Context: A brace is a hand tool used with a bit (drill bit or auger) to drill holes, usually in wood. The pressure is applied to the top and the tool is rotated with a U-shaped grip. Bits used to come in a variety of types but today the more commonly used Ridgeway and Irwin pattern bits also rely on a snail point (called the snail), which is a tapered screw point shaped the same as a wood screw thread, which helps to pull the bit into the wood as the user turns the brace handle and applies pressure. The designs used today come from an original idea and pattern invented by John S Fray. Company History: John S. Fray (1833 ) immigrated to Bridgeport Connecticut USA from England in the 1850s and established a working relationship with Nelson Spofford, who held an 1858 patent for a bit brace (the tool could be augured in a continuous circular motion by hand). He established the John S. Fray Co. around the same time and immediately began producing the Spofford bit brace. Fray himself held at least two patents: one awarded in 1869 for a boring brace attachment, and another awarded in 1883 for a tool handle. By 1889, the firm was located at the industrial complex that sits between the former International Silver Company and the former Bridgeport Chain Company on Crescent Avenue and is identified on the Sanborn Insurance Atlas as a manufacturer of Spofford bit braces, hollow handle awl, and toolsets. The company was in competition with Peck Stow and Wilcox Co. of Southington, and in 1898 was enjoined from making a ratchet bit brace for which the latter company held a patent. By the 1920s, the factory had been purchased by the Stanley Company of New Britain and leased to the American Tube and Stamping Company, a manufacturer of brass, copper, seamless, and bicycle tubing, which also ran a rolling mill to the south on Stafford Avenue (now demolished). The Stanley Company bought both mills in 1926, perhaps as a strategic move to be located along the Bridgeport Harbour, through which much of the raw material used in its operations throughout the state came. By the 1950s, the Crescent Avenue operations had been moved to other sites in Connecticut, and Stanley again leased the building to a company called Cornwall and Patterson, a manufacturer of piano hardware. Today the building appears to be vacant. An early carpenters tool made by a well known early manufacturer from America who instigated many innovations to the making of tools. His early pattern for the improvement of a tool that could be used for the boring of holes in wood was a significant step forward. His design for a boring brace attachment and later a specific handle is still in use today and his original brace and bit is now sought after by collectors of antique tools. Spofford Carpenter's Bit Brace metal has bit attached. Wing nut holds bit in place but nut missing. holds bit in place. 285mm long x 160mm Noneflagstaff hill, warrnambool, shipwrecked-coast, flagstaff-hill, flagstaff-hill-maritime-museum, maritime-museum, shipwreck-coast, flagstaff-hill-maritime-village

Also two Sepia photographs 10 x 15 cm, with inscription 'The famous steamer Gippsland completed in 1908 for the Dahlsen family. She ran on the lakes until 1937 when withdrawn form service and sold to Sydney buyers.'Black and white photograph showing S S Gippsland on the Gippsland Lakes, large crowd of people on board, shed on Kalimna Jetty extreme left. Lakes Entrance VictoriaS S Gippsland Bairnsdale H D Bulmer Photoships and shipping, retail trade, transport, township

Catalogue card reads, 'Opening Mechanics Institute - 1909. Veranda: Roy Thomas, Howard Falconer, W. Foreshaw, --, --, Harry Falconer, --, Rev. H. Greenwood, Mr. Tucker, Mr. R.W.M. Chalmers, Mr. Jack Pollard. Standing Steps: --, Rev. Schules, Mr. A.V. Greenwood. 3rd Row (standing from left): Mr. A. Loughnan, Cr. A.B. Taylor, Mr. W. Unsworth, Mr. Hockin, Mrs. Theo Anderson, Mr. J.B. McAlpin, Rev. J. Nicholson, Mr. Alf Hocking. 2nd Row (Standing from left): Cr. Tulley, Cr. A.B. Taylor, --, --, Mrs. E.E. Walker, Mrs. R.V. Greenwood, --, --, Miss Edgar, --, Capt. Ecklestein. Front Row (Sitting from left): Mr. Gwillam, Architect, Hon. D.E. McBryde, MLC, Mrs. J. Murray, Hon. S. Murray, Premier, Mr. J. Parker, President, Rev. D. Porteous, Hon. W.H. Edgar, MLC, Hon. W.J. Evans, MLC, Mr. T. Brown.'

Iron 'S' brand. Circular iron handle forged into a ring at one end and flattened at the other end into iron 'S' welded to the handle. Head is 8mm thick at the weld end and tapers to a thin 2mm line.S

Holy Bible leather bound gold embossed German bible . On front cover various persons praying .Printed 1860's BOOSEY & CO.'S Fair condition . Old and New Testament holy bible, leather bound, gold embossed, 1860 s printed, german bible, janetzke family bible, janetzke, 1881 1974, bilingual, printed u s a

Early 1900's. "Boiling the billy". The term billy or billycan is particularly associated with Australian usage, but is also used in the UK and Ireland. It is widely accepted that the term "billycan" is derived from the large cans used for transporting bouilli or bully beef on Australia-bound ships or during exploration of the outback, which after use were modified for boiling water over a camp fire. Postcards developed out of the complex tradition of nineteenth-century printed calling cards, beginning with the advent of the Cartes-de-Visite in France. In the 1850s, Parisian photographer Andre Adolphe Eugene Disderi invented a photographic process involving egg white, albumen, and silver nitrate to create inexpensive portraits on paper cards. These photographic Cartes-de-Visites were 2 1/2 (75mm) by 4 inches (98mm) and became a popular, collectable form of "visiting cards" world-wide. Photographers would reprint portraits of famous individuals they had taken at their studios or during travel and sell them as collectable cards. Postcards as we know them now first began in 1861 as cards mailed by private post. In the 1870s picture postcards grew in popularity throughout the United States, Britain, Europe, and Japan. Cards were first permitted to have a "Divided Back," with text written on the left half of a dividing line and the address on the right half, beginning in England in 1902. Around 1900 the first postcards made of "Real Photos" rather than artwork began to circulate, aided in by advances in amateur photography equipment by companies such as Kodak. Kodak also introduced postcard paper for photographic development and photography studios began to offer portraits printed as postcards Many local town, countryside, and architectural images were captured during this period by local photographers, then printed and sold as postcards . Advances in amateur photography all contributed to a postcard craze that lasted from 1900 to the First World War. Postcards were the preferred means to send a quick note, whether across town or across a continent.Postcard with a black and white Photograph on the front and a 'Divided Back ' for the message and address. There are seven men surrounding the billy suspended over a camp fire. The ground has a lot of dead branches around. One man is bending down towards the billy. Two men on either side of the camp fire are carrying either a white bag across their shoulders or the fish in their hands. You can see, that there is some steam also coming out of the billy, which means that its hot. Court Post Card. / this space may be used for correspondence. / The address only to be written here.1900's, boiling the billy , postcards, photographers, england, hungary, america, cartes-de-visite, visiting cards, moorabbin, cheltenham, bentleigh, market gardeners, early settlers, pioneers,

Although opened by the Church of England in 1857, Huntly was not recognised as beginning until 1860 when it began to receive government funding. In 1862 it became known as a Common School. In the 1870's it was partly destroyed in a wind storm and a brick building was built to replace it. It became a State School between 1873 and 1878 and was renamed Huntly Primary School in 1970.'Huntly State School No 306, Centenary 11th June, 1960, 1860 - 1960', on front cover. Photo of State School on front cover. Contents include history of school committees; present day pupils; reminiscences; and past teachers.

Donor's father, Mr W S Lang, was city valuer of City of Port MelbourneFaded green paper cover with 1898 and W S Lang stamped on front, Victorian Municipal Directory with gazeteer and waterworks. Irrigation Trusts record for 1898Title Page; "W S Lang, 11 Ashby Grove, Ivanhoe, Tel 499219built environment, local government - town of port melbourne, w s lang

Also two other copies, one very dark 15.5 x 23.5 cm, and black and white 16.5 x 25.5 cmSepia postcard showing S.S Dargo at wharf at Paynesville. Stacks of wooden fish boxes on wharf. Several men on wharf and on S S Dargo. Three men in rowing boat. Raymond Island in distance. Paynesville VictoriaS S Dargo Paynesville A Cooper Photoships and shipping, waterways, houses

An election card for Eddie Walsh, used in the Footscray Football Club committee elections of 1960. The card outlines his credentials, including his associations with the senior and junior football club and the Footscray Colts Cricket Club. The card refers to Roy Russell, the late Secretary of the Footscray Football Club. See Supplementary Information for related information on the election campaign in the Footscray Advertiser.This item of ephemera is highly significant as only two copies of this election card are known to exist.A single-sided election card with blue text and image of Eddie Walsh'F.F.C Elections - 1960/For Progressive Administration Vote Eddie Walsh to Committee/Life Member Footscray Football Club/Hon. Secretary Footscray 3rd 18, 1948-57/Hon. Secretary F'scray Colts F.C., 1940-48/Life-Member Footscray Colts Cricket Club/Official Registrar F.F.C. 1959/Experienced and knowledge of recruiting gained with the late F.F.C. Secretary, Roy Russell/R. S. Smith, Printer, Footscray - MW 2871.'footscray football club, election, 1960

In August 1873, four of the crew were killed and the other four injured when the Pilot schooner Rip was overwelmed in heavy seas at the Heads. The tragedy and heroism of the crew, inspired the people of Melbourne and a public apeal raised funds to support the affected families as well as the formation of what is now the Royal Humane Society of Australasia to provide public recognition to acts of bravery.Official Seal Press of No. 2 Coy 'RIP' 1860 - 1889 seal press, rip, pilot boats

Photograph. The first gathering. The Bendigo Caledonian Society, Jan. 1860.

"Calvert Model" hats were designed by Frank Tisdale. A Government Gazette of the State of New South Wales on Friday 7 September 1973 (No.117), page 3941, recorded that: "CALVERT MILLINERY PTY LIMITED (In Liquidation), formerly trading as Frank S. Tisdale.—A first and final dividend is intended to be declared in the above matter. If persons claiming to be creditors have not proved their debts or had their debts admitted by the liquidator by 24th September, 1973, they will be excluded from this dividend.—Dated this 3rd day of September, 1973. P. J. WOODWARD, Liquidator, 32 York Street, Sydney." Therefore the hat must predate 1973, and given that it is in the style favoured by the actress Audrey Hepburn (the style of the hat has been called an "Audrey") the hat probably dates to the 1960s.The Kew Historical Society’s fashion and design collection is comprised of costumes, hats, shoes and personal accessories. Many of these items were purchased or handmade in Victoria; some locally in Kew. The extensive hat collection comprises items dating from the 1860s to the 1970s. While most of the hats in the collection were created by milliners for women, there are a number of early and important men’s hats in the collection. The headwear collection is particularly significant in that it includes the work of notable Australian and international milliners.High crowned brown straw hat with a downward sloping rim. The design includes brown ribbon at the base of the crown. A label on the inside back rim identifiies the hat as "a Calvert Model".Label: "a Calvert Model"milliners, women's clothing, frank tisdale, calvert model

The Ballarat School of Mines circulated their annual reports to a number of collecting organisations.Foolscap correspondence to the Ballarat School of Mines, on letterhead from the Australian Museum. The majority of the letter is printed, with dtaes, signature and recipient handwritten. "The Australian Museum Sydney Oct 31st 1898 Sir I a instructed by the Trustees of the Australian Museum to acknowledge the receipt of the Publications named on the following page [Annual reports for 1896 and 1897], which you have been pleased to present to them and I am further directed to convey to you the expression of their grateful acknowledgement and best thanks for the same. I have the honor to be Sir Your most Obedient Servant S. Sinclair Secretary & Librarian. To The Secretary School of Mines Ballarat"ballarat school of mines, australian museum, s. sinclair, sinclair, annual report, mythical, myth, folklore

Book - 6 sections sewn into heavy grey card covers with full end papers with a blue coloured cloth tape edge strip with ruled pages and an A to Z index on the right hand side - printed by "Feint", with the title "Index to Melbourne and Metropolitan Tramways Act 1958 No. 6311 as amended by MMTB (Amendment) Act 1959, No. 6555. Compiled by H. S. McComb LS" Provides a full list or index of every word, except for words like, a, an, and, as etc in the MMTB 1958 Act and the 1959 amending Act. and the section it is used in. Some changes or corrections made in blue ink.. Inside the front cover is a type alphabetical list of the major headings or principal parts of the Act and the Schedules - 6 pages. Also within the book (which has resulted in some damage) are many half quarto sheets with hand written notes.trams, tramways, tramways, acts of parliament, mmtb, lists, index

This ice cream freezer, manufactured in South Australia in the 1930's, was advertised to "keep the contents of the cream compartment frozen for many hours". It was promoted for use at picnics to keep salads cool. Its design is very similar to other freezers of The Frigid name which were made in 1939; those freezers were all one colour whereas this one is blue around the top and bottom of the barrel and cream in the centre with blue/green lettering. The process of making ice cream was to pack the outer chamber full with a combination of 3 parts ice cubes of about 1 inch (2.cm) to one part coarse salt, then pour into the chamber about 1 cup of cold water. After this, the ingredients for ice cream or sorbet were poured into the inner chamber, then attach the lid and turn The Frigid freezer upside down for about 40 minutes or until the right consistency is reached. Advice as given to open the freezer every 20 minutes and stir around the contents that were frozen against the sides of the inner chamber. The ingredients for the ice cream could include cream, sugar, vanilla and eggs. The label on the box of The Frigid shows the address of A Simpson and Son to be at Pirie Street, Adelaide. This address was used as early as 1876 and later catalogues, 1931 - 1960 still show this address. Alfred Simpson and his family emigrated from England, arriving in South Australia in 1849. He had already completed his apprenticeship as a tinplate worker but he tried various other occupations, including trying out the gold mines in Victoria, before he established himself as a tinsmith in 1853. His products included many agricultural items. His son, Alfred Muller Simpson, joined the business when he turned 21. In the 1860 Simpson's products included 'explosion proof' safes. In the late 1880's A Simpson and Son manufactured munitions and mines for the war. At the time of Alfred's death in 1891, A Simpson and Son had the largest metal manufacturing plant in Australia. From 1898 the company's reputation grew from the process of enamel plating with porcelain. During the First World War, Simpsons returned to the manufacture of munitions. Alfred M. Simpson's sons (Alfred Allen, known as Allen, and Fredrick Neighbour) joined the company when they finished their schooling. Allen was also associated with the Royal Geological Society over many years and when the CT Madigan surveyed Central Australia in 1929, the Simpson Desert was named in his honour. Cape Simpson in Antarctica is also named after him due to his assistance to Douglas Mawson. A new factory was opened at Dudley Park in the 1940s and the company began the manufacture of whitegoods. In 1963 A. Simpson and Son merged with Pope Industries to form Simpson Pope Holdings. Alfred Simpson became chairman of the board of Simpson Pope Holdings. The Simpson brand, now owned by Electrolux, continues to produce a variety of household appliances. (Reference: State Library of South Australia) A Simpson and Son was an early colonial business that has lasted well into the 20th century and the name Simpson is still associated with whitegoods. Freezer, 2 quart (1.8 litre) capacity, made by A Simpson and Son Ltd, marked "The Frigid". Cylinder shaped, constructed from enamelled sheet metal, has two catches one on the base and one on top. Inner cylinder for holding contents for freezing. Slightly rusted. Freezer is inside original cardboard box with yellow label showing manufacturer details. Circa 1930'sOutside of freezer is printed in blue"The Frigid". Box includes "THE "FRIGID" FREEZER" and branded "S & S" inside a circle.flagstaff hill, warrnambool, shipwrecked-coast, flagstaff-hill, flagstaff-hill-maritime-museum, maritime-museum, shipwreck-coast, flagstaff-hill-maritime-village, a. simpson & son limited, manufacturer, foundry, freezer, 2 quart freezer, portable freezer, kitchen appliance, the frigid, ice cream freezer, ice cream maker 1930's

Photograph from a collection of photos donated by Mrs W RankinePhotograph of a Sailing Ship at sea - 1900's"Taken by Mrs A H Smith early in the 1900's. Name of boat not known"sailing ships, mrs w rankine

Although opened by the Church of England in 1857, Huntly was not recognised as beginning until 1860 when it began to receive government funding. In 1862 it became known as a Common School. In the 1870's it was partly destroyed in a wind storm and a brick building was built to replace it. It became a State School between 1873 and 1878 and was renamed Huntly Primary School in 1970.Newspaper clipping, 'At Huntly Today' image of Mrs. L. Campbel wearing a dress for the parade 'Belles of 1860' in celebration of the Huntly Primary School Centenary. Newspaper clipping dated 11.6.60. Mrs. Campbell is wearing a long dress, with cap and wrap.

The donor inherited this Wardana machine from her mother, who bought it in about 1933 and used it to sew garments for her sister's dressmaking business in Frankston, Victoria. The donor often used this machine until she purchased an updated model. There were originally three Ward Brothers who owned the North Melbourne sewing machine business but they had a falling out. This machine's decals on the map of Australia only include the two remaining brothers. The Ward Brothers, G & S Ward, established their sewing machine business in North Melbourne in 1888. The cabinets and ironwork of the machines were made in Australia and the Ward Bros. imported their machines from overseas manufacturers in England, America and Germany. The assembled machines were sold under brand names that included Ward, A.N.A. the patriotic-sounding Australian Sewing Machine Company. The "Wardana" was one of their brands.This sewing machine was fabricated in Australia from imported parts from England, giving a snapshot into the early manufacturing industries that were operating at the time just after Federation.Sewing machine in a wooden cabinet with iron foot-operated cast iron treadle mechanism. The hinged cabinet top opens out to form a worktop. The sewing machine lifts out of the cabinet to sit level with the worktop, resting on two supports within the cabinet. The lockable cabinet door opens from right to left revealing fitted shelves and spikes for spools and bobbins. The gold-painted maker's name is cast into the black treadle. The machine has its original instruction book, oil can, and eighteen accessories in an enclosed cardboard box. The round shallow oil bottle has a rubber dispensing tube. Colourful decals decorate the black body of the machine. Inscriptions include a Serial Number stamped on the bed of the machine. The Wardarna Central Bobbin machine was made in England for the Ward Brothers of North Melbourne.TREADLE: cast into metal ACROSS THE TOPE AND ON THE FOOTPLATE "WARD", "WARD" SERIAL NUMBER stamped into oval plate "28383" DECAL: (Map of Australia ) with images of [two brothers] , "WARDANA" above (logo of the rising sun) DECAL: (Decorative floral design with heraldic-like emblems) above "MADE IN ENGLAND" ARM: "WARDANA" PEDESTAL: "C.B." (representing Central Bobbin) "MADE IN ENGLAND" "MADE IN ENGLAND / FOR / WARD BROS / NORTH MELBOURNE" BOOK TITLE: "Instructions for Treadle Machine" ACCESSORIES: some have indecipherable embossed stamps OIL BOTTLE base: (image of log and short lines radiating from a central inscription (indecipherable)sewing machine, domestic, wardana, ward bros., central bobbin, made in england, north melbourne, c.b., flagstaff hill, warrnambool, shipwrecked coast, flagstaff hill maritime museum, maritime museum, shipwreck coast, flagstaff hill maritime village, great ocean road, treadle sewing machine, home industry, clothing, dressmaking, clothing manufacturer

This stained glass was originally installed at Geelong Town Hall following its expansion in 1917. The Geelong Council involved the staff and former students of the Gordon Technical College in designing the artwork and aesthetic of the building. Arthur S. Pittock, former student and local glazier, was responsible for the design and construction of the large stained glass window in the stair hall. The window was described as “a special feature” in the new building with the leaded glass work using “the motif throughout in Greek form, of admirable colour”. The window showcases the City of Geelong’s original coat of arms, featuring images of Geelong’s early industries: sailing, wool, wine and wheat production, and a kangaroo as an inescutcheon. During the redevelopment of City Hall in the late 1960s the stained glass window was removed from the building. The surviving City Hall window is the most elaborate, known surviving stained glass window by PittockGeelong Crest fashioned in glassBy the right use of God's gifts 1894stain glass window, arthur s. pittock, city hall geelong

Number 6 flat iron with the letter S circled and number 6 shown on body of iron.Sdomestic equipment, laundering, iron

Set of handwritten pencil notes - 9 sheets - personal research notes on Section 99 of the MMTB Act 1928 re safety and Engineering responsibility, files with references to projects such as Footscray - Maribyrnong connection file of 1947 to 1951, agreements, the Keilor Road extension, William St and Maribyrnong Road extension.trams, tramways, tramways, mmtb, lists, records, personal papers, engineers, safety, essendon airport, maribyrnong

Set of Quarto and Foolscap hand made papers, listing various Acts through to Act 2921 and the tramways authorised. Set of hand made sketches and notes of cable tram junctions and terminals, with reference to plans and their dates.trams, tramways, tramways, acts of parliament, plans, cable trams

Set of quarto hand written sheet pinned together for each year with some typed sheets, listing notices in the Victorian Government Gazette of non-Melbourne suburban tramways - timber tramways, proposed lines. Items for 1898 and 1898 - carbon copies. 1885 - Ballarat and the Grand Fern Tree Gully Hotel 1886 - Ballarat, Coburg, Moorabbin and Ballarat 1887 - Beaumaris, Koondrook, Swan Hill, Sorento, Eaglehawk, Sandhurst (Bendigo) Ballarat, Yarrawonga, Warragul, Coburg 1888 - Ballarat, Eaglehawk, Geelong, Coburg, Moorabbin, Caulfield, Northcote 1889 - Ballarat, Bullen, Boroondara, Nunawading, Northcote 1890 - Moorabbin, Caulfield, Traralgon, Oakleigh 1898 - Northcote, 1899 - Northcotetrams, tramways, tramways, government gazette, ballarat, coburg, moorabbin, bendigo, geelong, northcote

Set of three documents, hand made in pencil by Mr. McComb. 1 - on ruled double foolscap (folio) paper, titled "Tramways Proposed but not Authorised", listing street, municipality, extent, date of application or special construction scheme and date of report to Parliamentary Committee. List proposals for the cities of St Kilda, Hawthorn, Essendon, Malvern, Camberwell , Coburg and Broadmeadows. 2 - hand written note on quarto paper, re the outcomes or notes on the above proposals. 3 - draft of a sheet prepared, as for 1, "M&MTB General Scheme for Development of Tramways" - columns set out but not usedtrams, tramways, tramways, proposals, st kilda, hawthorn, essendon, malvern, camberwell, coburg, brunswick, general scheme