The firm of Alexander Shanks & Sons Ltd of Arbroath, were engineers, founders and boiler makers the company was incorporated in the year 1893. At the Dens Iron Works, purchased by the firm in the same year, a wide variety of products was manufactured including cranes, hoists, pumps and lawnmowers. In the 1960s the firm was taken over by Alexander Shanks (1801-1845) was an Inventor of the modern lawnmower, who lived in Arbroath Scotland. While credit is usually given to the Englishman Edwin Budding (1795-1846) for the invention of the lawnmower, it is Shanks' machine which was the direct predecessor of the modern mower. Shanks' innovation was a machine which rolled the grass as well as mowing it. Although Shanks himself died at a young age, his son showed the mowers at the Great Exhibition in 1851 which led to a successful business that continued into the 20th century, supplying mowers to cut the tennis courts of Wimbledon, the cricket grounds at Lords and the Old golf course at St Andrews. The firm was also well known for the manufacture of portable steam engines and steam cranes. In 1968, the company was taken over by Giddings & Lewis Fraser Ltd, Engineers of Arbroath. The subject item is a good example of an early lawn mower made by the company that is credited with being the first to patent and manufacture such a machine. The company Alexander Shanks founded was known throughout the world as significant manufactures of large steam machines used from the middle of the 19th century to the first quarter of the 20th century. The subject item is now regarded as a collector's item.Lawnmower, cast iron handles has two wooden ends and two wooden rollers at front. Blades driven by chain fixed to metal roller. Shanks's Standard Chain. Shanks's Standard Chain Arbroth London. Alex Shanks & Sons Ltd Engineers Arbroth Londonflagstaff hill, warrnambool, shipwrecked coast, flagstaff hill maritime museum, maritime museum, shipwreck coast, flagstaff hill maritime village, great ocean road, hand mower, lawn mower, mower, shanks, arboth

The Dollarbird is so-named because of the coin-shaped patches on the tips of their wings, which is clear when in flight. They have distinctive blue-green colouring on their backs and wings, and a bright blue throat. This species migrates to northern and eastern Australia for breeding, between the months of September and April. These birds migrate to New Guinea and nearby islands in the Winter, but can be found in Japan and India also. This species resides in open wooded areas, preferring hollow-bearing trees for nesting. They can be found spending most of their time perched on high branches in search of insects, and will often 'hawk' at dusk above the tree-tops, hovering on the wing for lengthy periods. This specimen is a good example of this species, however the distinctive coin-patches on the tips of the wings are partially hidden by the tuck of the wing. This specimen is part of a collection of almost 200 animal specimens that were originally acquired as skins from various institutions across Australia, including the Australian Museum in Sydney and the National Museum of Victoria (known as Museums Victoria since 1983), as well as individuals such as amateur anthropologist Reynell Eveleigh Johns between 1860-1880. These skins were then mounted by members of the Burke Museum Committee and put-on display in the formal space of the Museum’s original exhibition hall where they continue to be on display. This display of taxidermy mounts initially served to instruct visitors to the Burke Museum of the natural world around them, today it serves as an insight into the collecting habits of the 19th century.This specimen is part of a significant and rare taxidermy mount collection in the Burke Museum. This collection is scientifically and culturally important for reminding us of how science continues to shape our understanding of the modern world. They demonstrate a capacity to hold evidence of how Australia’s fauna history existed in the past and are potentially important for future environmental research. This collection continues to be on display in the Museum and has become a key part to interpreting the collecting habits of the 19th century.This adult Dollarbird has a brown body and head, blue-green back and wings. It has a distinctive bright blue or purple plumage around its throat. The tips of the wings are brown. The pale-blue coin shaped patches on the tips of the wings are just visible. This specimen stands upon a wooden platform and has an identification tag tied around its leg.Swing-tag: 96a / Australian Roller / Catalogue, page, 25. taxidermy mount, taxidermy, animalia, burke museum, beechworth, australian museum, skin, reynell eveleigh johns, bird, dollarbird, australian birds, broad-billed roller

3 sheave wood block with ring link. Rollers are metal.flagstaff hill, warrnambool, shipwrecked-coast, flagstaff-hill, flagstaff-hill-maritime-museum, maritime-museum, shipwreck-coast, flagstaff-hill-maritime-village, 3 sheave wood block, wood block, block

Walsall in England was regarded as the world`s greatest centre of the saddlery trade. The town's craftsmen began to specialise in making bits, stirrups and spurs in the Middle Ages, developing into fully-fledged makers of saddlery and harness, by the end of the nineteenth century. As a result, over a hundred firms were exporting their products throughout the British Empire and beyond. The Walsall firms flourished as horses were so vital to everyday life in Victorian Britain and the colonies. The Walsall area emerged as a major supplier of military saddlery and harnesses, with one company supplying an astonishing 100,000 saddles for the British army in the First World War. The twentieth century saw the rise of light leather goods, such as handbags, cases and gloves. With the coming of the motor car, these products became the mainstay of the Walsall leather industry. Many companies supplied this trade and Dixon tools was one, as a commercial and industrial equipment supplier to the trade. The company started in 1843 and has continued to produce tools for the leather industries up and till August 2017 when the company was dissolved.A vintage item used in the leather working industries see additional notes at end of document for clarity on how the item was used and it's importance in making leather goods.Lap Skiver has a roller missing. Painted reddish brown J Dixonflagstaff hill, warrnambool, shipwrecked-coast, flagstaff-hill, flagstaff-hill-maritime-museum, maritime-museum, shipwreck-coast, flagstaff-hill-maritime-village, lap skiver, leather industries, leather making tools, tools, j dixon

When the fabric is removed from the loom it is often stiff, rough and uneven. There are a number of finishing processes, both mechanical and chemical that give wool fabrics their special look and feel. The fabric is often scoured again to remove oils and dirt picked up during manufacture. It is then pressed. For a soft and fluffy surface, the fabric is brushed. For a smooth surface, it is shorn. For centuries, machines similar to this teasle gig were used to finish fabrics. It uses the prickly flower head off the teasle plant (Dispsacus Fullonum) to do the delicate work to raise the surface, or nap, the woollen cloth. At least 1,500 teasle heads are needed for one gig. The teasel is a thistle like plant whose dried heads are used on the teasel gig. They are fixed to frames around the drum, or gig. The gig turns in the opposite direction to the flow of the cloth until the nap is raised. Also spelled as Teazel Gig.Large metal machine with wooden rollers and teasel covered drum.textile finishing, raising, raising machinery, teasel gig, fabric, wool processing, plants, thistle, drum

Used on horse tackle during the 1900's, imported and sold by Holden and FrostSold by Holden and Frost for agricultural military and civilian use during the late 19th century and early 20th century.Nickel plated roller stirrup half buckle with single tongue equine, military, agriculture, civilian ca 1910, half buckle

Used on Horse tackle during 19th and 20th centuries and imported and sold by Holden and FrostSold by Holden and Frost for Military and civilian use circa 1910Nickel plated roller half buckle used as equine accessoryequine, military, agriculture, civilian c1910, half buckle

Used on horse tackle during the 19th and 20th centuries and imported and sold by Holden and Frost Retailed.by Holden and Frost for military agriculture and civilian use Ca 1910Nickel plated steel roller buckle used as equestrian accessorybuckle, equine, military, agriculture, civilian c1910, roller buckle

Cast iron knife cleaner, with iron and wood handle for turning 2 rubber rollers, within 2 sides held together by metal screws. Hand cranked, twin rubber roller."Spong & Co" "UneeK"knife cleaners

Invented in 1923 by Wilhelm Ritzerfeld. A Spirit duplicator' refers to the alcohols that were a major component of the solvents used in the machine.Limited number of copies one could make from an original along with the low cost and corresponding low quality of copying. Used to make multiple copies of a document eg. in office at a school for eg. a newsletterUsed at Bogong Primary SchoolFormerly UKV 048 Solid black, heavy, steel machine on 4 legs with flat tray at the front and roller at the back. The roller has a cover on the sides and front. From the top you can see the silver roller which is operated by a handle on the right side. There is a small lever and 2 knobs on the same side.In gold on the back "Fordigraph" and "The Nipper Fordigraph" with a blue circle made by 3 arcs with arrows. 2 labels on one side, screwed on. The labels have a silver background and black print. "Off" and "On"fordigraph machine, copying

The Number 2 Steamroller was used in public road building in Kew.It replaced the first Council steamroller which was used between 1915 and 1932.Rare photograph of a Kew City Council piece of road making machinerySmall black and white photograph of a steamroller used by the City of Kew in road construction from the 1930s to the 1950s.Reverse of photo: "KCC No 2 Roller 607S". Accompanying note: "20/3/84 Gift to the Society from Mr [?] who was K.C.C. [Kew City Council] driver of this "monster". Kew City Council No.2 Roller. Used in street construction 1950. Roller probably 1930 era."road construction - kew (vic), no.2 steamroller, steamrollers - kew (vic)

Chase Roller, used for transporting printing Chases' full of lead print.flagstaff hill, warrnambool, shipwrecked-coast, flagstaff-hill, flagstaff-hill-maritime-museum, maritime-museum, shipwreck-coast, flagstaff-hill-maritime-village

Float done as roller coatser cars painted blue carrying peopleconcongella school parade

Included in the collection of Dorothy WilliamsRectangular metal hair roller clip with hair pin type to fit into this.costume accessories, hair accessories

Roller used for applying ink to printing blocks, metal with wooden handle.trades, printing, tools

Metal roller type Carpet Sweeper. Harding Family Halls Gapstawell

Assortment of Butterfly clips and permanent wave roller, in a silver cardboard boxperming equipment, hair clips

Belonged to a friend of the donorUsed for styling and perming ladies hair in a style which was a very popular. A popular form of hairdressing.Four rollers - One of blue square mesh in plastic. One of aqua criss cross mesh with spikes in plastic. Two grey plastic solid rollers suitable for perms with cream rubber stretch holding strip.personal effects-toilet requisites, hairdressing

Logs were sold to sawmillers from State forest from 1 July 1974 in cubic metres (true volume). Previously sawlogs had been sold on the basis of Hoppus volume. This simple device with two rotating wheels enabled staff in FCV offices to rapidly calculate log volumes from measurements taken in the bush of log girth and length and recorded on paper log dockets. From the early 1980s automated systems became available with the advent of cheap electronic office calculators and simple computers. An early manual device that was superseded by electronic calculatorsOffice Device Twin rollers used to quickly and simply calculate true log volumes using measurements of girth and length. An allowance could also be made for pipe defects. The top roller was for larger diameter logs.forest measurement, forests commission victoria (fcv)

Blue coated brass rule with straight edges. Mounted on grooved roller mounts. brass, ruler, engineers, architects, surveyors

An original photograph donated to the Kew Historical Society by the City's Engineering Department before the amalgamation of Kew into the City of Boroondara in 1994.While not all of the photographs are of Studley Park, Kew or East Kew, each photo provides a fine snapshot of the work of local government engineering departments of the period. They reveal they types of labour conducted, the techniques used and the equipment and machinery in the possession of the local government authority. Public works. Road making in the 1950s using a steam roller and a mechanical grader. Inscription on reverse: "Road making." city of kew (engineering department), road construction building, road maintenance

An original photograph donated to the Kew Historical Society by the City's Engineering Department before the amalgamation of Kew into the City of Boroondara in 1994.While not all of the photographs are of Studley Park, Kew or East Kew, each photo provides a fine snapshot of the work of local government engineering departments of the period. They reveal they types of labour conducted, the techniques used and the equipment and machinery in the possession of the local government authority.Public works. Road making in the 1950s using a steam roller and a mechanical grader. Inscription on reverse: "Road making." city of kew (engineering department), road construction

The butter stamp rolling pin was used in The Orbost Butter factory.It was rolled across the butter in a wooden box, lined with a wax paper.Bicarbonate of soda was added to the butter to stop it from going rank.The first shipment in about 1893 to England went rank and was only good for axle grease on wagons and carts.The milk was brought to the factory by horse and dray.Most people would take the whey home for their pigs,which were abundant on the farms in the Orbost district. The Orbost Butter and Produce Co. Ltd was registered on June 1st 1893 and was an important source of income to the Orbost district. Large, hand carved, round wooden roller with handle at each end. There is a central carved word, with a pattern of raised squares either side of the carved word and an uncarved area at either end of the roller. The stamp rests on a wooden plinth. "AUSTRALIA" carved in reverse around the width.orbost-butter-factory dairy butter

Cylindrical wooden roller with an imprint of the word 'Australia' across the centre. Rectangular relief patterns are around the roller with ridged edging. A 4cm section is recessed underneath to a depth of 1.5cm. A decorative emblem is carved into each of the corners of the recessed section. australia, allansford, butter roller, warrnambool cheese butter factory, dairy industry, dairy utensils