c1881 Henry W Seely, of New Jersey, USA, designed and patented an electric sad iron for pressing and smoothing material. He continued to modify and improve his designs, with his partner Richard Dyer, and other electrical appliance firms, e.g Hotpoint, began producing these flat irons that could provide continuous heat by connecting via an electrical flex to a light socket and hence without the need for hot fires, ash, or burning hot handles. Women with access to an electricity supply were delighted and their ironing chore became much less arduous No heat was felt at all from the iron as it is all concentrated on the bottom surface. By the early 20th century enthusiasm was building for the new electric smoothing irons: clean, powerful, adjustable, and labour-saving. This c1935 Premier System 'Smoothwell' flat iron was used by a resident of City of Moorabbin and is an example of the progress made from the sad irons used by the pioneers that are displayed beside it.A "Premier Smoothwell" electric flat iron with switched control lead and original box, c 1935 On plate of handle attached to Iron ' HARRODS Ltd. / LONDON On attached plate at rear of iron ' The "SMOOTHWELL" / "Premier System" /......... Plate on cord Plug " PREMIER/ FLAT IRON CONNECTOR/ THIS SIDE OUTWARDS/ (2 columns) 1) FOR 100-125 VOLTS/ USE THREE TERMINALS/ THUS ..... 2) FOR 200 - 240 VOLTS/ USE TWO RIGHT/ HAND TERMINALS/ ONLY/ THUS......seely henry w., sad irons, electric flat irons, dyer richard, edison thomas, hotpoint pty ltd., premier electric company birmingham england, pioneers, early settlers, moorabbin, bentleigh, cheltenham, laundry, sewing, craftwork, table ware, irons

The brush/comb was used for identifying coating defects in steel mains. It was attached to a low voltage electrical supply and then used to brush along the steel pipe to test for faults in the coatings. If there is a fault in the coating, a spark would occur. The coating was propably coal tar Possibly used in the Otway Water Supply SystemRusted metal comb/brush, one side top half painted black to avoid conductivity of electrical currentpipes. maintenance

Compiled and published by the Melbourne and Metropolitan Tramways Board, closing Monday 10 May 1977. Details the conditions of tender, conditions of contract, notes, specifications, gives background information about Melbourne, dimensions, performance, drivers and conductors, trucks, wheels, brakes, electrical equipment, control panels and drawings. The drawings give a map of the system, typical city route, Glenferrie Road route (grade diagram), concrete track construction, min. radius curves, loading gauge, all-electric tram and mounting details for the trolley base, schedule of prices, tender form, form of contract, and schedule of information to be provided by the tenderer. Includes an Alphabetical Index. Includes a drawing for a single-ended version of the tramcar. Became the Z3 class following the addition of a rear or 3rd door. Yields information about the 1977 tender for 100 electric tramcars that became the Melbourne Z3 class tram.Comb bound (white plastic) specification or tender document, approx 180 pages, with glossy card orange covers, titled "Tender Schedule for Electric Trams" and "Contract 3000". "1977" on front cover in ink.tramways, tramcars, z3 class, specification, tenders, mmtb, melbourne, single ended tramcars

Yields information about the visit of the Minister to the City of Ballarat, the SEC Chairman and notice to abandon the tramway, including a note on the Chairman's visit to Russia., Yields information about the visit of the Minister to the City of Ballarat, the SEC Chairman and notice to abandon the tramway, including a note on the Chairman's visit to Russia..1 - Memorandum, typed onto a light green sheet with rounded corners, dated 14/8/1962, titled "Ballarat Tramways" sending a sheet of press clippings following the Minister of Electrical Undertakings visit to Ballarat on 12/8. .2 - Ruled foolscap sheet with four newspaper cuttings glued to the sheet, from The Courier, Saturday 11-8-1962: a - Report of the Minister's visit regarding the possible closure of the tramway system, met with the Mayor Cr. A Mason and Mr. W. H. Connolly SEC Chairman b - photo of the Mayor, Minister and Chairman c - Report of the Civic Reception - discussing tramway matters, also attended by Tom Evans, MLA, Mr Linaker of the SEC, and Cr. Wilson of Sebastopol. d - "Russians Advanced in Electrical Fields:" - report on Mr Connolly's presentation following his visit to Russia the previous year. trams, tramways, closure, civic reception, minister for electrical undertakings

Yields information about the view of The Courier, and locals about the mooted closure of the tramway system and reporting on the proposal, possible Trolley Buses from Adelaide.Foolscap sheet of plain paper, with rounded corners, with 8 newspaper cuttings, concerning the mooted closure of the Ballarat Tram system April 1962. All from The Courier, unless noted otherwise. 1 - "Saving the Trams" - 7-4-62 - about staffing and bus services 2 - "GBA to support Saving of Trams" - 7/4/62 - Greater Ballarat Association decides to support the tram services - quotes President Mr B C Hedgcock. 3 - "Tram support" - 13-4-62 - Amalgamated Engineering Union support for the trams. 4 - "Decision on Trams Postponed" - 13-4-62 - advising that the Minister of Electrical Undertakings advised that the motion to close the Ballarat system has been delayed by 6 months 5 - "Trams and buses" - 13-4-62 - quoting Mr Risson that trams are safer and comparing them to buses. 6 - "Save the Trams" - 16-4-62 - support from the Ballarat Trades and Labour Council 7 - "Trolley Bus Offer" - 16-4-62 - reporting on the offer of the MTT Adelaide of surplus trolley buses to the City - not well received. 8 - "Bendigo Tram Loss" - 16-4-62 - SEC reporting on Bendigo loss. closure, letter to the editor, editorial, sec, greater ballarat association, unions, trolley buses, adelaide, bendigo

Yields information about the rates for electricity in Geelong and Ballarat., Yields information about the rates for electricity in Geelong and Ballarat..1 - Memorandum to Manager Ballarat from Engineer Melbourne, dated 28/3/1962, forwarding a copy of a series of questions put to the local Manager from the Ballarat Courier and a response from Minister for Electrical Undertakings Murray Byrne. .2 - Report - address to the Minister - 4 foolscap sheets, questions involved the rate for electricity in Geelong prior to the closure of the Geelong system and the current rates, power consumption in Geelong and Ballarat and how much power did the trams used the previous year. All sheets have round edges.trams, tramways, geelong, electricity supply, power supply

Yields information about the City terminus on the south side of Sturt St and the passenger traffic prior to closure of the system. Shows many people boarding the tram.Set of two digital images of trams at the City terminus on the south side of Sturt St, c1970. and corner with Lydiard St. .1 - No. 27 and another single trucker loading large crowds of passengers at the tram stop. No. 27 has the destination of City Oval. In the background is the Commonwealth Bank building. The tram has a Twin Lakes sign. .2 - Four trams at the same stop, from rear - 12, 43, 26 and ?. No. 12 has the destination of Sebastopol and has a Twin Lakes sign. Has the Town Hall in the background and the ESCo pillar cabinet on the corner.trams, tramways, sturt st, city oval, city, lydiard st, electrical switching, electrical equipment, esco, tram 27, tram 12, tram 43, tram 26

Image of a Ballarat bogie car waiting at the City stop with the Boer War Memorial in front. Taken on the last day of operation of the SEC Ballarat tramway system - 19-9-1971. In the background is the National Mutual building, Golden Star Chinese Cafe, Georges Oyster / fish shop and Ballarat TV and Electrical store which looks a bit of wreck inside.Yields information about the last day of operation of the Ballarat SEC tramways.Digital image - 120 negative tramways, tramcars, ballarat, last day, closure, sturt st, boer war memorial

Magazine - SEC News May 1972 No. 157. Has an article, Bendigo "Trammies Rode into history", on the Trammies of Bendigo following the closure of that system in April 1972 and an article about what was believed to be the last gas lit house in Sebastopol, that was converted to electricity. Features photographs of Bendigo trammies, Jack Hogan, Harold Tueno, Alec Moss, Steve Rowe, Phil Knight, Barry Hopgood, Keith Townsend. Article notes those with over 30 years service with the SEC. The item, "End of the Gaslight Era" about the connection of electricity to a house in Sebastopol features photos of Minnie and Pansy Carnegie, SEC Mechanic Peter McCutcheon and Home Services advisor Gloria Reilly.Yields information about the closure of the Bendigo tram system and the last gas lit house in Ballarat.Magazine - 12 pages, black and white photographs and news items, centre stapled.sec news, secv, bendigo, closure, gas lights, electrical equipment, electricity supply, ballarat, trammie

Yields information about the 1962 proposal of the SEC to closure the Ballarat tramway system.Newspaper - The Courier - Saturday 5 Feb. 1962, 28 pages with an article on the front page titled "Ballarat to Lose Trams if SEC Edict Stands". Advises that a formal notice by the Minister for Electrical Undertakings Mr. Reid was tabled the previous day after the SEC served the notice upon the Minister. At the time of the report, no date had been advised. The article reports that the Council will consider the matter at its meeting of the following Monday night. See Reg Item 6951 for the Bendigo Advertiser Report. Full copy of the newspaper collected for style and adverts.sec, closure, ballarat, parliament

Yields information about the 1962 proposal of the SEC to closure the Bendigo tramway system and notes the impact on the city, with references to Ballarat and Geelong.Newspaper - The Bendigo Advertiser, Saturday 3/2/1962, 14 broad sheet pages, with the main headline ""SEC Says it will abandon the trams" about the notice given in Parliament the previous day by the Minister for Electrical Undertakings Mr. Reid following notice by the SEC. Includes the text of a letter to the City of Bendigo, by the Secretary of the SEC, Mr. D. H. Munro. Has an editorial titled "Let 'em Walk", a photo of the No. 2 en route to Eaglehawk at Charing Cross and further article reporting on comments from four civic leaders "Lost City Without Trams". Quotes two local MLA's - L. W. Galvin, C.P. Stoneham, Cr. W. Mathrick of Eaglehawk and the K.H. Gordon,Chamber of Commerce. Notes impact on the city, Ballarat and Geelong bus system. See Reg Item 6950 for the Ballarat The Courier Report. Full copy of the newspaper collected for style and adverts - has a Briquette advert on page 14.sec, closure, bendigo, parliament, eaglehawk, geelong, ballarat

Yields information about staff or safeworking system in use at Ballarat up to the time of the introduction of the signal system. No information known at the time of cataloguing of the person in the photographs.Set of three Negative and Digital images of an unknown person: .1 - showing the hook and the section staff at the Ripon St - Sturt St corner. Alongside is an ESCo Electrical connection box or pillar. In the background is the shelter at this location. .2 - the same person handing the staff to a well loaded No. 22 (c1946) at Ripon St. Tram has a Regatta Auxiliary board. Has the Western Hotel in the background. .3 - the same person holding the Sturt St to Lake View Loop. .4 - close up of the staff. Note: The Ripon St - Lake View Loop - View Point section of track was not fitted with coloured light signals. Tram 22 (Reg Item 5533) entered service - 1945; post 1947, as side numbers (which can just be seen in image i2) were painted Oct. 1947 and was renumbered to 37, in Sept. 1952.trams, tramways, signals, staff, ripon st, view point, lake view, tram 22

Negative No. N380 and black and white print made by a laser printer (stored in folder) of Ballarat No. 25 at the City Terminus, Sturt St, south side. Tram has destination of "Sebastopol" with a Bourne? Liquid Plastic (varnish) ad on the front panel of the tram. Has the Commonwealth bank in the background. Adjacent to a pole is a ESCo / SEC electrical connection / switch box on the left hand side of the tram, which is part of the power supply or distribution system. Date of photo on folder - 5/9/1959. Original negative rescanned 24/5/2020 and image file updated. Paper folder that contained the negative had "NR7A" in red ink, "BA7" in pencil, date stamp of "5 Sep 1959" on front, and on rear date stamps "26 Sep 1962" and "26 Sep 1962".trams, tramways, city terminus, sturt st, commonwealth bank, power supply, tram 25