This flat hinge was recovered from an unknown shipwreck in the coastal waters of Victoria in the late 1960s to early 1970s. It is part of the John Chance Collection. The size of the hinge indicates that it was used for a large item such as an entry door, gate or perhaps a ship fitting. The blue-green patina on the metal is caused by a reaction from its exposure to external elements such as the sea water. The hinge is likely to have been in the water for over 100 years, as the more widely known shipwrecks along Victoria’s Shipwreck Coast date from 1837 to 1940. Before the Middle Ages metal was expensive and took a lot of effort to work with As time went on, methods were discovered for working more easily with metals, and ways were found for combining different metals to make alloys that made the metals stronger and more durable. Hinges forged by blacksmiths began to be common in homes. In the Victorian Era steam power was introduced and manufacturing boomed. Hinges could be made by machines quickly and in great number. All sorts of applications were found to take advantage of the features of hinges. They continue to be developed and used in a huge variety of ways. Although the hinge 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 fittings or imported for use in Colonial Victoria in the 19th to early 20th century. The hinge 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. Hinge; heavy bronze flat hinge, hand forged. Flat with narrow, arrow shaped end that lares outward to wider straight end. Attached to the wide end is a rectangular, upward curved knuckle. There are five formed holes along the hinge, two are oval shaped and three are round. The hinge has a blue-green patina.flagstaff hill, warrnambool, flagstaff hill maritime museum, maritime museum, shipwreck coast, flagstaff hill maritime village, great ocean road, john chance, hinge, hardware, flat hinge, door fitting, ship’s fitting, 19th century metalwork, forged hinge

O.F.M. was the ORDNANCE FACTORY MARIBYRNONG. Up to the end of June 1943 and at a time when the wages were about £5 ($10) to £6 ($12) per week Australia had spent £1,106,000,000 (£156 per head) on the war effort. A lot of the money was spent at home in making war necessities such as armaments, munitions, boots, clothing, and in providing special training. Significant increases in numbers occurred in the personnel employed in the fighting services, and also in the work force involved in the war effort. During the financial year 1942-1943 the war cost Australia £561,743,000 (over a billion dollars), while the Income Tax raised from individuals totalled only 16.5% of this amount. To finance the war the Australian government had previously borrowed money from the public, and from institutions such as the savings banks, friendly societies, and life assurance societies, by running three successfully subscribed Liberty Loans. The institutions had contributed considerably more money to these Liberty Loans than the public, however it can be argued that the public members of these institutions had also contributed some money indirectly. The 4th Liberty Loan which opened on 5 October 1943 and closed on 9 November 1943 was intended to raise £125,000,000, with the government aiming for 750,000 subscribers. Bonds costing £10 each could be bought on a time payment scheme. A total of £126,408,000 was raised at two different interest rates and maturity dates, however the number of subscribers had only reached 567,533. Some newspaper reports of the time indicate that the low number of subscribers was a partial failure of the loan, because spare money in the community could lead to inflation at a time when goods were in short supply. The government set target quotas on how much money should ideally be raised in a particular district, and how many subscribers should ideally take part. Often these quotas proved to be excessive. The Special Red Pennant Award as given to the No 1 FORGE O.F.M. was normally for achieving the highest per capita contribution within each particular group. What is unknown at this stage is what other entities were in the same group, or how large the group was. There were other variations of the awards such as those given to country districts, where a star was placed on the left hand corner of the pennant if the money quota was reached, while two or three stars indicated that the quota was doubled or tripled. A bar was also included on the pennant if the quota of subscribers was achieved, while two bars indicated double the quota of subscribers. The above information was sourced from Trove newspaper articles at: (1) http://nla.gov.au.nla.news-article70439716, (2) http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article141292541, (3) http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article11797265, (4) http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article11788072, and from (5) http://static.awm.gov.au/images/collection/pdf/RCDIG1070158--1-.PDF (see page 580).This framed award has significance in that it serves as a historic reminder that the No 1 Forge O.F.M. and the Ordnance Factory Maribyrnong once existed within the Shire of Braybrook, and later the City of Sunshine, and that it was involved in the manufacture of ordnance for World War 2. It also serves as a historic reminder that it costs a huge amount of money for a country to be involved in a major war, and that a big contribution is required from the public to raise money and to produce goods for the war effort.Permanently sealed brown stained wood frame with a glass face. Enclosed behind the glossy glass is a triangular shaped pennant made of red felt material. The red colour appears to be somewhat faded. The inscriptions and markings on the pennant are in blue, gold, and white coloured inks.The AUSTRALIAN COAT OF ARMS diagram plus the following writing: SPECIAL AWARD / 4th LIBERTY LOAN / Oct.-Nov. 1943 / No 1 FORGE O.F.M.4th liberty loan, special award, ordnance factory maribyrnong, no 1 forge o.f.m., oct - nov 1943, red pennant

Johann Elias Bleckmann (1784-1856) founded a steel goods shop in Ronsdorf near Dusseldorf Germany. After completing a business education in his father's business, his son Johann Heinrich August Bleckmann (1826-1891) gained further experience through travel in North and South America. When his father died, he took over the steel goods store and moved it to Solingen. He bought a hammer mill in Mürzzuschlag Styria (Austria) in 1862 and converted it into a modern crucible casting steel smelter. His "Phoenix Steel", which he produced himself, achieved worldwide renown. He then went on to establish a file and tool factory and later founded a steel and plate rolling mill. Apart from cutlery blades, the company's self-produced steel was also processed into tools, scythes, rifle parts, etc. His sons Eugen and Walter continued after his death in 1891 at the Phoenix steelworks. However, by the end of the First World War, the two brothers fell into economic difficulties as a result of eliminating a large part of their foreign trade. In 1921, the company was converted into a public limited company and merged three years later with the company Schoeller & Stahlwerke. Made by Bleckmanns a significant Austrian manufacture of cutlery and tools in a recognized area of Germany famous for the production of steel items. The item is giving a snapshot of early colonial and European trades persons tools and gives an interesting insight into the development and progression of European tool and steel development and innervation prior to the First World War.Drop hand forged steel wrench with unusual locking mechanism to size jaw opening made by J E Bleckmann, Solingen Germany.Machine stamped on handle of wrench LOTUS L R GEBRAUCHS under has MUNSTER, J E BLECKMANN, SOLINGEN Germany. [ Translated: LR Gebrauchs= use,usage, or custom application] [Lotos] Translated: Lotus ie flower] [Solingen =town in Rhine valley]manufactures, tools, engineering, blacksmith, workshop tool, dropforged, handmade, wrench, adjustable wrench, phoenix steel, j e bleckmann, solingen, murzzuschlag, steel mill, cutlery, steel foundery

Horse harness that connects a horse to a horse drawn vehicle. 2 types 1. breast collar or breast strap 2. full collar or collar-and-hames. On either side of the collar are wooden or metal bars called hames.Short knob top, forged hook, nut and bolt joint, loose rein ring, chain bottom, steel cased. They go on the collar.hames, horse equipment, horse collar

Printed invoice with business address and image of a forge on the top. The invoice was made at to Fred Martell of the Ballarat School of Mines, and was signed by James BarrettStamped 'Passed for Payment Ballarat'james, ballarat school of mines, barrett, william barrett, blacksmith, armstrong st ballarat, frederick martell, ovens, safety cage, mining blacksmith, agricultural blacksmith

Blacksmithing was a subject taught at the Ballarat School of Mines. This image was reproduced in the 1914 Ballarat School of Mines Annual Report.A number of men train on three blacksmith forges at the Ballarat School of Mines. The men are working in pairs on anvils and appear to have two supervisors students, ballarat school of mines, blacksmith, forge, anvil, blacksmithing, students, ballarat school of mines, blacksmith, forge, anvil, blacksmithing

Miners Axehead and Pick head. Both items significantly rusted. Axehead displaying the process of construction in the forge by the apparent separation of metal layers/.

Used in the late 19th centuryA forged steel Bit brace with a large screw to secure the drill bit and a knob at the end of the turning handle. It was used in the late 19th century.on the knob - "10" is stampedsteel, tools, carpentry tools, woodworking tools, cutting tools

A thick forged steel three pronged fork hoe head made by a blacksmith. There is a hole at the fork head where a handle can be attached.agricultural tools, gardening tools, hoes, gardening forks, handtools

Possibly used to melt substance over the stove in the assay room. Forged iron oval bowl shaped pot with long hollow cylindrical handles on either side (threaded on one end) and slightly bent.

Wall mounted drill press, flat belt pulley driven. Flat belt pulley and flywheel on LHS, hand operated drill lowering mechanism on RHS. Unpainted.Cast in relief on main frame "No 1082" on LHS, "Buffalo Forge Co. / Buffalo N.Y." on RHS.trades, metal working

This mixed set of clubs and bag was collected as an early example of golf equipment before the current trend of matched clubs and bag.One of a mixed set of golf clubs held at HGC.Hickory shaft and metal head, leather grip.Inscription on head: "Cochranes Ltd. Edinburgh. Rustless. Warranted. Hand forged. Made in Scotland. 3."golf clubs, irons (golf)

Iron Hooks: Hand Forged. One 40cm long with eyelet. One 30cm long has curved hook on both ends. Cast Iron.cottage, miners

James Leslie Forge was the son of Christopher Forge (1860-1912) who had open a drapery in Nicolson Street, Footscray in 1898. He donated 100 pounds for the reredos.reredos, heritage listed, james leslie forge, gifts-1917

Used for shaving before safety razors became popular in the 1950s. Made in Sheffield, England. Sharpened with a leather strop.Two cut-throat razors and their cases. One razor has a black handle, and the other has a white handle. The cases are made of cardboard.One razor has the words HAND FORGED BENGALL RAZOR MADE IN SHEFFIELD ENGLAND marked on the box. cut-throat-razor shaving-razor

Ernest (Ern) Wood was the golf professional at Kingston Heath and played in the late 1930s.Metal shaft and head, leather grip.Inscription on head: "Ernest Wood. Kingston Heath GC. Stainless. Hand forged in Australia. Sand iron."golf clubs, golf professionals, irons (golf), sand irons (golf), ern wood

Don Walker was club professional at Heidelberg Golf Club 1936-1941. He died on active service in World War 2. The Don Walker Memorial Trophy is named in his honour.One of a full set of Don Walker golf clubs held at HGC.Metal shaft and head, leather grip.Inscription on head: "Don Walker. Stainless. Hand forged. Designed by PGA Australia. Registered number 14052"heidelberg golf club, golf clubs, golf professionals, don walker, irons (golf)

This mixed set of clubs and bag was collected as an early example of golf equipment before the current trend of matched clubs and bag. This putting cleek is a narrow, low lofted club face - the 180s equivalent of a putter. Inscribed with the name "James Braid" (1870-1950) a Scottish professional golfer and golf course architect who won the British Open 5 times.One of a mixed set of golf clubs held at HGC.Hickory shaft and iron head, leather grip.Inscription on head: "McLean Bros and Rigg. Royal. Warranted hand forged. James Braid. Putting cleek."golf clubs, irons (golf), james braid, putters

Black and white photo of Nunawading Apex Club members rebuilding barn moved from Dandenong to Schwerkolt Cottage. Now blacksmith's forge. 3 copies)schwerkolt cottage, apex club dandenong

Used in the 19th century.A forged steel hatchet with a wooden handle used to open wooden fruit boxes or cases .It has a small groove to lift nails. It was used in the 19th century.woodworking tools, steel, froes, cleaving axes, axes, cutting tools, hand axes, hatchets, cleavers, tomahawks

A thick forged steel three pronged fork hoe head made by a blacksmith. There is a bent extension piece at the fork head where a handle can be attached.agricultural tools, gardening tools, hoes, gardening forks, handtools

Information about Susannah Forge (nee Poulter), daughter of Samuel Poulter and Susan Haylock. Includes an article from the Wangaratta Chronicle Feb 13 1901, relating the bushfire at Mrs Forge's property.3 pages. Downloaded from internet site.poulter family, susannah forge

Musket ball found at the site of the American Revolutionary War battle of Valley Forge. This musket ball is typical of the weapons used in the Revolutionary War period 1775 to 1783.war, ball, projectile, musket, revolutionary, american, revolution

Black and white photo of Nunawading Apex Club members erecting barn moved from the Dandenong Ranges to Schwerkolt Cottage. Now blacksmith's forge. 2 copiesschwerkolt cottage, apex club dandenong

These vintage steel sewing shears were used at 'Belle's Bonnets' Milliners in Flinders lane Melbourne in the 1950's. Mrs Belle Phillpi was the Proprietor. Mrs Jill Sebire's wedding head piece was made at Belle's Bonnets.A pair of heavy vintage large hand forged steel dressmaking, tailors shears. They are joined with a pivot point screw. One finger hole is larger than the other.steel, scissors, cutting tools, dressmaking equipment, dressmaking shears, dressmaking scissors

Used in the 19th centuryAn all steel bit brace made of forged metal with a round knob on the turning handle and a screw to tighten the bit when attached. It was used in the late 19th Centurytools, carpentry tools, woodworking tools, steel

Used in the 19th century.A long bladed forged steel adze head. It was used by woodworkers for cutting and trimming rough wooden planks and shaping and smoothing wooden surfaces in the late 19th century.woodworking tools, steel, froes, cleaving axes, axes, cutting tools, hand axes, adzes

4x steel Automobile Spanners ' Vana Dium' used by a resident of the City of Moorabbin c1950 Vanadium is a hard, silver-grey metallic element. It is a ductile transition metal with a natural resistance to corrosion and stability against alkalis, acids and salt water. Vanadium is found in over 60 different minerals including vanadinite, carnotite, roscoelite and patronite.This Vana Dium Spanner set is typical of the type used by car mechanics in the City of Moorabbin c1950Set of 4 graduated automobile steel spanners made by Vana Dium Ltd USA c 1950 Front Forged VANA DIUM Steel 3/4 Pat.Pend. Back AUTO-KIT No.100 Made in USAspanners, automobiles, car mechanics, vana dium ltd usa, vanadium, uranium, early settlers, market gardeners, blacksmiths, tools, building equipment, hammers, moorabbin shire, bentleigh, mckinnon, highett, cheltenham,mcewan james pty ltd, melbourne, bunnings pty ltd,

This mixed set of clubs and bag was collected as an early example of golf equipment before the current trend of matched clubs and bag. The niblick is equivalent to a 9 iron, used to play out of bunkers.One of a mixed set of golf clubs held at HGC.Hickory shaft and metal head, leather grip. Considerable wear on head.Inscription on head: "R Forgan & Son. Niblick. Scotia. Loft. Warranted hand forged. Est St Andrews."golf clubs, irons (golf), niblicks