Showing 107 items matching "bobby"
-
Heidelberg Theatre Company Inc..
Memorabilia - Program Photos Review Newsletter Poster, It's a wonderful life a radio play by Joe Landry directed by Terese Maurici
2019, heidelberg theatre company inc, directed by terese maurici, 431, artspace exhibitor textile art community art space, artspace curator - teresa schipano, freddie filmore/henry f potter & others played by liam gillespie, jack laurents/george bailey played by mark yeates, sally applewhite/mary bailey played by llaaneath poor, mycroft fry/clarence the angel played by tim camilleri, lana sherwood/violet bick & others played by paula mcdonald, harry heywood/harry bailey & others played by gavin baker, bobby b sharpe /pianist played by jack stringer, wally watson/foley artist played by phil holmes, dolores birdwhistle/floey assistant & others played by kadey mcintosh, musical director jack stringer, production coordinator jim thomson, lighting design emma fox, set design phil holmes, sound engineer andrea cole, stage manager karen dowling, pianist/vocal coach jack stringer, costume design wendy drowley, choreography llaaneth poor, foley props phil holmes, props jim thomson & phil holmes & terese maurici, set painter mal cother, set construction: owen evans & dough mcnaughton & brett hunt & des harris & norm munks & paddy moriarty & tim scott & bib dyers & nicholas gugel & ben chapman and htc members, sound and lighting operator emma fox, rehearsal prompt ryan purdey, photographer david belton, program/poster design chris mclean, publicity jim thomson & toni tyers, box office toni tyers & june cherrey & jenni purdey & carol farr & brett hunt, front of house jenny gilbert and htc members, production review by beth klein -
Heidelberg Theatre Company Inc..
Memorabilia - Program Photos Review Newsletter Poster, The drawer boy by Michael Healey directed by Karen Wakeham
2019, heidelberg theatre company inc, directed by karen wakeham, 432, artspace artist fred colla, artspace curator - teresa schipano, angus played by john cheshire, morgan played by andrew mcaliece, miles played by sam barson, production coordinator bruce akers, stage manager melanie belcher, lightening designer deryk hartwick, set designer lisa mcvilly, sound design john rowe, costume designer catherine christensen, composer david cheshire, props gaye billings & karen wakeham & melanie belcher, set construction: owen evans & dough mcnaughton & brett hunt & des harris & norm munks & paddy moriarty & tim scott & bib dyers & nicholas gugel & ben chapman and htc members, furniture warren lane, set painter mal cother, sound & lighting operators john rowe & chloe connolly, rehearsal prompt bobby parish, photographer david belton, program/poster design chris mclean, publicity jim thomson & toni tyers, box office toni tyers & june cherrey & jenni purdey & carol farr & brett hunt, front of house jenny gilbert and htc members, production review by beth klein -
Heidelberg Theatre Company Inc..
Memorabilia - Program Photos Review Newsletter Poster Articles articles special events, Tartuffe by Moliere directed by Joan Moriarty adapted by Christopher Hampton by arrangement with Origin Theatrical on behalf of Samuel French Limited
433, artspace exhibitors downstairs eddie dix & sharon chang & jan bottcher & ann martin & sue norris & jaclyn wong, artspace exhibitor upstairs susan garrett, artspace curator - teresa schipano, madame pernelle played by catherine christensen, monsieur orgon played by jim thomson, elmire played by veneita macken, damis played by broderisck mcdonald, mariane played by emma warner collins, valere plated by alexander dimitrovski, cleante played by sam howard, tartuffe played by chris mclean, dorine played by maree barnett, officer played by david ruunnalls, monsieur loyal/laurent played by laurie jezard, flipote played by rebecca bassett, ass director liam gillespie, production coordinator tim scott, stage manager rebecca bassett, ass stage manager tamsin mackie, lightning designer craig pearcey, set designers marie mackerell & owen evans, sound design rob wanless, costumes wendy drowley, costumes assistant catherine christensen, props karen wakeham & melanie belcher, set construction: owen evans & dough mcnaughton & brett hunt & des harris & norm munks & paddy moriarty & tim scott & bib dyers & nicholas gugel & ben chapman and htc members, set painters marie mackrell & gaye billing & mal cother, sound/lighting operators john rowe & margaret hassall, technical assistant tom agar, rehearsal prompt bobby parish, photographer david belton, program/poster design chris mclean, publicity jim thomson & toni tyers, box office toni tyers & june cherrey & jenni purdey & carol farr & brett hunt, front of house jenny gilbert and htc members, production review by ken barnes -
Heidelberg Theatre Company Inc..
Memorabilia - Program Photos Review Newsletter Poster Articles, Gaslight by Patrick Hamilton adapted by David Jacklin directed by Catherine Christensen
2020, heidelberg theatre company inc, directed by catherine christensen, 435, art space exhibitor david belton, arts space coordinator teresa schipano, mrs bella manningham played by claire benne, mr jack manningam played by liam gillespie, elizabeth the housekeeper played by patricia alcock, nancy the maid played by elysia janssen, rough played by chris mclean, officers played by robert peel and charles field, production coordinator joan moriarty, stage manager melanie belcher, lighting design emma fox, sound design rob wanless, set design/decor costume design props wendy drowley, special props warren lane, scenic artists gaye billing and mal cother, ass. stage manager and rehearsal prompt bobby parish, sound/light operator tasmin mackie, photographer david belton, program/poster design chris mclean, publicity jim thomson & toni tyers, box office toni tyers & june cherrey & jenni purdey & carol farr & brett hunt, front of house jenny gilbert and htc members, set construction owen evens & doug mcnaughton & paddy moriarty & brett hunt &, des harris & norm munks & tim scott & bob tyres & david belton & noel purdey & dean christenssen & htc members, production review cheryl threadgold, foh helpers alicia curry & owen evans & diane dawson, 2019 agm christmas party and awards president john gilbert treasurer bruce akers represented by jim thomson awards adjudicators jill scott & leslie hardcastle & rodney charles, 2019 best male lead actor mark yeates as jake laurents in it's a wonderful life, 2019 best female lean actor catherine christensen as beatrice in a view from the bridge', 2019 best supporting male actor jack kenny as rodolpho in a view from the bridge, 2019 best supporting female actor aimee sanderson as bella in lost in yonkers, 2019 special award for body of work liam gillespie for louis in lost in yonkers & freddie filmore and others in it's a wonderful life, 2019 victorian drama league awards htc's nominated entry lost in yonkers: nominations: best actress in a minor role cat jardine as gert, best properties melanie belcher & maureen mcinerney: best costume design wendy drowley, best production: drama, best supporting actor in a drama liam gillespie as louis & best supporting actress in a drama lindy yeates as grandma, 2019 bill cherrey award john rowe, election of committee: returning committee all elected unopposed joan moriarty & jim tomson & ryan purdey & morgan thomas-connor & melanie belcher -
Surrey Hills Historical Society Collection
Photograph, Surrey Hills State School 2778, Grade IVA, 1938, 1938
Don Murray who was a member of this class has supplied us with this photo naming almost all the pupils. Please refer to Surrey Hills State School vertical file for list of names.A black and white photograph of a Grade 4 class from Surrey Hills State 2778 taken in 1938. The are 56 children in the class.mr keith rimmer, mr john allen, mr cliff hoath, mr ken newell, mr alan aird, miss joy moodie, miss barbara hoskin, miss helen james, miss valerie muir, miss merle christine, mr don cam, mr don hutchinson, mr maurice millet, miss - canty, miss jean mollison, miss margaret peacock, miss shirley cockerill, miss carmen hutchinson, miss betty carter, miss melba moore, miss vivian turner, mr john flower, miss audrey broomhead, miss gwen skinner, miss dorothy stout, miss irene dunn, miss irene jones, miss isobel browne, miss lucy deucher, miss merle yeomans, miss elaine burgess, miss betty tuck, miss joyce phillips, miss joan fletcher, mr len yeomans, mr frank fletcher, mr bobby edgelow, mr brian griffin, mr claude colbert, mr ken carrington, mr barry dimelow, mr don murray, mr david mccracken, mr ken wheat, miss fay mcbain, miss thelma mcconville, miss valda mcconville, miss betty o'brien, miss barbara mclachlan, mr ray mcdonald, mr ian mckenzie -
Vision Australia
Photograph - Image, Sister Lindsey's album
Sister Elizabeth Lindsey worked at the RVIB Nursery since it's inception in 1933. During her time there, she took photographs of the children, whom she had care of, documenting their life at RVIB as well as the wartime displacement to Olinda when the army took over the St Kilda Road building. Adopting one of her orphan charges, Sister Lindsay left RVIB in 1945. See the notes section for individual descriptions.1 x black photograph album with coloured embossed cover containing photographs, a newspaper clipping and card.barry farnsworth, brian sitlington, douglas clarkson, bobby bolter, ben hewitt, bill henderson, norm white, jessie rita, mae rita, thelma stewart, peggy penhall, helen boyd, heather stewart, margaret russell, lois allen, ian cooper, monty james, angelo harris, pamela wegg, nurse babs, nurse pierce, jimmy schultz, bertie glenister, margaret seary, alan nuske, harry parsons, shirley devine, joan morice, david ditchfield, don smith, nurse blair, alan woods, alan crotty, elaine dean (later leahy), hilda gammon, elaine mckenna, cyril minns, ernest wilson, gladys moncrieff, marjory pyvis, rvib nursery, sister elizabeth lindsey -
Vision Australia
Image
Sister Elizabeth Lindsey worked at the RVIB Nursery from it's inception in 1933. During this time, she took photographs of the children, whom she had care of, documenting their life at RVIB as well as the wartime displacement to Olinda when the army took over the St Kilda Road building. Adopting one of her orphan charges, Sister Lindsay left RVIB in 1945. 58 digital files of photographs.rvib nursery, monty james, angelo harris, jimmy schultz, ian cooper, bertie glenister, alan crotty, harry parsons, shirley devine, helen boyd, alan woods, joan morice, david ditchfield, elaine dean (later leahy), cynthia walker, matron jessie morrison, barbara spencer, mae rita, margaret russell, jessie rita, pearl tropman, margaret seary, heather stewart, mrs jenkins, gwen baird, hilda gammon, bobby bolter, judith king, joan ryan, olinda -
Surrey Hills Historical Society Collection
Newsletter, Mrs Mary Way, The Boomerang newsletter, March 1956, March 1956
This was part of a series. Inside on the front page is recorded that this was Vol 2, No 2. The newsletter is a mix of accounts of the activities of the group and more general hints and items of interest. A newsletter in the form of a booklet. The cover is printed on faded light green paper and the other pages in cream. They are secured with one staple. It has been duplicated using the gestetner method. The front cover has a masthead with an inverted boomerang and indicates it is published monthly for the First Surrey Hills Scout Group. Cover illustration is of 2 boys in uniform reading the newsletter.Nilfirst surrey hills scout group, newsletters, rex thompson, graeme ellis, scouts, mr french, miss d stone, mrs d graham, mrs mary way, frei kosterlitz, allan downes, gregor buist, bob o'shea, russ downes, mr holt, jim russel, james (jim) giles, roger thornton, peter ellis, graham rixon, johny crout, ray ellis, r burrows, george lees, arthur greaves, l watson, robert cooper, peter witton, j ellis, ray miles, gordon hoole, neville holt, graeme plaw, geoff young, peter cook,, m young, g grace, m holt, a brounell, r reid, ian pringle, nev burrows, pernil brayshaw, john smith, jimmy chenall, bernie brayshaw, john smith, bobby poynter, morris russell, tony talbot, graeme warden, russell downes,graham chalmers, geoff lowe, ian pringle -
Mont De Lancey
Hair Pins
Selection of hair curling pins and packet of 20 heavy hair pins.hairpins, bobby pins -
Port Melbourne Historical & Preservation Society
Photograph - Flooded subway at North Port Station, Port Melbourne, 14 Feb 1955
Item appeared on the front page 14.02.1955. In 2002 emails relating to this were received from Sweden, from the child standing in underpants only in the foreground. Image is used in the 2003 Historic Port Melbourne calendar.Lasercopy from original Herald photograph of railway sub-way at North Port Station on Raglan Street in flood, 14 February 1955, showing children from nearby houses swimming in the floodwaters near the underpass.transport - railways, flood, sport - swimming, advertising, business and traders - hotels, sandra svensson nilsson, robert (bobby) farrell, ruth 'bubbles' farrell -
Merbein District Historical Society
Document, Merbein Urban Fire Brigade 75th Anniversary 1998, 1998
arthur william (panty) tyers, kevin gervasoni, bobby schottler, joan horne, norma brown, julie schottler, kylie sawyer, jack antonie (captain), lindsay blyth -
Glen Eira Historical Society
Letter - MARRIOTT FAMILY
This file contains three items of this family’s correspondence 1/A typed page giving details of Robert and John Marriott and John Long, from their arrival in Victoria. Includes brief history of their lives becoming councillors for the city of Caulfield. Also Robert’s early market garden business in the area, and how he established Camden Town Methodist Church. Possibly provided by Catherine Marriott to author Peter Murray. 2/A handwritten letter to Mr. Murray from Catherine Marriott dated 29th Oct (no year) 3/A Two handwritten pages of working notes in Peter Murray’s writing, author for ‘Sand, Swamp and Heath’.marriot robert, long john, gold, caulfield, councillors, st. kilda, hawthorn road, alexandra hospital, hospitals, flowers street, laura street, glen huntly road, marriot john, bambra road, field street, goe street, market gardeners, bentleigh, marriott thomas, methodist church, sunday schools, camden, hawthorn road, indoor bowling club, sporting clubs, lewis bobby, jockeys, marriott catherine, marriott arthur, hughes d, blanche mrs., stables, kooyong road, ricketson h, mallinson j, kunney m, evans john, grange road, millar w, nyora road, rate book -
Federation University Historical Collection
Newsclip, Dusty Digger Honors Town's Heroes
Bessie Pickford lived at Yeovil Farm near ClunesUndated newsclip on the Clunes War Memorial.chatham-holmes collection, holmes family collection, clunes war memorial, marble digger, dan jones, charles jones, francis jones, ralph featherstone, harry barkell, tmmy chapman, bobby oliver, bobby cowan, bessie pickford, harry pickford, arthur fell, lodge brothers -
Whitehorse Historical Society Inc.
Functional object - Radiator
Early form of home heating and because of the copper dish was considered one of the better models|Manufacturing History Museum Victoria|Commentary: Australian manufacturing history Philip Wollen|Many years ago, when I was an ambition young man, I took over a company called Hecla.|This business was formed in 1872, long before Federation was even contemplated. The company established a rich tradition in the Australian manufacturing industry. The prodigious product range included kettles, mixers, toasters, hairdryers, urns, pie warmers, bain maries, and electric blankets for the domestic and commercial market. During the war it even manufactured parts for aircraft. It was one of Melbourne's largest employers.|Hecla was one of the pioneers in TV advertising, led by icons like Bert Newton, Bobby Limb, Evie Hayes and Graham Kennedy who ad Jibbed his way through irreverent and unscripted naughtiness about Hecla electric blankets and foot warmers. The slogan was 'By Hecla, its good.'. One can imagine the fun Bert and Graham had with their double entendres.|In the 60's Hecla entered into a partnership with General Electric and expanded rapidly. The massive factory, on the corner of Alexandra Parade and Chapel Street overlooking the Yarra River was a Melbourne landmark.|The business was formed by one of the scions of Melbourne industry. Mr Marriott was a metal worker of some repute, building the lights in front of Melbourne's Parliament House, the first steam car, the sideboard at the RACY Club, and the first factory to run on electricity.|By the time I acquired the company it was a shadow of its former self, incapable of competing with cheap Chinese imports. Wandering around the warehouse late one night I discovered a large, boarded up storeroom which appeared not to have been opened in decades.|Over several months I combed through the room, unearthing a treasure trove of products from a bygone era. Dusty files, engineering drawings, wooden prototypes, patent records, and correspondence from distributors on every continent.|I decided to track down an old man, Ray, long retired after 50 years with Hecla. He was not well off financially and welcomed the paid work. It turned out that he had done his apprenticeship with the company and there wasn't much he didn't know about it. He had been personally involved in the manufacture of almost every type of product on the Hecla smorgasbord's of products.|So for over 2 years he methodically assembled a mini museum of Hecla products, painstakingly polishing them and ensuring they were in working order. He attached the original brochure of each product and their respective warranty cards. For him it was ,a labour of love. For me it was a fascinating, if vicarious journey, into Australia's manufacturing past.|My colleagues complained that I was wasting money on his salary, our time and factory space on stuff that should have been dumped years ago. I tried to explain that I was merely a steward of the Hecla tradition, not merely an owner. Besides, the look on Ray's face convinced me that there was another dynamic at work. One I could see, but didn't really understand.|After he Passed away I faced a dilemma. What to do with this 'museum' of Hecla history. Nobody was interested.|So I kept the 'stuff' in private storage, hoping that same day someone would be interested in it. And the years passed.|Finally, I had a brainwave. Perhaps the Melbourne Museum would be interested. It was a long shot but I made the call. I had a nagging suspicion that they would think I was simply trying to get them to relieve me of paying for this huge collection to be taken to the tip.|To my surprise they said they would be willing to take a look, I secretly hoped that they would take the whole collection and not leave me with an incomplete jumble of appliances that I would indeed have to take to the tip.|On the appointed day, four serious looking young people showed up. Armed with digital cameras, note books and poker faces they spent four hours analysing the goods and the supporting materials. I asked them if they had any interest and their response was decidedly non-committal. It depends on the acquisitions committee, I was told. I was disheartened and packed up the exhibits to go back into storage.|Imagine my surprise when months later they telephoned to say that they had researched the history of the company, and yes, they would like to take the whole collection. And a truck with 'handlers' would arrive the following day to pick it up. Two years ago all Hecla's archives left me forever and went to the Museum's warehouse.|Well, to my delight I received a call yesterday inviting me to a private viewing of the exhibition at the Melbourne Museum. These young historians had meticulously assembled an impressive display of Melbourne's industry and technology going back to the 1800's. They thanked me like a significant benefactor when it is I who should have thanked them.|I saw the excitement in the eyes of these young people who had somehow managed to dig out and assemble memories from Australia's past. If this is the standard of care that the curators of the Melbourne Museum show all their exhibits, our history is in safe hands.|Their meticulous work took me back to those years long ago when I saw an old man lovingly assembling and cataloging a lifetime of his work.|It took me back to the day when Australians actually made things. Long before we became a nation of quarrymen. Before we became animal-factory 'farmers'. Of a time when products didn't break down, or dumped and replaced before the warranty expired. When men like Mr Marriott cared deeply about what their hands produced.|It reminded me of the call I received from an elderly lady in Tasmania asking for the electrical element for a Hecla K7 kettle. I searched the archives and called her back. The K7 was produced decades earlier and we no longer carried that spare part. She was quite disheartened and told me her kettle had finally 'given up the ghost' and she couldn't bear to part with it. It was a present from her husband on their wedding day 45 years ago. Her final words were 'they don't make them like that, do they? By Hecla they were good.'|I'm glad I followed my instinct and put Ray back on the payroll all those years ago..|I like to think Mr Marriott would have been pleased.Pedestal radiator. Base is cast iron with three feet with rose design on each. Pedestal supports a copper spherical reflector plate which has an electrical connection box at its base. The connection box is joined to the pedestal by a screw and nut to enable the reflector to be tilted. The element is cone shaped and is in the centre of the plate. The element is protected by a wire guard.Hecla Firedomestic items, heating -
Clunes Museum
Book, AUSTRALIAN BROADCASTING CORPORATION et al, FOOT ALL LEGEND WOOFA BOB DAVIS, 1996
BIOGRAPHY OF BOB DAVIS, AUSTRALIAN FOOTBALL LEAGUE PLAYER FOR THE GEELONG TEAM, SPENT HIS CHILDHOOD IN CLUNES.SOFT COPY RED COVER, WHITE WRITING ON FRONT COVER WITH AN BLACK AND WHITE IMAGE OF BOB DAVIS RUNNING WITH A BALL . 165 PAGES non-fictionBIOGRAPHY OF BOB DAVIS, AUSTRALIAN FOOTBALL LEAGUE PLAYER FOR THE GEELONG TEAM, SPENT HIS CHILDHOOD IN CLUNES.woofa, bobby davis, geelong football club -
Whitehorse Historical Society Inc.
Functional object - Heater - Electric, C1940s
Manufacturing History Museum Victoria|Commentary: Australian manufacturing history Philip Wollen|Many years ago, when I was an ambition young man, I took over a company called Hecla. This business was formed in 1872, long before Federation was even contemplated. The company established a rich tradition in the Australian manufacturing industry. The prodigious product range included kettles, mixers, toasters, hairdryers, urns, pie warmers, bain maries, and electric blankets for the domestic and commercial market. During the war it even manufactured parts for aircraft. It was one of Melbourne's largest employers.|Hecla was one of the pioneers in TV advertising, led by icons like Bert Newton, Bobby Limb, Evie Hayes and Graham Kennedy who ad Jibbed his way through irreverent and unscripted naughtiness about Hecla electric blankets and foot warmers. The slogan was 'By Hecla, its good.'. One can imagine the fun Bert and Graham had with their double entendres.|In the 60's Hecla entered into a partnership with General Electric and expanded rapidly. The massive factory, on the corner of Alexandra Parade and Chapel Street overlooking the Yarra River was a Melbourne landmark.|The business was formed by one of the scions of Melbourne industry. Mr Marriott was a metal worker of some repute, building the lights in front of Melbourne's Parliament House, the first steam car, the sideboard at the RACY Club, and the first factory to run on electricity.|By the time I acquired the company it was a shadow of its former self, incapable of competing with cheap Chinese imports. Wandering around the warehouse late one night I discovered a large, boarded up storeroom which appeared not to have been opened in decades.|Over several months I combed through the room, unearthing a treasure trove of products from a bygone era. Dusty files, engineering drawings, wooden prototypes, patent records, and correspondence from distributors on every continent.|I decided to track down an old man, Ray, long retired after 50 years with Hecla. He was not well off financially and welcomed the paid work. It turned out that he had done his apprenticeship with the company and there wasn't much he didn't know about it. He had been personally involved in the manufacture of almost every type of product on the Hecla smorgasbord's of products.|So for over 2 years he methodically assembled a mini museum of Hecla products, painstakingly polishing them and ensuring they were in working order. He attached the original brochure of each product and their respective warranty cards. For him it was ,a labour of love. For me it was a fascinating, if vicarious journey, into Australia's manufacturing past.|My colleagues complained that I was wasting money on his salary, our time and factory space on stuff that should have been dumped years ago. I tried to explain that I was merely a steward of the Hecla tradition, not merely an owner. Besides, the look on Ray's face convinced me that there was another dynamic at work. One I could see, but didn't really understand.|After he Passed away I faced a dilemma. What to do with this 'museum' of Hecla history. Nobody was interested.|So I kept the 'stuff' in private storage, hoping that same day someone would be interested in it. And the years passed.|Finally, I had a brainwave. Perhaps the Melbourne Museum would be interested. It was a long shot but I made the call. I had a nagging suspicion that they would think I was simply trying to get them to relieve me of paying for this huge collection to be taken to the tip.|To my surprise they said they would be willing to take a look, I secretly hoped that they would take the whole collection and not leave me with an incomplete jumble of appliances that I would indeed have to take to the tip.|On the appointed day, four serious looking young people showed up. Armed with digital cameras, note books and poker faces they spent four hours analysing the goods and the supporting materials. I asked them if they had any interest and their response was decidedly non-committal. It depends on the acquisitions committee, I was told. I was disheartened and packed up the exhibits to go back into storage.|Imagine my surprise when months later they telephoned to say that they had researched the history of the company, and yes, they would like to take the whole collection. And a truck with 'handlers' would arrive the following day to pick it up. Two years ago all Hecla's archives left me forever and went to the Museum's warehouse.|Well, to my delight I received a call yesterday inviting me to a private viewing of the exhibition at the Melbourne Museum. These young historians had meticulously assembled an impressive display of Melbourne's industry and technology going back to the 1800's. They thanked me like a significant benefactor when it is I who should have thanked them.|I saw the excitement in the eyes of these young people who had somehow managed to dig out and assemble memories from Australia's past. If this is the standard of care that the curators of the Melbourne Museum show all their exhibits, our history is in safe hands.|Their meticulous work took me back to those years long ago when I saw an old man lovingly assembling and cataloging a lifetime of his work.|It took me back to the day when Australians actually made things. Long before we became a nation of quarrymen. Before we became animal-factory 'farmers'. Of a time when products didn't break down, or dumped and replaced before the warranty expired. When men like Mr Marriott cared deeply about what their hands produced.|It reminded me of the call I received from an elderly lady in Tasmania asking for the electrical element for a Hecla K7 kettle. I searched the archives and called her back. The K7 was produced decades earlier and we no longer carried that spare part. She was quite disheartened and told me her kettle had finally 'given up the ghost' and she couldn't bear to part with it. It was a present from her husband on their wedding day 45 years ago. Her final words were 'they don't make them like that, do they? By Hecla they were good.'|I'm glad I followed my instinct and put Ray back on the payroll all those years ago..|I like to think Mr Marriott would have been pleased.Large electric heater with two radiator bars and a protective grille at the top and false coals at the bottom.Replacements for this fire - Elements No. F314 - Illuminators No. 3P. Berry's Electric Ltd - Volts 230 - 240 -Watts 2000 V/AD/Cat No. 454 . Made in Australia by Hecla Electrics Pty Ltd Melbournedomestic items, heating -
Whitehorse Historical Society Inc.
Functional object - Electric Foot Warmer
Used by Colin Sach during his employment as Manager of the Chemistry Dept. at the University of Melbourne over a period of forty years.Manufacturing History Museum Victoria Commentary: Australian manufacturing history Philip Wollen Many years ago, when I was an ambition young man, I took over a company called Hecla.|This business was formed in 1872, long before Federation was even contemplated. The company established a rich tradition in the Australian manufacturing industry. The prodigious product range included kettles, mixers, toasters, hairdryers, urns, pie warmers, bain maries, and electric blankets for the domestic and commercial market. During the war it even manufactured parts for aircraft. It was one of Melbourne's largest employers.|Hecla was one of the pioneers in TV advertising, led by icons like Bert Newton, Bobby Limb, Evie Hayes and Graham Kennedy who ad Jibbed his way through irreverent and unscripted naughtiness about Hecla electric blankets and foot warmers. The slogan was 'By Hecla, its good1'. One can imagine the fun Bert and Graham had with their double entendres.|In the 60's Hecla entered into a partnership with General Electric and expanded rapidly. The massive factory, on the corner of Alexandra Parade and Chapel Street overlooking the Yarra River was a Melbourne landmark.|The business was formed by one of the scions of Melbourne industry. Mr Marriott was a metal worker of some repute, building the lights in front of Melbourne's Parliament House, the first steam car, the sideboard at the RACY Club, and the first factory to run on electricity.|By the time I acquired the company it was a shadow of its former self, incapable of competing with cheap Chinese imports. Wandering around the warehouse late one night I discovered a large, boarded up storeroom which appeared not to have been opened in decades.|Over several months I combed through the room, unearthing a treasure trove of products from a bygone era. Dusty files, engineering drawings, wooden prototypes, patent records, and correspondence from distributors on every continent.|I decided to track down an old man, Ray, long retired after 50 years with Hecla. He was not well off financially and welcomed the paid work. It turned out that he had done his apprenticeship with the company and there wasn't much he didn't know about it. He had been personally involved in the manufacture of almost every type of product on the Hecla smorgasbord's of products.|So for over 2 years he methodically assembled a mini museum of Hecla products, painstakingly polishing them and ensuring they were in working order. He attached the original brochure of each product and their respective warranty cards. For him it was ,a labour of love. For me it was a fascinating, if vicarious journey, into Australia's manufacturing past.|My colleagues complained that I was wasting money on his salary, our time and factory space on stuff that should have been dumped years ago. I tried to explain that I was merely a steward of the Hecla tradition, not merely an owner. Besides, the look on Ray's face convinced me that there was another dynamic at work. One I could see, but didn't really understand.|After he Passed away I faced a dilemma. What to do with this 'museum' of Hecla history. Nobody was interested.|So I kept the 'stuff' in private storage, hoping that same day someone would be interested in it. And the years passed.|Finally, I had a brainwave. Perhaps the Melbourne Museum would be interested. It was a long shot but I made the call. I had a nagging suspicion that they would think I was simply trying to get them to relieve me of paying for this huge collection to be taken to the tip.|To my surprise they said they would be willing to take a look, I secretly hoped that they would take the whole collection and not leave me with an incomplete jumble of appliances that I would indeed have to take to the tip.|On the appointed day, four serious looking young people showed up. Armed with digital cameras, note books and poker faces they spent four hours analysing the goods and the supporting materials. I asked them if they had any interest and their response was decidedly non-committal. It depends on the acquisitions committee, I was told. I was disheartened and packed up the exhibits to go back into storage.|Imagine my surprise when months later they telephoned to say that they had researched the history of the company, and yes, they would like to take the whole collection. And a truck with 'handlers' would arrive the following day to pick it up. Two years ago all Hecla's archives left me forever and went to the Museum's warehouse.|Well, to my delight I received a call yesterday inviting me to a private viewing of the exhibition at the Melbourne Museum. These young historians had meticulously assembled an impressive display of Melbourne's industry and technology going back to the 1800's. They thanked me like a significant benefactor when it is I who should have thanked them.|I saw the excitement in the eyes of these young people who had somehow managed to dig out and assemble memories from Australia's past. If this is the standard of care that the curators of the Melbourne Museum show all their exhibits, our history is in safe hands.|Their meticulous work took me back to those years long ago when I saw an old man lovingly assembling and cataloging a lifetime of his work.|It took me back to the day when Australians actually made things. Long before we became a nation of quarrymen. Before we became animal-factory 'farmers'. Of a time when products didn't break down, or dumped and replaced before the warranty expired. When men like Mr Marriott cared deeply about what their hands produced.|It reminded me of the call I received from an elderly lady in Tasmania asking for the electrical element for a Hecla K7 kettle. I searched the archives and called her back. The K7 was produced decades earlier and we no longer carried that spare part. She was quite disheartened and told me her kettle had finally 'given up the ghost' and she couldn't bear to part with it. It was a present from her husband on their wedding day 45 years ago. Her final words were 'they don't make them like that, do they? By Hecla they were good1'|I'm glad I followed my instinct and put Ray back on the payroll all those years ago..|I like to think Mr Marriott would have been pleased.Square metal box with electrical elements inside. Used to stand on or to put feet on when sitting. Elaborate pattern in centre with inscription.Hecla Foot Warmerdomestic items, heating