Used in the mid 20th century.A forged steel hatchet with an axe head, hammer head, nail puller and a lever hole. It has a short metal cased wooden handle with brass rivets. It was used as a trimming hatchet or axe in the mid 20th century. It is a 'Swordfish' brand, made in China.Inscribed with Swordfish brand Made in China with a picture of a swordfish. woodworking tools, steel, froes, cleaving axes, axes, cutting tools, hand axes, hatchets, cleavers, tomahawks, wood

Used in the 19th centuryA bill hook or axe-handled slasher which is an axe-handled forged metal blade with a strong curved sharp axe like edge and a straight secondary edge on the back. It has a broken wooden handle with steel or a tang which passed through the handle if it were still attached. There is stamped on the blade near the handle join - '2'. The original finish of the blade would have been, 'Japanned' which is baked black enamel. It was used to cut back scrub, small trees and woody vegetation in the 19th century.'2' stamped on the blade near where it joins the handle.slashers, cutting tools, bill hook slasher, gardening tools, agricultural tools

Used in the 19th century. Pigs were often raised for meat for the family. The scraper was used to remove the bristles from the carcass.A curved metal straight bladed pig scraper used to remove the bristles from a pig's carcass. It has a hook on the top edge to remove the nails from the pig's trotters. It has a short wooden handle attached to the metal on the blade with three rivets. There are two slashers near the flail. On the left is the brand 'Pearson 2532' circa 1914 Made by F G Pearson & Co, Sheffield, Right side (est 1859) Right: brand is indistinct. Used in the 19th century.On the left is the brand 'Pearson 2532' circa 1914 Made by F G Pearson & Co, Sheffield, Right side (est 1859) Right: brand is indistinct.farm equipment, farm tools, pigs, farm

A small steel oval shaped headed bale hook or hand grab with three of nine pointed hooks remaining and a turned smooth wooden handle. The metal head is attached through a hole in the handle with a rivet. It was used to assist with handling bagged goods without causing damage. agricultural equipment, farm equipment, bale hooks, hand grabs

Used by Wandin Sebire for an unknown purpose.An unusual split headed long thin spade with a wooden handle Four rivets attach the head to the handle. At the top the handle is screwed to the metal. It was used by Wandin Sebire, probably for a special purpose - it is not known for what. Spades are usually used for turning soil by pushing against the blade with the foot. Used in the early 20th century.Stamped on the metal handle - '2' and 'S & C Ham'. 'Parkes & Co. Birmingham no. 2'.gardening spades, spades, shovels, gardening tools

An adjustable metal headed hand scarifier with a wooden handle attached with a screw. It has nine teeth with the middle one lower, fixed and wider. It could be altered to suit the width of the row being worked. It was patented 1905.Patented 1905agricultural tools, agricultural equipment, tools, rakes, scarifiers, gardening tools, hand tools

A small combined hoe and rake metal headed hand scarifier or cultivator tool with a wooden handle. It has a pointed hoe shape at one end and at the opposite two hooked spikes. It could be used in small areas such as a garden.agricultural tools, tools, rakes, scarifiers, gardening tools, hand tools, hoes

A metal King Eye slasher with an unusual rounded 'U' shaped open blade and a wooden handle. On the blade is stamped, 'King Eye, PATT NO, 3868 A & F PARKES & CO BIRMINGHAM England'. It was efficient for clearing thin and dense low-lying scrub or bush where an axe would be too clumsy. It is similar to a billhook, but with a longer handle.'KING EYE, PATT NO, 3868 A & F PARKES & CO BIRMINGHAM ENGLAND'tools, agricultural equipment, agricultural tools, slashers, gardening tools

Used late 19th and early 20th centuries.A blacksmith handmade hay fork or pitch fork with three thin forked metal spikes and a handmade long wooden handle. The head is attached to the handle with two rivets. It was used in the late 19th century and early 20th century.gardening tools, gardening equipment, domestic equipment, tools, gardening forks, pitchforks, agricultural equipment

Used in the late 19th or early 20th century.A large triangular shaped metal blade tin cutter for manually opening kerosene and petrol tin lids which were often recycled for use on farms in the 19th and early 20th century. It has a rectangular shaped tubular steel handle attached to the top side by two rivets. On one of the triangular points of the blade is the manufacturer's brand ' Chapman and Co, Enfield S.A'. It was Australian made.'Chapman and Co, Enfield S..A'. tin openers, tools, tin cutter, farming equipment

A small vintage handmade metal rectangular meat chopper with a short metal handle attached to the very sharp blade. It has a turned, patterned curved wooden handle joined to this.cutters, cutting tools, butchers tools, meat chopper, cleavers, butchers knives

Used in the late 19th and early 20th century.A vintage No 2 Class II Salters Improved Spring Balance weigh scale with a weight guage of 0 - 40 lbs. It is made of metal with four rivets holding the front measurement panel covering the spring with a ring at the top and a hook at the bottom to hold the item being weighed. It was manufactured in England by Salters and used in the late 19th and early 20th century.'No 2 Class II Salters Improved Spring Balance weight guage 0 - 40 lbs. Manufactured in England by Salters'''spring balances, scales, balances, weighing instruments

Manufactured by F.E. Kohler & Co, Canton, OhioA vintage post hole digger with two long wooden handles and two metal scooped blades. It is operated with a lever action, with the two handles pulled apart to take a 'bite' of earth. The handles are attached by a nut and bolt. There is a crowbar on the end of one handle and a rammer on the end of the other. The brand is F.E. Kohler & Co, Canton, Ohio.'Kohler Little Giant' patented.tools, agricultural tools, farming equipment, garden tools

It was used on well worked ground.A combined hoe and rake metal headed hand scarifier or cultivator tool with a long wooden handle. It has three curved metal hooks with sharp points and was used to break up the ground. It could be used in small areas such as a garden.agricultural tools, tools, rakes, scarifiers, gardening tools, hand tools, hoes

Used in the 19th and early 20th century.A metal scythe with a long curved wooden handle to manoeuvre the blades. There are also two shorter wooden handles or 'nibs' fitted at an angle to suit the user attached to the main handle by a metal ring. It has two curved pointed cutting blades which are attached by nuts and bolts to the handle.agricultural tools, scythes, cutting tools, agricultural equipment

Used on a farm in the late 19th or early 20th century.A pair of handmade wooden horse hames which are linked together by a leather strap at the top. It has leather traces and four metal rings. At the sides there are two long leather strips with chain links attached to each end.One long leather strap is shown in the second photo in Media - not to be confused with all the other tools in the photo. It would have been attached to a horse collar and used to to distribute the load around a horse's neck and shoulders when pulling a wagon or plough. The collar often supports and pads a pair of curved metal or wooden pieces, called hames, to which the traces, which attach to the wagon or plough, of the harness are attached. The collar allows the horse to use its full strength when pulling. It was used in the late 19th or early 20th century.horses, horse accessories, harness, animal accessories, farm equipment, hames

Used to store tools and other assorted items associated with Maldon State Battery..1 storage box with compartments and lid, painted green, made from wood, leather and are chains attatched from box to lid, trapeze shape, .3 grooves on top of box parallel to wooden supports on lid, latch, nails and bolts attatching wood and inner compartments, leather straps on innner lid and inside main compartment for holding tools, main compartment contains torn newspapers, severed cloths, pieces of rock, pipe peices made of metal and plastic, assortment of metal pieces, paint lids, green bucket with grease, food packaging, tap/valve, metal mesh, leather and plastic pieces, 2 keys/padlocks, nails, nuts, assortment of tools, wooden pieces, wooden handle for screwdriver, broken chair, chalk, pieces of ceramic (Bendigo pottery) , pocket handle with inscription, bottle lids, plastic container, rope/belt for machines, piece of belt, broken canvas strap, peices of broken dark brown glazed textured pottery, large circular threaded joins, large elboiw threaded elbow joins .2 upper left compartment containing brush head, sandpaper and assorted rusty metal objects .3 upper middle compartment containing rusty weighing hook, rusty bolt and scrap metal .4 upper right compartment containing broken tan pottery, rusty threaded T join, unknown green paper with inscription .5 lower left compartment containing white cotton waste, assorted circular rusty metal objects, assorted rusty nails and washers, orange lid with insciption, nut and bolt .6 lower left middle compartment containing unknown assorted metal objects, peice of broken clamp and felt .7 lower right middle compartment containing large rusty nuts and unknown rusty metal objects .8 lower right compartment containing assorted threaded rusty circular metal objects, rusty nut and bolt, metal pump part, rusty mobil oil tin 20litres, old newspaper scraps,

Hole punch for use with leather - has needles inside. Wooden handle, metal hole punch on end.leatherworking tools

Wooden carpenter's plane with metal blade.planes, woodworking tools

This quern was made from Harcourt granite. Querns were used for grinding wheat into flour. (Wooden handles missing from this catalogued object).It was most likely made on Mount Alexander, in spare time, by a quarry worker using his employer’s gang saw and other tools. Wheat is not now grown in Harcourt district . Early settlers engaged in cropping until they exhausted the fertility of the soil. This quern was utilized by a local pioneer who intended to be self-sufficient to the extent of grinding his own grain into flour.. Many local farmers sowed wheat immediately after clearing the land: raising of a wheat crop was evidence of use and improvement which, along with fencing and erecting other structures, was part of the mandatory steps to prove occupancy as a prelude to obtaining a Crown Grant for what had previously been deemed ‘crown land'The quern is of interest as a symbol of the desire for self-sufficiency and as a demonstration of the extent to which granite could be worked and shaped by masonry tools. Quern, granite, square slab with raised metal centre shaft and one rounded piece of granite with off-centre hole and side ridges.

This socket set was used by a member of the Wodonga community, Mr. Stanley William Flower. Mr. Flower was the father of a life member of the Wodonga Historical Society. The Indestro Company produced these sets from the mid 1920s until the 1960s or beyond, although the peak of their popularity was in the late 1920s and 1930sThis socket set is representative of the tools developed in the 1920s, particularly for convenience and portability. It was owned and used by a Wodonga resident.A set of 8 hex sockets set in a metal tray with a lid. The handle slides into a slot in the casing to secure the sockets in place for easy use. The diameter of each socket in engraved on the side. They were made in the USA and are probably a product of INDESTRO, but the brand is indistinct due to age and tarnishing. The set consists of an Ell-handle, eight sockets, and a screwdriver bit. The socket sizes are 7/16, 1/2, 9/16, 5/8, 11/16, 3/4, 7/8, and 15/16. The sockets are marked only with the fractional size and "Made in USA."On handle; "PATENTED DEC. 12, 1922socket sets, hand tools, indestro usa

Seed broadcaster were used to distribute seed across a small area or to fill in patches where seeding has been missed. This method does not ensure a uniform distribution of seeds unless the person using the machine walks at a very measured pace. It also requires a lot of time and manual labour if used in larger areas. It was most used for planting cover crops, grains, grasses and similar plants that do not need to be in neat rows. The hand-crank broadcast seed spreader was invented in 1868 by Samuel S. Speicher (aka. Spyker) in Indiana, USA. By 1955 new developments included the invention of a seed broadcaster on wheels and these smaller spreaders started to disappear.This item is representative of agricultural machinery used on a local, national and international level in the late 19th and early 20th century.A metal hand seed broadcaster. A hopper at the top was the receptacle for seed. The wheel with a handle on the side when turned drives the cogs attached to an axle. This action rotates the attached spindle with blades to propel seed out the front of the broadcaster. The broadcaster would have had a shoulder strap and a bag of seed would have been added to the hopper and secured with twine through the holes around the top.agricultural tools, farm machinery

A stirrup pump is a portable reciprocating water pump used to extinguish or control small fires. It is operated by hand. The operator places a foot on a stirrup-like bracket at the bottom of the pump to hold the pump steady. The bottom of the suction cylinder was placed inside a bucket of water. Water was drawn by pumping the handle up and down to create suction. The pumps were used in a variety of settings to enable quick action if a small fire broke out. They were a vital tool in London during the Blitz of World War 11. On the local level they were also used for spraying fruit trees, plants and vines. The Crescent Tool Company was founded in 1907. The Crescent brand has changed ownership multiple times. It is currently owned by Apex Tool Group but still also trades as Crescent in Australia. This pump was donated by Geoff Williams of Wodonga and was used at "Orange Vale" farm at Oxley Flats near Wangaratta. "Orange Vale" was owned by Mr. Robert Williams. Widely known as "Uncle Bob". in the 1940s Mr. Williams opened up the family property, established in the 1860s, as a camp for young people from Wangaratta. By 1951, this had extended to catering to group camps for children from Victoria, New South Wales and Queensland. 250 children could be accommodated at one time and as many as 3,000 children enjoyed the facilities each year.These pumps were important in fire fighting in a range of settings and were adapted for use in agricultural and small farm settings,A brass stirrup pump with wooden handle. It consists of 2 parallel brass pieces, one with a foot piece attached to keep the pump steady. The base of the pump is fitted with a pierced metal filter that prevents grit and debris being drawn into the pump and fouling it. 2 butterfly screws enable adjustment of height and securing a hose.crescent tools, orange vale, fire equipment

The first bicycles arrived in Australia in the 1860s. They gradually gained in popularity and by the 1890s they offered a cheap and relatively comfortable mode of transport. Far being just a means of leisure, long distance cycle travelling became a fact of life in rural areas for people such as sheep shearers and other agricultural labourers with migratory work. The bicycle and swag travelled much of Australia on dusty dirt tracks, long before the automobile was introduced. Today the bicycle continues to be an important item for general, cheap transport, sport and leisure. Tool kits such as those shown in the item, were and important piece of equipment for bicycle enthusiasts, particularly on a longer ride where assistance may not be close by if the rider experienced a punctured tyre. John Bull Rubber Co. Ltd. was a British tyre manufacturer based in Leicester. It was established in 1906 and was originally named Leicester Rubber Company. In 1915, a new factory was built in Evington Valley Road as indicated on the repair outfit tin in this kit. It was renamed John Bull Rubber in 1934 after its popular product of the same name. In 1958, the company was acquired by Dunlop Rubber. A leather bag containing tools and 2 tins containing rubber patches to repair bicycle tyres. The bag has 2 straps and metal buckles to attach it to the back of the bicycle seat.On tin 1: "The John Bull / Repair Outfit/ John Bull Rubber Co. Ltd./ Evington Valley Mills, Leicester" On tin 2: "ZENITH Repair Outfit / For Cycle and Rubber Repairs/ Self Vulcanizing" On tin 3: Around the DUNLOP logo "Six Self Lighting/ Patch Heat Units / For Cycle Tube/ Vulcaniser"bicycle history, bicycle repairs, john bull rubber, cycling leisure

Hay bale saws were a common agricultural tool. Ed Nolt, a Dutch resident of Pennsylvania, USA, invented the prototype for the small square baler back in the 1930s. His patent was purchased and mass produced during the 1940s. These balers quickly spread throughout the world and became a common agricultural machine. The hale bale saw was used to cut up the bales when distributing feed to livestock. As modern agricultural production has turned more to the use of large round bales, these small saws have become obsolete. This saw was used by a farmer in North Barnawatha approximately 18 kilometres from Wodonga, Victoria.This saw is representative of the agricultural tools in the mid to late 20th century.A metal saw with 2 wooden handles. The saw has a very coarse serrated edge. One of the handles is parallel to the blade, and the other handle is perpendicular to the blade.agricultural tools, hay bale saws, north east victoria

Braun was originally founded in Germany in 1921, making components for radio sets. After World War 2 they extended their range to include audio and camera equipment. By the 1950s and 1960s the company branched out into electric shavers, kitchen appliances and hair care products. Home hair styling sets and hot rollers became popular in the 1960s and continued to be an important woman's styling appliance throughout the 1970s and 1980s. In 1975 this product was advertised at a price of $37.95. From 1984 until 2007, Braun was a wholly owned subsidiary of Gillette, which had purchased a controlling interest in the company in 1967. Braun is now a subsidiary of Procter & Gamble, which acquired Gillette in 2005.Personal grooming items such as this became important personal accessories and grooming tools for women throughout the mid 20th century across Australia.This hair styler set contains 20 hair rollers which were heated by placing them on the 20 heating posts fitted inside the unit in the case. An electric cord supplied was attached to an electric socket. A red dot on top of each posts darkened when the rollers were sufficiently heated. A detailed instruction booklet is included. A mirror is attached to the inside of the lid.On 2 metal plates on back of unit: Plate 1: MANUFACTURED FOR BRAUN ELECTRICS (AUST) PTY. LTD. / 24 JOHNSTON ST., FITZROY, VIC. 650-WATT 240 V. A. C. ONLY 50 CYCLE CAT. NO. B102 Plate 2: VOLT 240 AC ONLY FREQUENCY 50 H Z. 0.66 AMP / RETURN TO SUPPLIER FOR REPAIR Across bottom: PATENTS PENDING / MADE IN HONG KONGbraun electrics, personal appliances, hair styling

This microscope was made in the mid 1960s as an introductory microscope for students. As indicated by the brand plate on the front, it could be set to 3 different magnification settings of 75x, 300x or 600x. When originally produced these microscopes came as part of a kit including microscope slides and testing samples.This item is representative of a range of scientific tools available to engage young people in scientific discovery in the 1960s.Small green and silver metal microscope with adjustable focus dial. It includes a mirror and clamp arms to hold slides and plastic knobs to adjust focus.On metal plate: "tasco/ 75x - 300x - 600x/ 600x/ REG-NO-GE 6'00" Underneath rubber base:"PAT. PEND. NO. 026004/ JAPANtasco, student microscope, microscope

The fireplace was the main heating source for small houses before 1900, so a bellows to coax a flame from a dying fire was important. They would also be used to keep the fire going in a woodfire oven for cooking. In later cooking ranges, domestic water supply was also heated through the cooking range so bellows helped to maintaing a supply of hot water.An item of local and social signifance throughout Australia, bellows were usedin homes to coax a domestic fire into flame for heating and cooking purposes. It was probably used in late 19th to early 20th century homes.A small set of wooden and canvas bellows with metal tip commonly used in households in the 19th and early 20th centuries.bellows, domestic tools

This style of geared drill was commonly referred to as an egg-beater drill and was first patented in 1838. During the late 19th century these drills became more common due to the development of mass production. Users also began to mount the drill onto a frame. This allowed greater control over the drill and removed the need to be holding it in both hands. This gave the operater greater control over the item to be drilled. The drill could be easily removed when required. This item is an example of a domestic woodworking tool commonly used before the widespread use of power tools. The construction of the basic wooden frame also demonstrates the ingenuity of early pioneers and tradesmen in adapting tools to suit their own needs.A metal hand drill which has been mounted on to an improvised wooden stand. hand tools, mass production, egg beater drills

This item is representative of grinding stones used throughout Australia to enable people to maintain farm and domestic utensils.A large circular grinding stone with metal handle. It was used on a stand and also with water to shapen blades such as knives, axes and hand shears. The wheel is a large cirle of sandstone. These were common in the late 19th and early 20th Century. It would have been used on a wooden frame.domestic tools, household utensils