Sad-irons or "solid" irons were made by blacksmiths and used to smooth out material by pressing the hot iron over it. A piece of sheet -iron was placed over the kitchen fire and the irons placed on it could be heated whilst remaining clean of ash.. The women used 2 irons - one heating while the other was used. Thick cloth or gloves protected their hands from the hot irons. The handle was removed from the cool iron and re- attached to remove the hot iron from the fire. The cool iron was replaced on the fire or stove to heat again. These irons were cleaned with steel wool to prevent them marking the material. If the iron was too hot the material would scorch. Most homes set aside one day for ironing and some large households had an ironing room with a special stove designed to heat irons. However, most women had to work with a heavy, hot iron close to the fireplace even in summer. Late in the 19thC designers experimented with heat retaining fillings for these irons. William Coleman began selling Kerosene lanterns in 1900 in Kingfisher, Oklahoma, USA. He moved to Wichita, Kansas in 1902 and the company became world wide. The company also produced a range of cooking stoves and domestic irons. This spirit- fuelled flat iron was very popular in 1920s - 30s These sad irons remind us of the difficult circumstances experienced in their daily routines by the pioneers and early settlers of Moorabbin Shire The family of Miss M Curtis were early settlers in Moorabbin ShireA) spirit- fuelled, sad iron with chrome plated sole c1920, and metal trivet The iron is blue enamel with a white speckled body, with a hemispherical tank for the Coleman 'Lighting Petrol' that provided the heat for smoothing the material B) Coleman Fuel measuring can and funnellMetal Trivet/stand " COLEMAN" ; Petrol can " COLEMAN" / MEASURING CAN / for INSTANT LIGHTING IRON/ with printed instructionssad iron, kitchen equipment, coleman william, kansas, oklahoma, pioneers, early settlers, market gardeners, sewing, craftwork, clothing, moorabbin, brighton, bentleigh, fireplaces, stoves, petrol fuelled irons, spirit flat irons, coleman lamp stove co. ltd.

From the 1860s, colonists in the Moorabbin district discovered tomato growing was very successful. Tomatoes and tomato products from the Moorabbin District won prizes as far afield as NZ., London, Philadelphia, Amsterdam, India as well as in Melbourne. Two particularly successful growers were Henry Comport of Cheltenham, and Edward Zorn at Clayton. As a result of this extensive tomato growing many factories 'sprang up' in the Moorabbin district to process the produce, one of which was the "Tom Smith Pty Ltd" factory. An Advertisement on the 29th August c1912, in the Brighton Southern Cross newspaper for Tom Smith's Tomato Sauce states that it is - "Superior. From absolutely Pure Locally Grown Tomatoes. Put up in our own bottles. A High-Grade Article. Manufactured at Highett Railway Station. Smith & Lambert Manufacturers" Phone Cheltenham 206.This item is significant because it relates to the prize-winning major industry of tomato growing that the Moorabbin colonist market gardeners commenced in the 1860s. Many tomato processing factories also sprang up in the district at that time. Because the tomato industry was virtually wiped out by a virus that attacked the plants in the very early 1900s very few tangible artefacts now remain that relate to what was once an important industry.A clear glass machine-made tomato sauce bottle. The neck of the bottle indicates that the contents were originally sealed with a cork at the top. The glass appears to be of poor quality as air bubbles are evident and was moulded, not hand-blown. The bottle is embossed on the front with the manufacturer's name, and location. The glass embossing on the bottle reads Tom Smith Pty Ltd, Highett Railway Station, Moorabbin, Victoria.tomato, market gardeners, pioneers, early settlers, henry comport, edward zorn, colonists, industry, prize winning, 1860s, moorabbin district, cheltenham, clayton, glass sauce bottle, manufactured glass, bottles

Early Settlers used candles and lamps as their source of light after sunset. This lamp, uses a flat wick immersed in kerosene or oil, contained in the bulbous reservoir, with a side screw to adjust the flame enclosed in a glass, open top shield.A flat wick kerosene lamp. The knob protruding to the right adjusts the wick, and hence the flame size. This lamp has a plain blue glass shade -chimney with a fluted rim, blue glass geometrically engraved reservoir and a circular brass base early settlers, pioneers, market gardeners, moorabbin, brighton, bentleigh, ormond, mckinnon, lighting, lamps, kerosene, paraffin, oil

A Vesta case is a small, portable box / safe to carry matches and came into use around the 1830s and were produced extensively between 1890 and 1920. During this period, almost everyone carried strike anywhere matches, so they could light stoves, lanterns and other devices. Early matches were unreliable and prone to ignite from rubbing on one another or spontaneously. Accordingly, most people carried a match safe / box to house their matches. Wealthy people had match safes made of gold or silver, while common folk had ones made of tin or brass.c1860 A small tin Japanesque vesta case, with a roughened strike plate, to hold matches for lighting fires, lamps, cigarettes or pipes. The tin case has been embossed with a Japanese type bird design on the front and back and then coated with copper and brass to decorate and highlight different parts of the design.Embossed with a Japanese type bird design on the front and back . jewellery, personal effects, craftwork, vesta case, lights, candles, safety matches, moorabbin, brighton, bentleigh, cheltenham, early settlers, pioneers

Sad-irons or "solid" irons were made by blacksmiths and used to smooth out material by pressing the hot iron over it. A piece of sheet -iron was placed over the kitchen fire and the irons placed on it could be heated whilst remaining clean of ash.. The women used 2 irons - one heating while the other was used. Thick cloth or gloves protected their hands from the hot irons. The handle was removed from the cool iron and using the lifter the cool iron was replaced on the fire or stove to heat again. These irons were cleaned with steel wool to prevent them marking the material. If the iron was too hot the material would scorch. Most homes set aside one day for ironing and some large households had an ironing room with a special stove designed to heat irons. However, most women had to work with a heavy, hot iron close to the fireplace even in summer.These sad irons remind us of the difficult circumstances experienced in their daily routines by the pioneers and early settlers of Moorabbin Shire. The Curtis family were early settlers in Moorabbin ShireA) This heavy sad iron, made from cast iron, was heated over a fire or on a stove and used for pressing clothing and haberdashery. B) The separate tapered handle was used to lift the hot iron from the fire and when a "Potts" Handle was attached the ironing commenced. sad iron, kitchen equipment, fireplaces, stoves, pioneers, early settlers, market gardeners, sewing, craftwork, clothing, moorabbin, brighton, bentleigh

Sad-irons or "solid" irons were made by blacksmiths and used to smooth out material by pressing the hot iron over it. A piece of sheet -iron was placed over the kitchen fire and the irons placed on it could be heated whilst remaining clean of ash.. The women used 2 irons - one heating while the other was used. Thick cloth or gloves protected their hands from the hot irons. The handle was removed from the cool iron and re- attached to remove the hot iron from the fire. The cool iron was replaced on the fire or stove to heat again. Mrs Florence Potts invented in 1871 a detachable handle made from walnut wood with a metal latch to release the handle. These wooden handles prevented burned hands and were sold to grateful women all over the world. These irons were cleaned with steel wool to prevent them marking the material. If the iron was too hot the material would scorch. Most homes set aside one day for ironing and some large households had an ironing room with a special stove designed to heat irons. However, most women had to work with a heavy, hot iron close to the fireplace even in summer.Mrs Florence Potts invented this type of detachable walnut wood handle with a meta release latch for sad irons in 1871 and it sold widely throughout the world to grateful women including those in Moorabbin Shire. The family of Ms May Curtis were early settlers in Moorabbin ShireA) A sad iron, made of cast iron , has a special handle invented in 1871 by Mrs Florence Potts of Iowa, USA. B) The detachable handle made of walnut wood to prevent burned hands, was attached to the iron by a metal latch.A) UNITED/ N0 / 50 / AUSTRALIApotts florence, iowa usa, melbourne, moorabbin, sad irons, kitchen equipmentn fireplaces, walnut wood, sewing, laundry, table ware, linen, pioneers, early settlers, washing days, craftwork

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 little blue bag was stirred around in the final rinse water on washday. It disguised any hint of yellow and helped the household linen look whiter than white. The main ingredients were synthetic ultramarine and baking soda, and the original "squares" weighed an ounce and cost 1 penny. Reckitt’s had been in the blue and starch business in Hull, England, even before they started importing French ultramarine in the 1850s to make the new blue rinse additive at their English factory. These blue bags, being alkaline , were useful to ease the pain of wasp, ant and insect bites. Reckitts blue bags were an essential part of washday for early settlers in Moorabbin Shire and continued to be used throughout 20thC.Laundry blue bags (2), 'Reckitt's' Blue Bag, paper-wrap made by Reckitt and Colman (Australia) Ltd, Australia, c 2oth C. Made of powdered ultramarine and baking soda. RECKITT& COLMAN PTY.LIMITED SYDNEY AUSTRALIA / Reckitt's Bag Blue / Squeeze the bag in the last rinse / & stir. This keeps your linen white / / RECKITT & COLMAN PTY. LIMITED SYDNEY AUSTRALIA. Red & white stripes Regd.reckitts pty ltd., hull u.k., moorabbin, bentleigh, early settlers, pioneers, laundry equipment, linen, clothing, washing aids

Common soap was made from mixing animal fat with potash a form of the potassium based alkali present in plant and wood material. Early settlers, made their own soap from the waste fats and ashes they saved from their daily work. They did not then have to rely on waiting for soap to be shipped from England and waste their goods or money in trade for soap. In making soap the first ingredient required was a liquid solution of potash commonly called lye. Animal fat, when removed from the animals during butchering, must be rendered to remove all meat tissues and cooking residue before soap of any satisfactory quality can be made from it. To render, fats and waste cooking grease were placed in a large kettle with an equal amount of water. Then the kettle was placed over the open fire outdoors, because the smell from rendering the fats was too strong to wish in anyone's house. The mixture of fats and water were boiled until all the fats had melted. After a longer period of boiling to insure completion of melting the fats, the fire was stopped and into the kettle was placed another amount of water about equal to the first amount of water. The solution was allowed to cool down and left over night. By the next day the fats had solidified and floated to the top forming a layer of clean fat. All the impurities being not as light as the fat remained in water underneath the fat. In another large kettle or pot the fat was placed with an amount of lye solution ( known by experience ). This mixture was boiled until the soap was formed - 6-8 hours - a thick frothy mass, and a small amount placed on the tongue caused no noticeable "bite". The next day a brown jelly like slippery substance was in the kettle and this was 'soft soap' . To make hard soap, common salt was thrown in at the end of the boiling and a hard cake of soap formed in a layer at the top of the pot. But as salt was expensive most settlers used 'soft soap',. The soap could be scented with oils such as lavender for personal use. These 3 cakes of home-made soap are examples of the self sufficiency of the early settlers as they had to be self reliant ,growing food and making and mending their own farm equipment, tools and clothes while establishing their market gardens in Moorabbin Shire3 cakes of home-made, white hard household soap. 1 cake of soap eaten by a brush tailed possum when he entered the Cottage via the chimney 27/4/2014soap making, market gardeners, pioneers, early settlers, moorabbin, brighton, dendy's special survey 1841. kitchen equipment, laundry equipment, bentleigh

Grooved wooden washboards were used from the 18thC in England and Europe. Thick smooth, grooved glass did not rust, stain or wear down as the wooden variety and could be used for finer clothing. The washboard was place in the laundry trough or tub and using a clean brush collars, cuffs and corsets were scrubbed clean.This glass scrubbing board used by a Moorabbin Shire settler c 1900 is an example of the typical laundry equipment used in the area.A timber framed, scrubbing board with ridged clear glass.laundry equipment, washing, scrubbing board, pioneers, early settlers, moorabbin, brighton, bentleigh, washboards, clothing, craftwork

Braille is a system of touch reading and writing for blind persons in which raised dots represent the letters of the alphabet Braille is read by moving the hand or hands from left to right along each line. Residents of Moorabbin Shire used these cards at social gatherings. In the early 1800s Charles Barbier, who served in Napoleon Bonaparte’s French army, developed a unique system known as “night writing” so soldiers could communicate safely - without lamps- during the night. Louis Braille, born Coupvray, France 1809 lost his sight at a very young age, 1819 he was enrolled at the National Institute of the Blind in Paris.and began to modify Charles Barbier’s “night writing” code in an effort to create an efficient written communication system for fellow blind individuals. . He spent the better part of the next nine years developing and refining the system of raised dots that has come to be known by his name, Braille. The code was now based on cells with only 6-dots instead of 12 ..Braille died in 1852 but his code spread around the world France 1854, USA 1860 , and blind individuals from all over the world benefit from Braille’s work daily. Today, braille code is transcribed in many different languages worldwide.Blind individuals from all over the world benefit from Braille’s work daily and these cards were used by residents of Moorabbin ShireCardboard pack of ordinary playing cards with braille imprints left top of each card. Pack is incompleteFront: PLAYING / CARDS / for the BLIND / To be obtained from the / NATIONAL INSTITUTE / FOR THE BLIND / Great Portland Street / LONDON W1. Hand written : O'Dean Lounge braille louis, barbier charles, visually impaired, braille playing cards, braille, library, braille sheet music, braille ketboards

Manufactured by K. G. Luke Pty Ltd.In 1921 Kenneth Luke became a partner in a small metal-spinning and silverware business at Carlton. By 1925 he was its proprietor and an employer of seven. These employees were still with him thirty years later, with 650 others, making an ever-increasing range of products: silverware, stainless steel surgical equipment, plated goods and glass-washing machines. In 1929 he bought a larger factory in Queen's Parade, Fitzroy (since redeveloped), doubled his staff and introduced new lines. At the outbreak of World War 2 production was again stepped up and Luke became an honorary adviser to the Department of Supply and Shipping. Luke went on to achieve many major public roles. In 1938-55 he was president of the Carlton Football Club. A delegate (from 1935) to the Victorian Football League, he was its vice president (1946-55) and president (1956-71). With post-war growth generating record crowds, he consolidated central administration and professionalised the game for players.A Silver Plated Vase manufactured by K.G. Luke Pty Ltd.A1 - Paramount Plate - Best EPNS Quality Plate 4001-0paramount, k. g. luke pty ltd

A child's Bakelite cup - 6oz (150ml) produced by KRAFT Walker PTY LTD to promote their product Vegemite yeast spread A common cup made for domestic use in City of Moorabbin and Australia that has survived since c1950 A child's bakelite speckled brown and green cup made by Kraft Foods that contained 6oz 'Vegemite' spread Base KRAFT FOODS Label Net 6oz / VEGEMITE / concentrated yeast extract / KRAFT WALKER CHEESE CO./ PTY LTD / MELBOURNE / AUSTRALIA contents ........... Use in ...........

Made in England, O'Cedar Ltd Slough, BucksA small duster mop impregnated with 'O-CEDAR' furniture polish with cotton head and wood handle O'Cedar Dust Absorbing Handimop for your car - for your furnituremop, manufactured object, o'cedar

The J. R. Watkins Co. opened its first overseas branch in Australia in 1935. The J. R. Watkins built a large factory at Highett on a six acres on the east side of Nepean Highway (no. 1123) in 1954. The J. R. Watkins company was founded in 1868 in Plainview, Minnesota USA, moving to Winona in 1885, by J. R. Watkins.Example of industry in the City of Moorabbin.Amber glass bottle with a metal screw on lid. A paper label is on the front of the bottle 'Watkins Polish" printed in yellow, black and white.PRINTED ON LABEL: 11 Fluid ounces - WATKINS POLISH - Gives a hard dry lustre excellent for Dusting For cleaning, dusting and polishing furniture, pianos, woodwork, linoleum, hardwood floors and all polished surfaces. Directions: If the article to be polished is dirty or gummy, clean it by washing with mild soap and warm water. Apply Watkins Polish with a damp, soft cloth (Dampened with water and wrung almost dry). The Polish may be poured on the damp cloth or on the surface to be polished. In either case rub it all with a dry cloth to obtain a high polish. When dusting, dampen the cloth with Watkins Polish - it keeps down the dust and gives a lustre which is neither greasy not gummy. The J. R. Watkins Co. Melbourne - Sydney - Adelaide - Kogarah EMBOSED ON BOTTLE: "The J.R.Watkins co. Made in Australia" the j. r. watkins co, highett, polish

Lucknow Manufacturing Company was located at 103 Brunswick Road, Brunswick in the mid 1930s. In 1937, Lucknow Manufacturing Company was fined for selling methylated spirit which was adulterated (The Age, 19 August, p. 4.) In the early 1940's the company moved to a larger premises in Mount Alexander Road, Flemington, where this particular bottle was produced. Amber bottle with cork stop. White paper label printed in green and red.Poisonous - Not to be taken - MY-T-FINE Methylated Spirits Guaranteed full strength 65-68 O.P. Highly Inflammable Keep away from Fire Contents Approx. 10 ozs Lucknow Manufacturing Co. 96-100 Mt. Alexander Road, Flemington Phone: FF 2094lucknow manufacturing company, methylated spirits

Rawleigh's Ready Relief was advertised for checking and relieving head colds and catarrh. W. T. Rawleighs Co Ltd was a Canadian firm who expanded their food manufacturing business to Australia in 1928. In 1934 they purchased land in Dawson Road, Brunswick and built a five storey brick and reinforced factory. The building was still standing in 2022.Clear glass bottle with white plastic screw on lid. Paper wrap around label printed in green, black and pinkFRONT: Rawleigh's Ready Relief as an aromatic inhalation Net 30 ml W. T. Rawleigh Co Ltd. 60 Dawson St. Brunswick Victoria, 3056. LEFT SIDE: Active Constituents % w/w Alcohol 57.571, Camphor Crystals 4.789, Menthol Crystals 10.200, Menthol Liquid 5.100, Oil of Lavender 50% 18.124 Oil of Pinus Pumilous 0.786, Oil of Eucalyptus 0.180, Musc Ambrette Solution 0.20, Dist. Water 3.00. Reg. Vic 18810 E2012 RIGHT SIDE: Directions: Place drop or tow on folded handkerchief. Inhale gently, then gradually deepen inhalation. At night put a few drops at end of pillow. Not recommended for children under three years. Keep tightly closed. Store in cool place.medical, rawleighs co ltd, brunswick

T. & C. Clark & Company Limited was based at Shakespeare Foundry in Wolverhampton England and was founded in 1795 by Thomas and Charles Clark. The company grew to be one of the largest iron foundries in Wolverhampton and were pioneering in the manufacture of enamelled cast iron cookware and sanitary wares. The company's product range included thousands of items, both domestic and industrial. T. & C. Clark were pioneers in the use of enamelled cast ironware, after taking out a patent in 1839 guaranteeing their products to be free of lead or arsenic. The company became the largest employer in Wolverhampton employing between 600 to 700 people.The item is significant as it was used as a domestic kitchen or camp fire item used to cook food safely without the concern that the metal may contain lead or arsenic as earlier cooking utensils had. T C Clark innervates the first manufacturing process of cast iron cook ware to have enamel lining in his products to alleviate the possibility of lead or arsenic contamination of food.Cooking pot cast iron with lid and handle and lid pressed sheet steel oval shaped."T & C Clark and Co Ltd" (Star of David) "ENGLAND", "RD 455279" "3 GALLS" "FIRST QUALITY" Lid marked "CLARK" flagstaff hill, warrnambool, shipwrecked coast, flagstaff hill maritime museum, flagstaff hill maritime village, great ocean road, kettle, cooking pot, cook ware, kitchen ware, cast iron kettle, t c clark ltd, shakespeare foundry

T. & C. Clark & Company Limited was based at Shakespeare Foundry in Wolverhampton England and was founded in 1795 by Thomas and Charles Clark. The company grew to be one of the largest iron foundries in Wolverhampton and were pioneering in the manufacture of enamelled cast iron cookware and sanitary wares. The company's product range included thousands of items, both domestic and industrial. T. & C. Clark were pioneers in the use of enamelled cast ironware, after taking out a patent in 1839 guaranteeing their products to be free of lead or arsenic. The company became the largest employer in Wolverhampton employing between 600 to 700 people.The item is significant as it was used as a domestic kitchen item to boil water safely without the concern that the metal may contain lead or arsenic as earlier cooking utensils had. Cast Iron Kettle no lid Kettle made by T & C Clarke England. T and C Clark and Co, London. No. 2, 5 pints capacityflagstaff hill, warrnambool, shipwrecked coast, flagstaff hill maritime museum, flagstaff hill maritime village, great ocean road, kettle, cook ware, kitchen ware, cast iron kettle, t c clark ltd

The Moulin Legumes No. 3 food mill is a useful manual kitchen utensil for milling, sieving, grating and pureeing various food types (legumes, vegetables, fruit and herbs). The food is placed in the chamber and the handle is turned to push the food through the holes in the blades and into a bowl placed below it. The various blades allow choice of consistency as they have different sized holes. It was in use before electric food processors were invented and is still used in modern times. The vegetable mill was invented by the French inventor and industrialist, Jean Mantelet, in 1932. Inspired by his wife, he invented the mill, which simply and quickly made cooked food into puree or mash. He said "My greatest pride is to rid women of a daily chore." The business started using the brand Moulinex in 1956 and today is it a household name linked to useful and good quality kitchen utensils and aids. The name comes from combining the words Moulin Express, which was an electric coffee mill. The embossed text "BREVETE S G D G" was a type of French patent without a government guarantee. It stopped being used in 1968. This Moulin is an example of a kitchen utensil used before electric food processors were invented, and had gained popularity to process foods such as vegetable's, fruit, nuts and herbs in a domestic or commercial kitchen. The first model of the Moulin Legunes was invented in 1932 by French industrialist Jean Mantelet to meet the reduce labour for housewives in the kitchen. Millions of this labour saving device have since been sold. Food mill, metal, for manually processing food. Conical-shaped food chamber, two U-shaped handles on opposite sides, two clips inside. Three interchangeable twelve-sided cutting blades, each with different sized holes. Made in France. Model is Moulin Legumes No. 3. Impressed into the side, within a circle "MADE IN FRANCE - BREVETE S G D C -" and in centre "2" (Brevete is French word for Patent)flagstaff hill, warrnambool, flagstaff hill maritime museum, maritime museum, shipwreck coast, flagstaff hill maritime village, great ocean road, made in france, french kitchen utensils, moulin, food preparation, kitchen utensil, food mill, food processor, sieve, moule, mouli, grater, puree, hand operated, moulin legumes no. 3, vingage, kitchen gadget, moulineux, jean mantelet

A washboard is a tool designed for hand washing clothing that are soaked in hot soapy water in a wash tub or sink, then squeezed and rubbed against the ridged surface of the washboard to force the cleaning fluid through the cloth to carry away dirt. With the invent of mechanized cleaning of clothing becoming more common by with the use of washing machines by the end of the 20th century the washboard was soon discontinued. The traditional washboard is usually constructed with a rectangular wooden frame in which are mounted a series of ridges or corrugations for the clothing to be rubbed upon. For 19th-century washboards, the ridges were often of wood, sometimes glass and by the 20th century, ridges of metal became common The first "fluted" metal washboard was patented in the United States by Stephen Rust in 1833 and Zinc washboards were predominantly manufactured in the United States from the middle of the 19th century. A significant item for cleaning clothes still in use today in many countries giving a snapshot into the domestic life of a housewife into the 20th century.Washboard wooden frame with a ribbed glass sectionMarked "Possum Brand"warrnambool, shipwrecked-coast, flagstaff-hill, flagstaff-hill-maritime-museum, shipwreck-coast, flagstaff-hill-maritime-village, washboard, glass ripples, clothes cleaning, washing, laundry

Blacksmiths started forging simple flat irons in the late Middle Ages. Plain metal irons were heated by a fire or on a stove. Some were made of stone. Earthenware and terracotta were also used, from the Middle East to France and the Netherlands. Flat irons were also called sad irons or smoothing irons. Metal handles had to be gripped in a pad or thick rag. Some irons had cool wooden handles and in 1870 a detachable handle was patented in the US. This stayed cool while the metal bases were heated and the idea was widely imitated. Cool handles stayed even cooler in "asbestos sad irons". The sad in sad iron (or sadiron) is an old word for solid, and in some contexts this name suggests something bigger and heavier than a flat iron. Goose or tailor's goose was another iron name, and this came from the goose-neck curve in some handles. In Scotland people spoke of gusing (goosing) irons. At least two irons were needed on the go together for an effective system, one would be in use, and the other re-heating. Large households with servants had a special ironing-stove for this purpose. Some were fitted with slots for several irons, and a water-jug on top.An early domestic object that gives an insight into how the ironing of clothes was done before the electric type irons we use and take for granted today. Flat iron cast iron with stand None item too badly corrodedflagstaff hill, warrnambool, flagstaff hill maritime museum, shipwreck coast, flagstaff hill maritime village, great ocean road, iron, flat iron, laundry, clothes ironing, sad iron, tailors goose

The lamp glass was recovered from the wreck of the Falls of Halladale. It was blown into a mould, as evidenced by ripples in the base of the glass. The frosted inside area is likely to be from abrasive sediment inside the glass on the sea bed. The encrustations has also come from the sea. The Falls of Halladale was an iron-hulled, four-masted barque, used as a bulk carrier of general cargo. She left New York in August 1908 bound for Melbourne and Sydney. In her hold was general cargo consisting of roofing tiles, barb wire, stoves, oil, and benzene as well as many other manufactured items. After three months at sea and close to her destination, a navigational error caused the Falls of Halladale to be wrecked on a reef off the Peterborough headland on the 15th of November, 1908. The captain and 29 crew members survived, but her cargo was largely lost, despite two salvage attempts in 1908-09 and 1910. The Court of Marine Inquiry in Melbourne ruled that the foundering of the ship was entirely due to Captain David Wood Thomson's navigational error, not too technical failure of the Clyde-built ship. The Falls of Halladale was built in 1886 by Russell & Co., at Greenock shipyards on the River Clyde, Scotland for Wright, Breckenridge & Co of Glasgow. She was one of several designs of Falls Line of ships named after waterfalls in Scotland. The company had been founded between 1870- 1873 as a partnership between Joseph Russell, Anderson Rodger, and William Todd Lithgow. During the period 1882-92 Russell & Co. standardised designs, which sped up their building process so much that they were able to build 271 ships during that time. The Falls of Halladale had a sturdy construction built to carry maximum cargo and able to maintain full sail in heavy gales, one of the last of the 'windjammers' that sailed the Trade Route. She and her sister ship, the Falls of Garry, were the first ships in the world to include fore and aft lifting bridges. Previous to this, heavily loaded vessels could have heavy seas break along the full length of the deck, causing serious injury or even death to those on deck. The new, raised catwalk-type decking allowed the crew to move above the deck in stormy conditions. The Falls of Halladale shipwreck is listed on the Victorian Heritage (No. S255). She was one of the last ships to sail the Trade Routes from Europe and the Americas. Also of significance is that the vessel was one of the first ships to have fore and aft lifting bridges as a significant safety feature still in use on modern vessels today. The subject model is an example of an International Cargo Ship used during the 19th and early 20th centuries to transport goods around the world and representing aspects of Victoria’s shipping industry. Lamp glass, scalloped pattern around top lip, bulbous body. Slight encrustation on body. Glass has ripples in base area. Inside body is opaque in about a 1/5 ofr the area.flagstaff hill, warrnambool, flagstaff-hill, flagstaff-hill-maritime-museum, maritime-museum, shipwreck-coast, flagstaff-hill-maritime-village, falls of halladale, glass, russell & co., wreck, artifact, lamp glass, kerosene lamp, lighting

This tablespoon was recovered from an unknown shipwreck in the coastal waters of Victoria in the late 1960s to early 1970s. The shipwrecks in the area range from around the 1840s to the early 1930s, and this particular spoon dates from about 1866 to 1932. It is part of the John Chance Collection. This spoon has the embossed names of Pompton and Silver and appears to have other marks that have worn off. The Pompton brand was used on silver flatware made by Cooper Brothers & Sons. Ltd of Sheffield. In Australia the Pompton Silver cutlery was advertised for sale in Sydney in the mid-1920s. The spoon is likely to be plated silver or silver plate, which is a base metal such as nickel or nickel alloy with copper and/or zinc that has been plated or coated with a thin layer of silver. Wear on the metal will cause the base metals to appear through the silver plating. Some manufacturers gave a warranty that the cutlery was ‘white throughout’ but didn’t necessarily say it was solid silver. Cooper Brothers was established in 1866 by brothers Thomas and John William Cooper in High Street, Sheffield. They bought Don Plate Works in 1872. By 1876 they were at Bridge Street and in 1885 they purchased the works at 44 Arundel St Sheffield. In 1895 the firm became Cooper Brothers & Sons Ltd. By 1914 they had branches in London, Sydney, Melbourne and Montreal, advertising as silversmiths, silver cutlers, electroplaters, Britannia Metal smiths and cutlers, particularly spoons and forks. The firm also used the trademarks of DON SILVER, POMPTON SILVER and a logo of a Cooper (barrel maker) in different formats. Cooper Brothers & Sons had a reputation for producing good quality silver and silver plate. In 1900 they registered their Maker’s Mark of the letters ‘CB&s’ within a shield. They also used the Sheffield Assay Hallmark of a Crown. A diagram on a Copper Brothers & Sons, Don Plate Works, advertisement showed three styles of cutlery; No. 393, Old English, and Fiddle. They announced that they were the ‘sole makers of the celebrated “Don” brand of nickel silver spoons and forks’. A burglary in NSW in 1929 listed a stolen flatware set as ‘all Sheffield Silver plate and branded Pompton Silver Works A.1.’. It was ‘guaranteed to wear white throughout’ and was a ‘good, medium quality, nickel silver line’. Cooper Brothers & Sons Ltd. was acquired in 1983 by Frank Cobb & Co. Ltd. Although the spoon is not linked to a particular shipwreck, it is recognised as being historically significant as an example of cutlery either as part of the ship’s flatware service or imported for use in Colonial Victoria in the 19th to early 20th century. The spoon is significant for its association with renowned makers Cooper Brothers of Sheffield, makers of silverware from the 1860s to the 1980s and exporters into the Colonies. The spoon is also significant as it was recovered by John Chance, a diver in Victoria’s coastal waters in the late 1960s to early 1970s. Items that come from several wrecks have since been donated to the Flagstaff Hill Maritime Village’s museum collection by his family, illustrating this item’s level of historical value. Spoon; plated silver tablespoon with brown base metal. Handle is Old English design and is embossed - some marks are worn and unidentifiable. Branded Pompton Silver.Embossed within two rectangular shapes “POMPTON” and “SILVER” (other marks have worn off)flagstaff hill, warrnambool, flagstaff hill maritime museum, maritime museum, shipwreck coast, flagstaff hill maritime village, great ocean road, john chance, cutlery, flatware silver, silver plate, antique flatware, old english flatware pattern, eating utensils, spoon, tablespoon, silverware, dining utensil, cooper brothers, don plate works, pompton silver, sheffield silver

This spoon, made by William Page & Co., is electroplated nickel-silver and was recovered during the late 1960s to early 1970s from an unnamed shipwreck along the coast of Victoria. The shipwrecks in the area range from around the 1840s to the early 1930s. The spoon is part of the John Chance Collection. This spoon is likely to have been recovered be from the wreck of the Loch Ard (1873-1878) as other cutlery in the Flagstaff Hill’s Shipwreck Collection made by William Page was also recovered from the Loch Ard. The ship’s Manifest included a large quantity of cutlery. Also, other objects in the John Chance Collection were also recovered from wreck of the Loch Ard. In the mid-1800s electroplated cutlery became a popular substitute for the traditional but more costly sterling silver pieces. The ‘new’ cutlery was made from a more common base metal, such as nickel or a nickel alloy, then electroplated (coated) with a very thin layer of silver. The eating utensils looked like the expensive, pure silver version but eventually, through use and wear, the base metal would show. Some producers warranted their electroplated silver to be ‘white throughout’. WILLIAM PAGE & CO., BIRMINGHAM, ENGLAND - Although the electroplated cutlery of William Page & Co. was made in Birmingham, it does not include the embossed Birmingham Assay’s mark of an ‘anchor’ because the metal used for the spoons is not silver. William Page used various Maker’s Marks on his cutlery. The pattern of five embossed marks on this spoon is a typical example, with the embossed sunken crown containing ‘W P’ being the first in the column of symbols. - ‘W P’, within raised diamond outline, within sunken crown - ‘Cross above Triangle’ symbol within sunken oval - ‘Maltese Cross’ symbol within sunken, six-sided shape - ‘crab-like’ symbol within sunken oval - ‘R D’ within sunken diamond William Page established his business in 1834, according to the text around a printed Trademark. The firm William Page & Co. began electroplating in 1855, and from 1880 it operated from Cranemore Street, Cattle’s Grove and also at 55 Albion St, Birmingham. The firm registered a new Trademark [‘W P’ within a diamond boarder within a sunken diamond] in 1897; previously the Mark were the initials WP within a crown, but the British legislation prohibited the use of a ‘crown’ mark on electroplated ware in 1895. In 1936 the firm became William Page & Co. Ltd and became a supplier of spoons to the British Government in 1938, marking its products with the ‘broad arrow’ symbol. The firm also traded with the brand names Armour, Asrista, Bolivian Silver, Roman Silver, Roumanian Silver, Silverite and Trevor Plate. Although this spoon is not linked to a particular shipwreck, it is very likely to have come from the wreck of the Loch Ard; the ship’s Manifest includes a large quantity of cutlery. Regardless, it is recognised as being historically significant as an example of cutlery carried onboard a ship as either personal belongings or cargo and brought into Colonial Victoria in the 19th to early 20th century; through this we have added opportunity to interpret Victoria’s social and historical themes of those times. The spoon also has significance for its connection with many similar William Page pieces of cutlery in our collection that were recovered from the wreck of the sailing ship Loch Ard (1873-1878). William Page & Co. of Birmingham is one of the renowned 19th century manufacturers and electroplaters and was supplier of spoons to the British Government in 1938. The spoon has added significance, as it was recovered by John Chance, a diver of wrecks, including the Loch Ard, in Victoria’s coastal waters in the late 1960s to early 1970s. Items that come from several wrecks have since been donated to the Flagstaff Hill Maritime Village’s museum collection by his family, illustrating this item’s level of historical value.Spoon; teaspoon, electroplate nickel-silver, discoloured to green and red-brown in places. Fiddle design. Bowl has indents and holes. Five embossed Maker’s Marks on back of handle, arranged in a column from tip towards bowl. Made by William Page and Co., Birmingham. The spoon no longer has its silver plating. The surface has encrustations. Bowl has nicks, indents and holes. Stem is very bent at the shoulder. Discoloured to green and red-brown in places. Embossed Maker Marks - ‘W P’, within raised diamond outline, within sunken crown - ‘Cross above Triangle’ symbol within sunken oval - ‘Maltese Cross’ symbol within sunken, six-sided shape - ‘crab-like’ symbol within sunken oval - ‘R D’ within sunken diamondflagstaff hill maritime museum, maritime museum, shipwreck coast, flagstaff hill maritime village, great ocean road, shipwreck artefact, john chance, loch ard, cutlery, flatware, silverware, tableware, eating utensils, dining, spoon, electroplated cutlery, william page & co, william page & co. ltd., birmingham plate, silversmith, antique, vintage, fiddle design, fiddle pattern, teaspoon

This spoon, made by William Page & Co., is electroplated nickel-silver and was recovered during the late 1960s to early 1970s from an unnamed shipwreck along the coast of Victoria. The shipwrecks in the area range from around the 1840s to the early 1930s. The spoon is part of the John Chance Collection. This spoon is likely to have been recovered be from the wreck of the Loch Ard (1873-1878) as other cutlery in the Flagstaff Hill’s Shipwreck Collection made by William Page was also recovered from the Loch Ard. The ship’s Manifest included a large quantity of cutlery. Also, other objects in the John Chance Collection were also recovered from wreck of the Loch Ard. In the mid-1800s electroplated cutlery became a popular substitute for the traditional but more costly sterling silver pieces. The ‘new’ cutlery was made from a more common base metal, such as nickel or a nickel alloy, then electroplated (coated) with a very thin layer of silver. The eating utensils looked like the expensive, pure silver version but eventually, through use and wear, the base metal would show. Some producers warranted their electroplated silver to be ‘white throughout’. WILLIAM PAGE & CO., BIRMINGHAM, ENGLAND - Although the electroplated cutlery of William Page & Co. was made in Birmingham, it does not include the embossed Birmingham Assay’s mark of an ‘anchor’ because the metal used for the spoons is not silver. William Page used various Maker’s Marks on his cutlery. The pattern of five embossed marks on this spoon is a typical example, with the embossed sunken crown containing ‘W P’ being the first in the column of symbols. - ‘W P’, within raised diamond outline, within sunken crown - ‘Cross above Triangle’ symbol within sunken oval - ‘Maltese Cross’ symbol within sunken, six-sided shape - ‘crab-like’ symbol within sunken oval - ‘R D’ within sunken diamond William Page established his business in 1834, according to the text around a printed Trademark. The firm William Page & Co. began electroplating in 1855, and from 1880 it operated from Cranemore Street, Cattle’s Grove and also at 55 Albion St, Birmingham. The firm registered a new Trademark [‘W P’ within a diamond boarder within a sunken diamond] in 1897; previously the Mark were the initials WP within a crown, but the British legislation prohibited the use of a ‘crown’ mark on electroplated ware in 1895. In 1936 the firm became William Page & Co. Ltd and became a supplier of spoons to the British Government in 1938, marking its products with the ‘broad arrow’ symbol. The firm also traded with the brand names Armour, Asrista, Bolivian Silver, Roman Silver, Roumanian Silver, Silverite and Trevor Plate. Although this spoon is not linked to a particular shipwreck, it is very likely to have come from the wreck of the Loch Ard; the ship’s Manifest includes a large quantity of cutlery. Regardless, it is recognised as being historically significant as an example of cutlery carried onboard a ship as either personal belongings or cargo and brought into Colonial Victoria in the 19th to early 20th century; through this we have added opportunity to interpret Victoria’s social and historical themes of those times. The spoon also has significance for its connection with many similar William Page pieces of cutlery in our collection that were recovered from the wreck of the sailing ship Loch Ard (1873-1878). William Page & Co. of Birmingham is one of the renowned 19th century manufacturers and electroplaters and was supplier of spoons to the British Government in 1938. The spoon has added significance, as it was recovered by John Chance, a diver of wrecks, including the Loch Ard, in Victoria’s coastal waters in the late 1960s to early 1970s. Items that come from several wrecks have since been donated to the Flagstaff Hill Maritime Village’s museum collection by his family, illustrating this item’s level of historical value.Spoon; teaspoon, electroplate nickel-silver, silver discoloured to brown. Fiddle design. Five embossed Hallmarks. Five embossed Maker’s Marks on back of handle, arranged in a column from tip towards bowl. Made by William Page and Co., Birmingham. The spoon no longer has its silver plating. Bowl has a cut in the side, and is nicked and dented. Embossed Maker Marks - ‘W P’, within raised diamond outline, within sunken crown - ‘Cross above Triangle’ symbol within sunken oval - ‘Maltese Cross’ symbol within sunken, six-sided shape - ‘crab-like’ symbol within sunken oval - ‘R D’ within sunken diamondflagstaff hill maritime museum, maritime museum, shipwreck coast, flagstaff hill maritime village, great ocean road, shipwreck artefact, john chance, loch ard, cutlery, flatware, silverware, tableware, eating utensils, dining, spoon, electroplated cutlery, william page & co, william page & co. ltd., birmingham plate, silversmith, antique, vintage, fiddle design, fiddle pattern, teaspoon

This spoon, made by Henry Barnascone of Sheffield, was recovered from an unknown shipwreck in the coastal waters of Victoria in the late 1960s to early 1970s. The spoon is one-o-a-kind in our Flagstaff Hill Maritime Village Collection of shipwreck artefacts. It is possibly from a passenger’s luggage on one of the shipwrecks. The shipwrecks in the area range from around the 1840s to the early 1930s. It is part of the John Chance Collection. HENRY BARNASCONE & SONS, Sheffield, UK- Henry Barnascone (1827-1894) was born in Switzerland. He and his brother Lewis settled in Sheffield in 1851. Henry operated as Henry Barnascone from 1868 to 1883, trading in Angel Street as a cutler, manufacturer and general merchant, moving to York Street in 1874. His work included electroplating metalware. Products ranged from cutlery and serving trays to straight razors, measuring tapes and pocket knives. In 1884 his firm became H. Barnascone & Son and from 1901 to 1934 be firm was renamed H. Barnascone & Sons, with his son (or nephew) Charles Henry ‘Harry’ Barnascone brought in to join the business. The firm employed eight men and four women in 1881. Around 1892 the firm moved to Empire Works in Eyre Street. Charles (Harry) inherited the business when Henry died in 1894. In 1909 the company became ‘Ltd.’, with Charles continuing until his death in 1917. The firms trademarks were EMPIRE (with ‘trefoil’ or ‘clover’ symbol), THE HUNGRY WOLF BRAND and PROLIFIC. The firm was liquidated in 1934 and acquired by Harrison Fisher & Co. Ltd., which specialised in plated goods and silverware, and retained Barnascone’s trademarks. In the early 1990s Harrison Fisher, which employed about 200, was arguably the only surviving example of the type of firm that had flourished in nineteenth century Sheffield – one which marketed a full range of cutlery. It remained family-owned. In 2007 Harrison Fisher & Co. Ltd. was renamed Taylor’s Eye Witness Ltd, which, in 2016, ‘swapped’ the nineteenth century historic factory for a new industrial unit in Sheffield. Although the spoon is not linked to a particular shipwreck, it is recognised as being historically significant as an example of hardware either as part of the ship’s flatware service or imported for use in Colonial Victoria in the 19th to early 20th century. The spoon is significant for being Flagstaff Hill’s only shipwreck artefact amongst many hundreds of objects, including cutlery, to be branded with ‘Empire Silver’ and the only piece in our collection by Sheffield manufacturer Henry Barnascone. The spoon is also significant as it was recovered by John Chance, a diver in Victoria’s coastal waters in the late 1960s to early 1970s. Items that come from several wrecks have since been donated to the Flagstaff Hill Maritime Village’s museum collection by his family, illustrating this item’s level of historical value. Spoon; teaspoon, electroplate nickel-silver, silver discoloured to brown. Fiddle design. Five embossed Hallmarks. Five embossed Maker’s Marks on back of handle, arranged in a column from tip towards bowl. Made by William Page and Co., Birmingham. The spoon no longer has its silver plating. Bowl has a cut in the side, and is nicked and dented. Embossed “EMPIRE“ (trefoil or clover logo) “SILVER” flagstaff hill maritime museum, maritime museum, shipwreck coast, flagstaff hill maritime village, great ocean road, shipwreck artefact, john chance, henry barnascone, sheffield, cutlery, eating utensils, electroplate, silver plate, silverware, flatware, empire works, prolific, hungry wolf brand, antique flatware, old english flatware pattern, spoon, teaspoon

This electroplated silver teaspoon was made by the Sheffield Silver Plate & Cutlery Company Limited from about 1913 to early-1930s. It was recovered from an unknown shipwreck in the coastal waters of Victoria in the late 1960s to early 1970s. The shipwrecks in the area range from around the 1840s to the early-1930s. It is part of the John Chance Collection. Sheffield manufactures produced high quality silverware products. In the mid-1700s a cutler, Thomas Boulsover, invented a process to fuse copper between two sheets of silver, which could still be like solid silver then the edges were bound in silver. Items made this way are now referred to as Old Silver Plate. The modern method of electroplating has a much thinner layer of silver. The firm Sheffield Silver Plate and Cutlery Co. Ltd. was established in 1913 by Mappin & Webb to make spoons and forks using the American Wilzin process, which was a failure. In 1923 the company was incorporated then re-financed and reverted back to the older production method for electroplating. The maker’s stamp usually had the letters “S.S.P. & C. Co Ltd EPNS” and often included an octagon stamp with “SSP”. The firm had the registered trademarks of ‘SILCUTA’ and ‘SILTONA’ and has also used the name ‘Sheffield Nickel & Silver Plating Co. Ltd.’ The firm had manufacturing Works at Priestley Street, Sheffield from 1913 until the 1960s. They also had a London office in 1919 at Atlantic House, 40a Holborn Viaduct, London, E.C.1., then in 1921 at Union Bank Buildings, Charterhouse Street, E.C.1. The company was dissolved in 2000, the last office address being 23 Albemarle Street London, W1S 4AS. Although this spoon is not linked to a particular shipwreck, it is recognised as being historically significant as an example of cutlery, possibly from a passenger’s luggage or imported for use in Colonial Victoria in the 19th to early 20th century. The spoon is the only example in Flagstaff Hill’s collection that is connected to the manufacturer Sheffield Silver Plate and Cutlery Co. Ltd., historically significant also, as in 1939 the same manufacturer was a recognised supplier to the British Government. The spoon is also significant as it was recovered by John Chance, a diver in Victoria’s coastal waters in the late 1960s to early 1970s. Items that come from several wrecks have since been donated to the Flagstaff Hill Maritime Village’s museum collection by his family, illustrating this item’s level of historical value.Spoon; teaspoon, nickel plated silver, discoloured to brown. Old English design. Inscription on handle. Made by Sheffield Silver Plate & Cutlery Co Ltd., Sheffield. Spoon has dimpled surface, nicks and dents. Embossed logo within sunken elongated octagon [SSP] Embossed letters following logo, “S S P C & CO LTD EP/NS” flagstaff hill maritime museum, maritime museum, shipwreck coast, flagstaff hill maritime village, great ocean road, shipwreck artefact, john chance, sheffield, cutlery, eating utensils, electroplate, silver plate, silverware, flatware, antique flatware, old english flatware pattern, spoon, teaspoon, silver flatware, dining, silver plated, epnns, sheffield silver plater & cutlery, ssp, ssp & c co ltd, 20th century silverware