Early form of home heating and because of the copper dish was considered one of the better models|Manufacturing History Museum Victoria|Commentary: Australian manufacturing history Philip Wollen|Many years ago, when I was an ambition young man, I took over a company called Hecla.|This business was formed in 1872, long before Federation was even contemplated. The company established a rich tradition in the Australian manufacturing industry. The prodigious product range included kettles, mixers, toasters, hairdryers, urns, pie warmers, bain maries, and electric blankets for the domestic and commercial market. During the war it even manufactured parts for aircraft. It was one of Melbourne's largest employers.|Hecla was one of the pioneers in TV advertising, led by icons like Bert Newton, Bobby Limb, Evie Hayes and Graham Kennedy who ad Jibbed his way through irreverent and unscripted naughtiness about Hecla electric blankets and foot warmers. The slogan was 'By Hecla, its good.'. One can imagine the fun Bert and Graham had with their double entendres.|In the 60's Hecla entered into a partnership with General Electric and expanded rapidly. The massive factory, on the corner of Alexandra Parade and Chapel Street overlooking the Yarra River was a Melbourne landmark.|The business was formed by one of the scions of Melbourne industry. Mr Marriott was a metal worker of some repute, building the lights in front of Melbourne's Parliament House, the first steam car, the sideboard at the RACY Club, and the first factory to run on electricity.|By the time I acquired the company it was a shadow of its former self, incapable of competing with cheap Chinese imports. Wandering around the warehouse late one night I discovered a large, boarded up storeroom which appeared not to have been opened in decades.|Over several months I combed through the room, unearthing a treasure trove of products from a bygone era. Dusty files, engineering drawings, wooden prototypes, patent records, and correspondence from distributors on every continent.|I decided to track down an old man, Ray, long retired after 50 years with Hecla. He was not well off financially and welcomed the paid work. It turned out that he had done his apprenticeship with the company and there wasn't much he didn't know about it. He had been personally involved in the manufacture of almost every type of product on the Hecla smorgasbord's of products.|So for over 2 years he methodically assembled a mini museum of Hecla products, painstakingly polishing them and ensuring they were in working order. He attached the original brochure of each product and their respective warranty cards. For him it was ,a labour of love. For me it was a fascinating, if vicarious journey, into Australia's manufacturing past.|My colleagues complained that I was wasting money on his salary, our time and factory space on stuff that should have been dumped years ago. I tried to explain that I was merely a steward of the Hecla tradition, not merely an owner. Besides, the look on Ray's face convinced me that there was another dynamic at work. One I could see, but didn't really understand.|After he Passed away I faced a dilemma. What to do with this 'museum' of Hecla history. Nobody was interested.|So I kept the 'stuff' in private storage, hoping that same day someone would be interested in it. And the years passed.|Finally, I had a brainwave. Perhaps the Melbourne Museum would be interested. It was a long shot but I made the call. I had a nagging suspicion that they would think I was simply trying to get them to relieve me of paying for this huge collection to be taken to the tip.|To my surprise they said they would be willing to take a look, I secretly hoped that they would take the whole collection and not leave me with an incomplete jumble of appliances that I would indeed have to take to the tip.|On the appointed day, four serious looking young people showed up. Armed with digital cameras, note books and poker faces they spent four hours analysing the goods and the supporting materials. I asked them if they had any interest and their response was decidedly non-committal. It depends on the acquisitions committee, I was told. I was disheartened and packed up the exhibits to go back into storage.|Imagine my surprise when months later they telephoned to say that they had researched the history of the company, and yes, they would like to take the whole collection. And a truck with 'handlers' would arrive the following day to pick it up. Two years ago all Hecla's archives left me forever and went to the Museum's warehouse.|Well, to my delight I received a call yesterday inviting me to a private viewing of the exhibition at the Melbourne Museum. These young historians had meticulously assembled an impressive display of Melbourne's industry and technology going back to the 1800's. They thanked me like a significant benefactor when it is I who should have thanked them.|I saw the excitement in the eyes of these young people who had somehow managed to dig out and assemble memories from Australia's past. If this is the standard of care that the curators of the Melbourne Museum show all their exhibits, our history is in safe hands.|Their meticulous work took me back to those years long ago when I saw an old man lovingly assembling and cataloging a lifetime of his work.|It took me back to the day when Australians actually made things. Long before we became a nation of quarrymen. Before we became animal-factory 'farmers'. Of a time when products didn't break down, or dumped and replaced before the warranty expired. When men like Mr Marriott cared deeply about what their hands produced.|It reminded me of the call I received from an elderly lady in Tasmania asking for the electrical element for a Hecla K7 kettle. I searched the archives and called her back. The K7 was produced decades earlier and we no longer carried that spare part. She was quite disheartened and told me her kettle had finally 'given up the ghost' and she couldn't bear to part with it. It was a present from her husband on their wedding day 45 years ago. Her final words were 'they don't make them like that, do they? By Hecla they were good.'|I'm glad I followed my instinct and put Ray back on the payroll all those years ago..|I like to think Mr Marriott would have been pleased.Pedestal radiator. Base is cast iron with three feet with rose design on each. Pedestal supports a copper spherical reflector plate which has an electrical connection box at its base. The connection box is joined to the pedestal by a screw and nut to enable the reflector to be tilted. The element is cone shaped and is in the centre of the plate. The element is protected by a wire guard.Hecla Firedomestic items, heating

The bridal coat was part of a wedding ensemble worn by Peg Young in 1939. The final two images in the carousel include a wedding photograph of Peg and her husband. A letter accompanying the donation on file describes the outfit as: "Rosemary [Peg] looked very nice indeed in a simple white satin dress that made her look very tall and slim. It had trimming round the neck, down the front and on the shoulders that looked like quilting, with a little gold in it, and she wore gold slippers and a lovely lace veil, lent by Auntie Nellie. She carried a large sheaf of bright red roses." Mrs Peg Young, a Kew resident was at one stage President of the Children's Book Council of Australia. She was also a member of the Kew Historical Society. The coat was donated by her daughter, Mrs Helen Tutt.Floor-length satin bridal coat with a buttoned full length opening at the front extending the length of the garment. The front of the coat is hand-quilted in an abstract design of arabesques. The buttons are covered with the same satin fabric as the coat. Accompanying the dress there is a photo of the couple on the steps of the unnamed church in London and a letter describing the event, including the coat.Transcript of accompanying letter: Red Cottage Mallory Road Hove 4 Sussex England July 21.39 Dear Faith I have been up to London today to Rosemary's (Peggy) wedding. Though you might like to hear about it. To my mind the one sad part was that your Uncle Bertie and your adopted sister could not be there. Daisy (Margaret) has been simply splendid in all she has done. Rosemary looks very nice indeed in a simple white satin dress that made her look very tall & slim. It had trimming round the neck down the front & on the shoulders that looked like quilting, with a little gold in it, & she wore gold slippers & a lovely lace veil lent by Auntie Nellie. She carried a large sheaf of bright red roses. Her two bridesmaids were Mary & Brenda. They wore the same bridesmaids dresses as they wore at their sister Peggy's wedding a few weeks ago. They were very pale blue satin, simply made, with long skirts & they had lovely little flat bouquets made of the heads of all sorts of flowers out in the gold holder which I am sending you & tied round the handle with gold ribbon. They had wreaths of the same flowers in their hair. Nevil gave Rosemary away."costumes, wedding dresses, wedding coats, peg young, helen tutt, fashion design, fashion -- united kingdom, fashion -- 1930s

Royal Princess Theatre - A Sequel to Marjorie in Wonderland. Saturday, 1st September 1917. Australian Children's Pantomime. Price of Programme, One Penny. Matinee Performance. In aid of 'Fruit & Vegetables Fund For Our Soldiers In The Trenches.' Produced by Miss Girlie Mackay and Miss Norma Moorhead. Musical Director: Mr. Stanley Upton. Stage Manager: Mr. J Dunphy. Lighting Effects: Mr. W Wenborn. Hon. Sec.: Mr. Norman Howell. Inside cover Synopsis of Pantomime. The First act is Marjorie's Dream of Fairyland. The curtain rises showing Marjorie asleep in cot from which Brownies entice her away. The curtain is. . . . Sale of Sweets supervised by Miss Nita E Weller and Assistants Rose by Mrs. A T Mackay. Dresses designed and made by Mrs. McQuie, Misses Lena Weller, Norma Moorhead, Girlie Mackay, assisted by Mrs. Ralph Ross, Mrs. Robert Mackay, and the Misses May Germann, Carola Iser and Hilda Meurer. Programme. Songs sung throughout Performance. Overture-'Marjorie in Wonderland; Specially arranged by Mr. Upton. Overture Synopsis-This is descriptive of Marjorie's Dream of Fairyland; at first mystic and subdued, tending to convey the impression of the mysterious movements of the Spirits of the Night intermingled with the occasional calls of birds, a vision of Elfland; from that the music develops in an expression of the coming of morn, and the stirring of forest nature into the active life of day, with the distant sounds of the anvil and of bells; and as the day wears on, the chiming of the hours again denote the approach of eventide, the melody throughout being that of the song 'Marjorie Sunbeam.' Instrumental Soloists are Messrs. J Collins & H M Hall. Act 1. 'Moonstruck' Myrtle Glanville. 2 Moonboat, by the Fairies. 3 'Fairy Revel' by the Bunnies. 4 'Bunnies Adventure' by the Bunnies.5 'Catching Birds' by the Goblins. 7 'Fairyland' Ruthie Murphy. Act 2. 1 'Fairy Song'. 2 'Kookaburra Mel Wearne. 3 'Marjorie Sunbeam' the Brownies. 4 'Kangaroo' the brownies. 5 'Autumn Winds' 6 'As I went o'er the Paddocks' Jean Walker. 7 'Sea Serpent' Jim Walker & Jim Long. 8 Swing Song, The Playmates. 9 'Belle Bird' Jean & Jim Walker. 10 'Baby Bear' Stella Coghlan. 11 'Coo-ee' Myrtle Glanville & Marie Hamilton. 12 Butterfly Dance Sheila Shannon.13 'The Mushroom Affair' Ruthie Murphy & Jim Nabbs. 14 'Corroboree' by the Aboriginals. 15 'The Boomerang' Ken McQuie. 16 Chorus-Wattle. 17 'In Two's & Three's' Brownies & Goblins. 18 'Bull Frog & Coon Stella Cook & Sid Whitelaw. 19 In a Fairy Boat' Rose Murphy. 20 Chorus-'Good Night'. _God Bless Our Splendid Men_ Cast of Characters: Jean Walker, Myrtle Glanville, Marie Hamilton, Thelma Thomas, Stella Coghlan, Jim Long, Jim Walker, Enid Webster, Lily Brown, Una Grelis, Biddie Bulley, Ellie Colcough, Dorothy Fullerton, Maud Clark, Una Leggo, Sheila Shannon, Ken Skewes, Jack Long, Bruce Barnier, Roger Horbury, Douglas Pain, Tom Henderson, Ruthie Murphy, Jim Nabbs, Tom Green, Douglas McQuie, Mel Wearne, Laurence Skewes, Sid Whitelaw, Ken Moore, Alma Jorgenson, Geoff Schultz, Doris Reed, Nancy Cahill, Hugh Long, Edna Spencer, Don Walker, Jack Schultz, Ken McQuie, Jack Weddell, Berni and Allan Monaghan, Reg Trevean, Stella Cook, Joyce Ross, Margaret Long, Olive Thomas, Margaret Macqie, Rose Murphy, Molly Robertson, Lorna Weddell, Minnie Harley, Jean Moran, Merle Nagel, Decima Hotorf, Myra Greasley, Vera Arundel, Joyce Long, Elma Jordan, Gwen Morley, Emmie Arthur, Lorna Parker, Ziska Ross, Ena Wright, Mary Rymer, Cecil Gleeson, Thelma Cairns, Dorothy Batchelder, Maudie Ferguson, Marion Henderson, Lorna Cattran, Alice Murphy, Essie Whitelaw, Eileen Coghlin, Thelma Ross, Jean Miller, Mavis Tozer, Monnie Fattorini, Vivian Reed, Lily O'Connor, Alice Evans, Jean Barlow (Names of parts were included). Columbine Ballet: Alma Day, Kathleen Smithwick, Margery Greaves, Wilma Martin, Roma Cook, Dot Cravino, Alma Reardon, Jean Cairns.Cambridge Press, Print.program, theatre, royal princess theatre

Found in attic of Hardware store at No. 1 Barkly Avenue, Richmond. This store was the original home of the Turner Tools Company (later Stanley Tools Co). The Company moved to Swan Street Richmond before they moved to Nunawading. (Information Courtesy of Graham Plaw of the Hand Tools Preservation Society). Inscription from postcards written by Joseph Tracey to his wife Jessie and daughter Ruby, 9 Barclay Street, Richmond. Joseph's number was 2891, 38th battalion, 6th reinforcements. Joseph embarked from Melbourne Victoria on board HMAT A7 Medic on 16th December 1916 and returned to Australia 10 April 1919WWIWooden framed picture with eight souvenir postcards and one handkerchief from France 1919, mounted on wood veneer. Handkerchief with 1919 and pink flowers on top. Army photo of 17 soldiers. All postcards are embroidered and the handkerchief with lace edging a Souvenir de France: 1919.On the flower- Rose Day in London 13/7/17 Post card inscriptions: -Wednesday 11/4/17. Well Dear I did reseve your loving letter yesterday and I was pleas to heare that you was out of the Hospitle agan and I hope you keep well right now and Dear I hope you don't afto go in to the Hospitle agan Well Dear dont you voat for Conscription voat NO as the game is not fare. To My Loving Wife from your Loving Husbiun Lark Hill Camp -Just a small Card from a land so fare away amuce the snow and strangers in the lovey place they ? London I remain your loving husbuin Sutton Mandeville Camp To my Dear Wife From your lovening Husbuin Abroad -Just a small card from a Place far away and so cold and quite I wish I was near you agan and let it be sun I send this from Lark Hill Camp To My Dear Daughter From Dear Dader -To My Dear Little Ruby I am sending this card to you with my best love to you and lots of kiss for you Dear and hope you are a good Girl for Mother from your Dear Father in a place so far away. The best of love to you and hope you are well as it leave me in the best of Halth. Sent from Camp at Wind mill Hill on the Planys Vilies Tudgershall. Miss Ruby Tracey No. 9 Barkley Avenue E Richmond Melb Vic Australin -From Dear Dadey Just a token my Dear Daughter From your farther across the sea and smetimes I that I hear your laughter Blown right across the Water. From Sutton Mandeville No. 4 Trayind Camp To Miss R Tracey No 9 Barkley Avenue Richmond Australian -My Darling Wife Just a small card from your loving Boy and Hoping you Will be please with it I did get this at the camp we just came to the name of it is Sutton Mandeville and it was snowing a little. Mrs J Tracey No 9 Barkley Avenue Richmond Aust Vict Aust military history, army