry was Melbourne's first foundry and iron shipbuilder established in 1842, only 8 years after the founding of the Victorian colony by two Scottish immigrants, Robert Langlands and Thomas Fulton, who had formed a partnership before emigrating (1813–1859). The business was known as the 'Langlands Foundry Co'. Henry Langlands (1794-1863), left Scotland in 1846 with his wife Christian, née Thoms, and five surviving children to join his brother Robert. By the time he arrived in early January of 1847 the partnership of Robert Langlands and Fulton had dissolved as Fulton had gone off to establish his own works. It was at this time that the two brothers took over ownership of Langlands foundry. Several years later Robert retired and Henry became sole the proprietor. The foundry was originally located on Flinders Lane between King and Spencer streets. Their sole machine tool, when they commenced as a business, was a small slide rest lathe turned by foot. In about 1865 they moved to the south side of the Yarra River, to the Yarra bank near the Spencer Street Bridge and then in about 1886 they moved to Grant Street, South Melbourne. The works employed as many as 350 workers manufacturing a wide range of marine, mining, civil engineering, railway and general manufacturing components including engines and boilers. The foundry prospered despite high wages and the lack of raw materials. It became known for high-quality products that competed successfully with any imported articles. By the time Henry retired, the foundry was one of the largest employers in Victoria and was responsible for casting the first bell and lamp-posts in the colony. The business was carried on by his sons after Henry's death. The company was responsible for fabricating the boiler for the first railway locomotive to operate in Australia, built-in 1854 by Robertson, Martin & Smith for the Melbourne and Hobson's Bay Railway Company. Also in the 1860s, they commenced manufacture of cast iron pipes for the Board of Works, which was then laying the first reticulated water supply system in Melbourne. Langlands was well known for its gold mining equipment, being the first company in Victoria to take up the manufacture of mining machinery, and it played an important role in equipping Victoria's and Australia's first mineral boom in the 1850s and 1860s. Langlands Foundry was an incubator for several engineers including Herbert Austin (1866–1941) who worked as a fitter at Langlands and went on to work on the Wolesely Shearing machine. He also founded the Austin Motor Company in 1905. Around the 1890s Langlands Foundry Co. declined and was bought up by the Austral Otis Co. in about 1893. History for Grimoldi: John Baptist Grimoldi was born in London UK. His Father was Domeneck Grimoldi, who was born in Amsterdam with an Italian Father and Dutch mother. Domeneck was also a scientific instrument maker. John B Grimoldi had served his apprenticeship to his older brother Henry Grimoldi in Brooke Street, Holburn, London and had emigrated from England to Australia to start his own meteorological and scientific instrument makers business at 81 Queens St Melbourne. He operated his business in 1862 until 1883 when it was brought by William Samuel and Charles Frederick, also well known scientific instrument makers who had emigrated to Melbourne in 1875. John Grimoldi became successful and made a number of high quality measuring instruments for the Meteorological Observatory in Melbourne. The barometer was installed at Warrnambool's old jetty and then the Breakwater as part of the Victorian Government's insistence that barometers be placed at all major Victorian ports. This coastal barometer is representative of barometers that were installed through this government scheme that began in 1866. The collecting of meteorological data was an important aspect of the Melbourne Observatory's work from its inception. Just as astronomy had an important practical role to play in navigation, timekeeping and surveying, so the meteorological service provided up to date weather information and forecasts that were essential for shipping and agriculture. As a result, instruments made by the early instrument makers of Australia was of significant importance to the development and safe trading of companies operating during the Victorian colonies early days. The provenance of this artefact is well documented and demonstrates, in particular, the importance of the barometer to the local fishermen and mariners of Warrnambool. This barometer is historically significant for its association with Langlands’ Foundry which pioneered technology in the developing colony by establishing the first ironworks in Melbourne founded in 1842. Also, it is significant for its connection to John B Grimoldi who made the barometer and thermometer housed in the cast iron case. Grimoldi, a successful meteorological and scientific instrument maker, arrived in the colony from England and established his business in 1862 becoming an instrument maker to the Melbourne Observatory. Additional significance is its completeness and for its rarity, as it is believed to be one of only two extant barometers of this type and in 1986 it was moved to Flagstaff Hill Maritime Village as part of its museum collection. Coast Barometer No. 8 is a tall, red painted cast iron pillar containing a vertical combined barometer and thermometer. Half way down in the cast iron framed glass door is a keyhole. Inside is a wooden case containing a mercury barometer at the top with a thermometer attached underneath, each with a separate glass window and a silver coloured metal backing plate. Just below the barometer, on the right-hand side, is a brass disc with a hole for a gauge key in the centre. The barometer has a silvered tin backing plate with a scale, in inches, of "27 to 31" on the right side and includes a Vernier with finer markings, which is set by turning the gauge key. The thermometer has a silvered tin backing plate with a scale on the left side of "30 to 140". Each of the scales has markings showing the units between the numbers.Inscription at the top front of the pillar reads "COAST BAROMETER" Inscribed on the bottom of the pillar is "No 8". and "LANGLANDS BROS & CO ENGINEERS MELBOURNE " The barometer backing plate is inscribed "COAST BAROMETER NO. 8, VICTORIA" and printed on the left of the scale, has "J GRIMOLDI" on the top and left of the scale, inscribed "Maker, MELBOURNE". There is an inscription on the bottom right-hand side of the thermometer scale, just above the 30 mark "FREEZING" Etched into the timber inside the case are the Roman numerals "VIII" (the number 8)flagstaff hill, warrnambool, maritime village, maritime museum, flagstaff hill maritime museum & village, shipwreck coast, great ocean road, warrnambool breakwater, coast barometer, coastal barometer, barometer, weather warning, ports and harbours, fishery barometer, sea coast barometer, austral otis co, coast barometer no. 8, henry grimoldi, henry langlands, john baptist grimoldi, langlands foundry co, meteorological instrument maker, robert langlands, scientific instrument maker, thermometer, thomas fulton -
Clunes Museum
Tool - GOUGE
... CAST IRON IMPLEMENT USED IN MINING PROCEDURE local history ...CAST IRON IMPLEMENT USED IN MINING PROCEDURESHORT WOODEN HANDLE WITH METAL GOUGE AT END.ENGRAVED / STAMPED CAST BLEVAN STIL [ OR SOMETHING!]local history, tool -
Clunes Museum
Tool - GOLD CRADLE & PANNING DISH, JAMES ESMOND, CIRCA 1850
USED TO OBTAIN ALLUVIAL GOLD THE DESIGN OF THIS EQUIPMENT IS MOSTLY BASED ON THE PRINCIPLE OF THE WAY HEAVY MINERALS ARE CONCENTRATED IN ALLUVIAL DEPOSITS. THE PROSPECTING DISH IS USED WHEN WORKING WITH SMALL AMOUNTS OF STONES & CLAY WHILE BIGGER JOBS THE CRADLE OR BANJO IS MORE EFFICIENT. THE GAUZE OF MESH IN THE SIEVE IS VARIABLE. THE CRADLE OR BANJO IS USUALLY SET UP AT RIGHT ANGLES TO A SHALLOW CREEK OR WATERHOLE WITH THE OPEN ENDS TOWARDS THE WATER.1 WOODEN CONSTRUCTION MADE BY HAND WITH GAUZE FILTER IN UPPER SECTION TO SEPARATE QUARTZ ROCKS, SAND AND SOIL. A HANDLE ON BOX LIKE CONSTRUCTION IS USED TO ROCK THE CRADLE WHICH IS MOUNTED WITH ITS ROCKERS RESTING ON WOODEN BEARERS. .2 PANlocal history, mining equipment, mining -
Clunes Museum
Tool - SPADE
.1 SHORT HANDLED SPADE, WOODEN HANDLE, GRIP SHAPED IN WOOD. .2 SHORT HANDLED SPADE, WOODEN HANDLE, TOP OF GRIP MISSINGspades used in gold mining -
Kiewa Valley Historical Society
Miners Pick - short
Formerly KV 071. It was used to break up rock and ore, making it easier to extract valuable minerals. The pointed end of the pick axe was used to chip away rock, while the flat end was used to strike the rock for breaking it apart. This one has a short handle. Miners picks were commonly used in the the 19th and early 20th centuries for extracting gold from underground mine tunnels.Used in the Kiewa Valley where prospecting for gold occurred.Formerly KV 071. Cast iron symmetrical pick tool on cast iron with a wooden handle. It has a pointed end and a flat end. It is 12 inches long.gold mining, miners' pick axe, hand tool -
Flagstaff Hill Maritime Museum and Village
Equipment - Standard measure, Mid to late 19th Century
The beginning of standardised weights and measures began In Victoria when the Melbourne Observatory received sets of standard weights and measures, which had been tested in Britain against the then British Imperial standards. These included the primary standard yard and pound for the Colony of Victoria. Other standards of weights and measure held by shires and the administrative body's within the colony could then be compared to these primary standards. A Weights and Measures Act was passed in Victoria in 1862, establishing local inspectors throughout the colony. By the 1870s each local council and shire in Victoria held a set of standards that were used to test scales, weights and dry measures used by wholesalers, factories and shops. Every ten years the councils’ standards would themselves need to be rechecked against the Victorian Standards. The checking was done by the Victorian Customs Department in the 19th century, but with the transfer of responsibility for customs to the Federal Government in 1901, weights and measures function was retained by the Victorian Government and was shifted to the Melbourne Observatory. In 1904, a new building was erected at the south end of the Great Melbourne Telescope House, where the standard weights and measures and testing equipment was installed. This room had a large whirling apparatus for testing air meters and became known as the Whirling Room. When the Melbourne Observatory closed in 1944, the Weights and Measures Branch was formed to continue and this branch remained at the Observatory site unit until 1995. J & M Ewan History: J&M Ewan was a Melbourne firm that began by selling retail furniture and wholesale ironmongery. They had substantial warehouses situated at the intersection of 81-83 Elizabeth and Little Collins Streets, the business was established by James M Ewan in 1852. Shortly afterwards he went into partnership with William Kerr Thomson and Samuel Renwick. When Ewan died in 1868 his partners carried on and expanded the business under his name J & M Ewan. The business was expanded to provide a retail shop, counting-house and private offices. Wholesale warehouses adjoined these premises at 4, 6 and 10 Little Collins Street, West. This company provided and sold a large and varied amount of imported goods into the colony that consisted of agriculture equipment, building materials, mining items as well as steam engines, tools of all types and marble fireplaces. They also supplied the Bronze measuring containers in the Flagstaff Hill collection and the probability is that these containers were obtained by the local Melbourne authority that monitored weights and measures in the mid to late 19th century. The company grew to employ over 150 people in Melbourne and opened offices at 27 Lombard St London as well as in New Zealand and Fiji. The company also serviced the Mauritius islands and the pacific area with their steamship the Suva and a brig the Shannon, the company ceased trading in 1993. Robert Bate History: Robert Brettell Bate (1782-1847) was born in Stourbridge, England, one of four sons of Overs Bate, a mercer (a dealer in textile fabrics, especially silks, velvet's, and other fine materials)and banker. Bate moved to London, and in 1813 was noticed for his scientific instrument making ability through the authority of the “Clockmakers Company”. Sometime in the year 1813 it was discovered that one Robert Brettell Bate, regarded as a foreigner in London had opened a premises in the Poultry selling area of London. He was a Mathematical Instrument maker selling sundials and other various instruments of the clock making. In 1824, Bate, in preparation for his work on standards and weights, leased larger premises at 20 and 21 Poultry, London, at a rental of four hundred pounds per annum. It was there that Bate produced quality metrological instruments, which afforded him the recognition as one of one of the finest and principal English metrological instrument-makers of the nineteenth century. English standards at this time were generally in a muddle, with local standards varying from shire to shire. On 17 June 1824, an Act of Parliament was passed making a universal range of weights, measures, and lengths for the United Kingdom, and Bate was given the job of crafting many of the metrological artifacts. He was under instruction from the renown physicist Henry Kater F.R.S. (1777-1835) to make standards and to have them deposited in the principal cities throughout the United Kingdom and colonies. Bate experimented with tin-copper alloys to find the best combination for these items and by October 1824, he had provided Kater with prototypes to test troy and avoirdupois pounds, and samples with which to divide the troy into grams. Bate also cast the standard for the bushel, and by February 1825, had provided all the standards required of him by the Exchequer, Guildhalls of Edinburgh, and Dublin. In 1824, he also made a troy pound standard weight for the United States, which was certified for its accuracy by Kater and deposited with the US Mint in 1827. Kater, in his address to the Royal Society of London, acknowledged Bate's outstanding experimentation and craftsmanship in producing standards of weights, measures, and lengths. An example of a dry Bronze measuring container made specifically for J & M Ewan by possibly the most important makers of measurement artefacts that gives us today a snapshot of how imperial weights and measures were used and how a standard of measurement for merchants was developed in the Australian colonies based on the Imperial British measurement system. The container has social significance as an item retailed by J & M Ewan and used in Victoria by the authorities who were given legal responsibility to ensure that wholesalers and retailers of dry goods sold in Victoria were correct. The container was a legal standard measure so was also used to test merchants containers to ensure that their distribution of dry goods to a customer was correct.Maker Possibly Robert Brettell Blake or De Grave, Short & Co Ltd both of LondonContainer bronze round shape for measuring dry quantities has brass handles & is a 'half-bushel' measurement"IMPERIAL STANDARD HALF BUSHEL" engraved around the top of the container. VICTORIA engraved under "J & M Ewan & Co London and Melbourne" engraved around the bottom of the container.flagstaff hill, warrnambool, shipwrecked-coast, flagstaff-hill, flagstaff-hill-maritime-museum, maritime-museum, shipwreck-coast, flagstaff-hill-maritime-village, standard measure, bronze, peck measurement, j & m ewan, victorian standard dry measurement, bronze container, victorian standards, melbourne observatory, robert brettell bate -
Clunes Museum
Container - CRUCIBLE
... gold for assaying crucible gold tools for gold mining ...Used for smelting goldItem used on the gold fields to melt gold for assayingCrucible for melting gold to be assayedNo visible markingscrucible, gold, tools for gold mining