The Lister Auto-Truck was a small monowheel tractor built for moving light loads around factories, railway yards and similar sites. They were built by R A Lister and Company of Dursley, Gloucestershire, well known for their range of small stationary engines The Auto-Truck was one of several monowheel tractors to appear in the 1920s and '30s, with the availability of small, reliable petrol engines, as developed for motorcycles and the stationary engines for which Lister were already known. These were tricycle vehicles, with the single leading wheel used for both drive and steering. Their simple construction carried most of the mechanism on this wheel as a single unit, the chassis with the trailing wheels being little more than a trailer for balance. Simplicity was a key feature. The engines were single-cylinder and air-cooled. Ignition was by magneto, rather than requiring a battery and electrical system. One of these designs was produced in the 1920s by George Grist of the Auto Mower Co., Norton St Philip, Somerset. The engine was a JAP 600 cc four-stroke air-cooled sidevalve, a typical small engine of the time. The Auto Mower Co. were Lister agents and when Lister heard of this 'Auto-Truck' they bought one for use in their own factory. It was used to carry heavy engine castings from the foundry to the machine shop. Lister customers saw them and there was such interest in wanting to buy them that Lister negotiated with Auto Mower to build them under licence. Although Lister were already well known for their small petrol stationary engines, these were heavy cast-iron engines with water hopper cooling and unsuitable for vehicle use. Lister remained with the JAP engine for the Auto-Truck. The Auto-Truck was designed for use in factories or other places with smooth surfaces of concrete or tarmac. This allowed the use of small solid-tyred wheels with only simple suspension, making the vehicle simple, cheap and lightweight. They had little ability on soft surfaces though and could even topple over if driven carelessly across slopes. Their design was a compromise between the top-heavy nature of the tall engine grouping above its wheel and a well thought-out chassis for stability. The bearing between them was a large diameter ring roller bearing, mounted at the lowest part of the chassis. This gave rigidity and stability, even after long wear. A ring of rolled channel girder was attached to the engine group and rollers on the chassis carried the load upon this. On early Auto-Trucks this bearing is set very low, in line with the chassis members, and is covered by thin steel plates. The front panel of the engine cover is distinctive with large ventilation holes and a Lister signature cut through it. Strangely this panel is made of thick cast iron, providing substantial weight high on the engine and only adding to its top heaviness. To improve visibility of moving vehicles in noisy factories, this panel was often painted white, the rest of the vehicle being Lister's usual brunswick green. The driver was seated on a Brooks bicycle saddle, which in recognition of the lack of vehicle suspension, was carried on the end of a cantilevered bar that acted as a leaf spring. A wide handlebar on the engine group was used for steering. A squeeze bar the width of this handlebar engaged the clutch. Controls included a hand throttle, a gear lever with two forward and one reverse gears, and a large handbrake lever. The engine unit rotated freely for a full 360° rotation. When used in reverse, the Auto-Truck could either be driven from the saddle, looking backwards over the driver's shoulder; or they could dismount, swivel the engine unit around and control it as a pedestrian-controlled truck from behind. Under the engine cover were two equal diameter tanks, a fuel tank for petrol and a shorter oil tank. Engine and chain-drive lubrication used a total-loss oil system, controlled by a small pump and needle valve. Info Ref: Lister Auto-Truck - Wikipedia https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lister_Auto-TruckHistoric - Industrial monowheel tractor for moving light loads around factories, railway yards and similar sites.The Lister Auto-Truck - small monowheel tractor Made of steel with three wheels. Powered by a J.A.P single cylinder petrol motor which is Hand Cranked to start.Lister puffing billy, lister, lister auto truck, monowheel tractor

Replica of a Victorian Railways replacement number board that 6A carried in the later 40's and 50's. This plate was created for the preservation society's reenactment trains in 2012 for the 50 year celebration of reopening to Menzies Creek. Loco: 6A In service Thursday, 18th July 1901 Livery Green Owner Puffing Billy Gauge 762 Status Preserved - Operational 6A Built in 1901 and painted two-tone green, this locomotive was issued to the Colac to Beech Forest line and was used in that line’s construction. Over the years, it saw service on all four lines, but mostly on the Colac to Crowes and Upper Fern Tree Gully to Gembrook lines. It was temporarily withdrawn from service in 1958 and returned to service at Belgrave in 1962 for the reopening of this line where it saw almost continuous service until being withdrawn in 1983. It has been restored, as far as possible, to its original condition with original design side tanks, low bunker, original size windows, etc., but a steel cow-catcher in place of the original style wooden one. It also has its original colour scheme of two-tone green with white lining.Historic - Replica Victorian Railways Locomotive Number Plate of the type used on Steam Locomotive 6A in the later 40's and 50's created for the preservation society's reenactment trains in 2012 for the 50 year celebration of reopening to Menzies Creek. Number Plate 6A Cast aluminum replica number board.6Apuffing billy, menzies creek, 6a, number plate

During prestige, long distance train journeys some carriages had air-conditioning, and the majority of passengers had to brave unheated carriages. To offer some comfort during the winter months, the non-air-conditioned carriages were provided with footwarmers. These were metal containers roughly 100 mm thick and 300 mm wide, and about 750 mm long, which were filled with salt crystals (concentrated crystalline hydrated sodium acetate). The footwarmers were covered by sleeves of thick canvas, and two footwarmers were usually placed in each compartment of non-air-conditioned carriages. To activate the chemicals, the footwarmers were heated almost to boiling point. This was done by removing the canvas sleeves and placing the footwarmers in a large bath of very hot water. After they had been heated, they were removed from the bath and the sleeves refitted. They were then ready to be placed in the carriages. The McLaren patent foot warmer was used on railways in New South Wales, Queensland, Victoria and South Australia as well as South Africa and New Zealand. It was during the 1901 royal visit by the Duke and Duchess of Cornwall that these foot warmers were first used in New Zealand in the royal carriage. Before railway carriage heating was introduced, McLaren patent foot warmers were placed on the floor of New South Wales government railway carriages from 1891 to provide a little passenger comfort. The rectangular steel container worked a bit like a hot water bottle but instead of water contained six and a half kilograms of loosely-packed salt crystals, (concentrated crystalline hydrated sodium acetate). This was permanently sealed inside the container with a soldered cap. After the foot warmer was heated in vat of boiling water for about one and a quarter hours the crystals became a hot liquid. (The melting point for sodium acetate is 58 degrees). There was a whole infrastructure of special furnaces set up at stations for the daily heating of foot warmers. By 1914 the Victorian railways had 4,000 foot warmers in service and by 1935 there were 33 furnaces at principal stations to heat them. After about 10 hours the container was picked up by the handle and given a good vertical shake which helped the cooled liquid reform into a solid mass of hot crystals. Staff or sometimes passengers shook them en route when the foot warmers began to get cold. However, as they were heavy this was only possible by fit and agile passengers. At the end of the journey the containers were boiled again for reuse on the next trip. Sodium acetate railway foot warmers were introduced in Victoria in 1889, Adelaide to Melbourne express in 1899. "Shaking up" on this service took place at Murray Bridge and Stawell on the tip to Melbourne and at Ballarat and Serviceton on the trip to Adelaide. The use of foot warmers began to decline in New South Wales from the 1930s with the first trial of carriage air-conditioning in 1936, steam heating from 1948 ad LP gas heating from 1961. By the early 1960s the main services using foot warmers were the overnight mail trains. info from : http://www.powerhousemuseum.com/collection/database/?irn=67564#ixzz4UBNzVf6t Under Creative Commons License: Attribution Non-Commercial There was a whole infrastructure set up at stations for the daily heating of foot warmers in special furnaces. In Victoria alone in 1935 there were 33 heating works.Historic - Victorian Railways - Carriage Heater - Foot warmerA rectangular-shaped stainless steel casing with a welded seam down the back and welded ends. There is a handle at one end for carrying and shaking. Inside the foot warmer are two baffle plates and three trays to contain the sodium acetate. There was a cast-iron ball in each internal compartment. puffing billy, victorian railways, carriage haeter, foot warmer, passenger comfort, station furnace, railway ephemera, early heating methods

Ratchet Assembly on a flat surface cast bearing; one side broken off. 10cm dia ratchet wheel held in position by a locating pin. Captive handle 1.2cm round steel 35cm long. A 15cm piece of chain is attached to the shaft.

The site specific sculpture is located at the entry to the office of Nillumbik Shire Council. It was commissioned in 1994 by the Shire of Diamond Valley for their 20 year celebration. Baines was chosen from a short list of three artists. He is an internationally renowned artist, particularly in the field of gold and silver smithing. 'Transaction' takes on the visual and aesthetic vocabulary of its surroundings. It is a statement of the geometry and idiosyncrasy of its immediate site. The series of arcs are reinterpreted into longitudinal curves in the sculpture. It is a transaction between the place and the anticipated entry to the building. The title also suggests the flow of civil and administrative procedures that take place daily within the Shire's offices. A large cascading form in stainless steel. Multiple rows of concave dishes set on long steel stems, which progressively increase in size as they rise in height. The work plays elaborately with perspective, and its repeated shapes are arranged in a orderly mathematical series. It faces a wheelchair ramp lined with polished steel rails, and is integrated with the architectural features of its forecourt setting, for which it was designed. The piece is sited in a small garden area and can be viewed from within the building's foyer. In bright sunlight, its dish-shapes cast elliptical shadows across walkways and lawns. N/Apublic art, transaction, ekphrasis2017, stainless steel, disks, poles, council

Hugh Lennon began making ploughs in Carlton from 1960 and within 10yrs the patented steel plough ,suitable to Australian conditions was outselling all imported cast iron mouldboard ploughs. This general purpose mouldboard plough was used to form the streets in Yarrawonga during the 1880's........from James A. Irwin of Oaklands [formerly Lake Rowan] "This plough was used by William Christians and John Holmes [Jim Irwin's father -in-law]when they worked on the formation of Belmore St, Yarrawonga" circa 1880- 1890'sThe early settlers [1870] used this type of plough pulled by one horse.to prepare their ground for wheat sowing. From the early 1880's the double -furrow plough came into general use, pulled by 2 horses. Being a wheeled machine, it allowed the ploughman to sit on the plough and save miles of walking during ploughing operations. Over the years ploughs became bigger, and needed more horses to pull them.

Used to collect the combed top from a noble comb. Consists of a cast iron stand and base with steel pinch rollers and a rotating iron feed tube to empty the top into a receiving bin.combing, windchest, machine, wool processing, industry, wool, rollers, bin

Hand Barrow. Appears to be handmade and it was used to transport products around the pottery.The wheels are made of cast iron; it has a steel frame with springs and the sides are made of wood.ceramics, terracotta

Wakizashi Japanese Sword curved, steel metal blade. Ivory or white plastic handle. Circular hilt cast metal . (Broken and piece missing from bottom.Two small bronze dragons taped to handle by flat woven cloth tape.Tip of handle covered by cap with dragons embossed. Refer also to 0106.2 Scabbard.Hilt has elaborate markings cap on handle has embossed dragon.

Hand brake pawl, possibly from a cable or horse tram, smaller than an electric tram version consisting of a cast or forged pawl with a forged, turned and threaded bolt, steel washer and nut. Components have been removed from very rotten wooden floor. Possibly c1900tramcars, brakes, handbrakes

Demonstrates a hand written note about the coefficient of friction.Foolscap sheet - titled "Some special Co-efficient of Friction" setting out parameters for steel tyres and rails, cast iron brake blocks, velocity and types of paving. Hand writtentrams, tramways, brakes, reports, tramcars

Australian Tramway Employees Association (Tramways Union) badge. Badge made on a steel/ silver backing with words "Australian Tramway Employees Association" on outer edge of badge with a royal blue enamel background. In centre of badge has the Australian coat of arms with a railway type spoke wheel above the logo and underneath the coat of arms the words "Federated Australia" in a banner. Has a steel ring through a hole in the top of the badge. On back of badge has stamped into the badge "V1 / 5947", possibly indicating state of Victoria and badge number. On the base of the badge has words "Wittenbach & Co. / STSIL" cast into the badge. See image files for front and back of badge. Not known when made or used.tramways, trams, unions, badges, atea, employees

Heavy cast metal paper clip bronze colour with relief pattern, steel spring.commerce, office equipment, paper clip

Document. Illuminated request. His Majesty's Ministers of the State for the Commonwealth of Australia request the bonour of the prescence of The Secretary of Mcivor Shire Mr. H. D. Thomas and Lady in the Exhibition Building, Melbourne, on Thursday, 9th May , 1901, to witness the Opening of the Parliament of the Commonwealth. Edmund Barton, Prime Minister. At the bottom of the Picture there is a quote. The Young Queen. Authored by Kipling's Commonwealth Ode. Her hand was still on her sword hilt---the spur was still on her heel--- she had not cast her harness of grey war-dinted steel; High on her red-- splashed charger , beautiful, bold, and browned, Bright--eyed out of the battle, the young Queen rodeto be crowned, Loyal she gave the greeting, royal she bowed her head, Crying 'Crown me, my mother,' and the old Queen stood and said.

Bartram type AK, 5 HP horizontal cylinder water cooled magneto ignition oil Engine mounted on a metal and timber chassis with 4 wheels. It has its own cam driven water pump which pumps cooling water over metal gauze for evaporative cooling. Painted green. It has two flywheels, one at each end of the crankshaft, with a flat belt pulley attached to one flywheel. Cooling tank of galvanised steel with Bartram stencilled on one side. In working order.Cast nameplate on front of crankcase with a Bartram logo cast on also "Bertram / Type / AK"

A vintage weighing machine used by merchants or grocers or in kitchens for food sale or preparation. It came from the home of Mr Thomas Gaudion and was used in the 1920's.An antique blue and white speckled cast iron and metal balance scale and weights for weighing food. On one side is a dish shaped oval tray sitting on a claw frame for holding food items and opposite is a smaller plate for holding the steel weights: 4lb, 2lb, 2x 1lb, 8oz, 4oz and 1oz. There are seven in total.'....Ters' with an indecipherable ....'Watters Sydney'kitchen equipment, kitchenware, cooking, scales

These cherry pitters were used in the early 1900's. The Wandin area had many cherry orchards at the time.A cast iron and wood dual cherry pitter which can be mounted to a table or bench with claws tightened by a winged-head screw underneath. The handle has a wooden bulbous knob, two long curved steel shafts which when engaged, forcibly removes the stone or pit from the cherry. It has a rectangular cast iron trough for the unpitted cherries on the opposite end which is inclined. When the pit is removed it falls in to a small bowl you can place underneath and the cherries are pierced onto the prong to be removed by hand, falling again into a small bowl.GOODELL CO. ANTRIM, N.H. U.S.A.cherry pitters, cherry stoners, cast iron, cooking equipment

J. Mann and Sons was first established as a farm produce store in 1921. The range of products was extended in the 1930s and included groceries and hardware, as well as the first petrol bowser in Wodonga outside the store. After WWII, the premises were extended and the range of products continued to increase. In the 1960s the Mann Family opened a new supermarket in Wodonga, in addition to the hardware business, providing steel, plumbing and industrial supplies, and they employed over 100 people at one stage. With changes in the retail industry, the Mann Family sold the main hardware business to Bunnings and the produce business to the Kelly brothers in 2006.This item was an important everyday feature in many stores when items were wrapped in brown paper before the introduction of plastic bags.The paper dispenser has a wooden top and base, with a cast iron frame and lever. There is a removable metal rod which holds the paper roll in place. It was used for dispensing brown wrapping paper. The Blade" lever is not sharp, but was used to stabilise the paper roll so the paper can be easily torn off at the required length. An empty paper roll is included.mann wodonga, wodonga businesses

See image 2085i4 for tender re brake blocks detailing the type of cast iron and the Brinell hardness.Demonstrates MMTB tender documents of 1923.Manila colour file marked "Specifications" containing 25 different specifications of the MMTB 1922 to 1925. Not all dated, generally foolscap sheets either pinned or stapled. Dated Tender No. For supply of: 30/6/1925 157 Steel castings Not dated Ballast Hopper trucks 1923 Steelwork for electric and cable tramway crossings Pamphlet Monier Pipes and box culverts Pamphlet Monier – septic tanks and aerators Not dated 229 Purchase of removal of cottages 101 to 107 Bouverie St Carlton Not dated Side tipping ballast trucks 18/7/1923 226 Brake shoes - see pdf file for a full scan 18/7/1923 222 Steel tramway tyres 18/7/1923 220 Concrete Mixing Plants Not dated 219 Dressed wooden poles 9/5/1923 215 Bricks 19/4/1923 214 Reinforced Concrete fencing posts 20/3/1923 213 Tramway steel wire ropes 28/3/1923 212 Painting exterior of 673 Bourke St Melbourne Not dated 210 Alterations to offices at Rathdowne St depot Not dated 202 80lb steel rails and fishplates 5/1/1923 198 GE201 Motors 6/12/1922 197 Hydraulic pit jacks 6/12/1922 195 Supply of Low tension feeder cable Not dated 194 Supply of high tension cable 4/12/1922 188 Supply of hard drawn trolley wire 6/11/1922 186 Dressed wooden poles 20/11/1922 182 Steel Poles 20/12/1922 171 Erection and completion of new car depot Glen Huntly Roadtrams, tramways, mmtb, tenders, specification, trackwork, motors, cables, poles, ballast wagons, glenhuntly tram depot, brake blocks

Bell used by the conductor to signal to the driver to stop, proceed or an emergency stop. The flat leather strap indicates it was used on a cable tram, rather than an electric tramcar which were fitted with round leather cords. The leather strap is riveted to a round steel ring.Demonstrates a conductors communication or signal bell made for use on cable trams.Brass Conductor Communication Bell, or signal bell, consisting of cast frame, bell striker and bell pull part. Has at both ends, four open screw holes that were used to secure the bell to the roof of a tram with a flat 22mm wide leather strap attached using a steel ring.trams, tramways, conductors, bells, cable trams

Badge made for the Hawthorn Tramways Trust for use by employees as a free pass to travel on their tram services. c1916. Made by Stokes & Sons Melbourne.Demonstrates a HTT employees pass.Badge - made from a pressed or cast metal, stamped '85' on rear with the manufacturers name at the base. Fitted with a steel ring through an eyelet at the top.passes, travel passes, htt, tramways, employees

Provided by the Prahran and Malvern Tramways Trust to its employees as a pass for free travel on its trams. See item 466 for other examples.Demonstrates a travel pass issued to PMTT Employees for free travel.Cast triangular brass badge with a single hole in the top, with words "Prahran Tramways Trust Malvern" and "Employees Pass" on one side and on reverse"the number "47" stamped in and the letter "O" engraved. Raised edges with flat sides. Manufacturer unknown. Fitted with a steel lug or ring at the top of the item. tramways, trams, badges, tickets, travel pass, pmtt, employees, passes

The badge belonged to the Donor's father - Bill Irvin, who was a SEC tram driver. Bill and his elder brother Dan, both drove trams in Ballarat. The Union badge confirmed membeship of the Union and was permitted to be worn on a uniform.Has a strong association with Bill Irvin, SEC tram driver of the 1930's and demonstrates the importance of being a union member at the time and the badge provided by the unionAustralian Tramway Employees Association (Tramways Union) badge. Badge made on a steel/ silver backing with words "Australian Tramway Employees Association" on outer edge of badge with a royal blue enamel background. In centre of badge has the Australian coat of arms with a railway type spoke wheel above the logo and underneath the coat of arms the words "Federated Australia" in a banner. Has a hole in the top of the badge for a steel ring or a method of attachment to a uniform. On back of badge has stamped into the badge "BL 42", possibly indicating Ballarat and badge number. On the base of the badge has words "Wittenbach " cast into the badge. tramways, trams, unions, badges, atea, employees, bill irvin