This machine uses a series of combs attached to bars that move with increasing speed away from a starting point. This draws-out and aligns the wool fibres to produce a gilled top. The gilling process is also used in other positions along the worsted production line. A gill box draws and combs the fibres prior to spinning. Gold plaque on display with machine until 2018 read: G.H. Mitchell & Son, Adelaide have celebrated 125 Years of involvement with the Australian Wool Processing Industry by contributing the funds necessary to restore The Carding Machine, Noble Comb & The Gill Box.Gill box. Green painted steel.Deutscher / Spinnereimaschinenbau / Ingolstadt / 1963deutscher spinnereimaschinenbau ingolstadt, gilling, gill box, textile industry, wool processing, factory, machine, mills, spinning, fibre, comb

Photo depicts the male staff members of the Commonwealth Woollen Mills, c.1920s.textile mills - staff woollen mills, commonwealth woollen mills federal woollen mills ltd classweave industries pty ltd, textile mills - staff, woollen mills

Photo depicts the staff members of the Commonwealth Woollen Mills leaving to go home, c.1920s.21textile mills staff, commonwealth woollen mills, federal woollen mills ltd, classweave industries pty ltd, textile mills - staff

Used to advertise vacant job positions at the entrance to Foster Valley Mill.Tuner

Used to advertise vacant job positions at the entrance to Foster Valley Mill.Warper

Photo depicts the Commonwealth Woollen Mills from the nearby rail lines, c.1920s.2woollen mills, commonwealth woollen mills, federal woollen mills ltd, classweave industries pty ltd

Combing removes the short or broken fibres and draws out the long fibres into even strands suitable for spinning. The process is necessary to produce long and soft strands needed for worsted yarn. These machines remove the short fibres and blend the remaining long fibres together to form the top. The short fibres that are removed, known as the noil, are used in the woollen system. The long fibres are drawn together, ready for spinning. To retain as many of the valuable long fibres as possible, a skilled operator always needed to be on duty in the factory to precisely set the machine. A Nobel Comb separates short (Noils) fibres while also blending long (Tops) fibres together. The long fibres are used for worsted materials while the short fibres are used for woollen fabrics. Woollen materials are soft, bulky and fuzzy, such as a picnic blanket; whereas worsted materials are fine, smooth and crisp, such as a suit jacket. The Valley Worsted Mills in Geelong, now the Little Creatures Brewery, ran 12 noble combs up until 1981. Gold plaque on display with machine until 2018 read: G.H. Mitchell & Son, Adelaide have celebrated 125 Years of involvement with the Australian Wool Processing Industry by contributing the funds necessary to restore The Carding Machine, Noble Comb & The Gill Box.Noble Comb with plates - 'Prince Smith & Sons, Burlington Shed, Keishley' (One plate located on each gear box). 'Prince Smith & Sons, Burlington Shed, Keishley' (One plate located on each gear box).wool manufacturing, noble comb, textile industry, geelong, little creatures brewery, valley worsted mills, fibres, wool, factory

Used to advertise vacant job positions at the entrance to Foster Valley Mill.Cap Spinner

Used to advertise vacant job positions at the entrance to Foster Valley Mill.Weaver

A complex instrument used to determine the pH factor of liquid samples, in this case, dyes. Without this instrument to measure the pH level of dyes before use, it would be impossible to ensure successful and repeatable results when dyeing wool.pH meter contained within dark wooden box, opened with two brass clasps. Contains dials, an electrode, glass bottle of potassium chloride and instructions for use on card inside lid.textile testing, dyeing, woollen mill, ph, scientific instument

Used to advertise vacant job positions at the entrance to Foster Valley Mill.Ring Twister

Black and white photograph of Barwon Mill. Hirsts Woollen Mill (Excelsior) F.H. Gliddon (foreman) centre.Black and white photograph of Barwon Mill.Barwon Mill Hirsts Woollen Mill (Excelsior) FH Gliddon (Foreman) centrewoollen mills history, barwon woollen mill excelsior woollen and worsted mills, woollen mills - history

Federal Woollen Mills Basketball Ball Team Premiers, 1938. Back Row L to R: Margery Dorling, Mavis Rogan, Gladys Rand, Lorraine Hadden, N. Bawden, Jean Manson. Front: Florrie Anderson, Eva Fagan, Phyllis Brien. Same as W2971. Mrs Alsop was a mill worker from early 1930s till early 1970s. She worked at Federal and Foster Mills in Geelong District and Yarra Falls, Melbourne.Federal Mills Basketball team premiers, 1938.M. Dorling M. Rogan G. Rand L. Hadden N. Bawden J. Manson / F. Anderson E. Fagan P. Brien T. Lockwood / GEELONGtextile mills staff, textile mills sporting teams, federal woollen mills ltd, sport, textile mills - staff, textile mills - sporting teams

Photograph of the Federal Mills basketball team who were runners up in the A section. Mrs Alsop was a mill worker from early 1930s till early 1970s. She worked at Federal and Foster Mills in Geelong District and Yarra Falls, Melbourne.Robert Pockley / GEELONG Robert Pockley Vicky / Florie Allie / Mavis Nellie / Dot Sheila / N. Alsop 'A' Runners-uptextile mills sporting teams, textile mills staff, federal woollen mills ltd, sport, textile mills - sporting teams, textile mills - staff

Photograph of Federal Mills Premiership Basketball Team 1935. L to R: Nellie Baldwen, Mary Mollie O'Brien, Beryl Hadden, Jean Devin, Alice Schrier, Mavis Anderson. Mrs Alsop was a mill worker from early 1930s till early 1970s. She worked at Federal and Foster Mills in Geelong District and Yarra Falls, Melbourne.Federal Mills Basketball team premiers, 1935.PREMIERS / 1935 N. Alsoptextile mills sporting teams, textile mills staff, federal woollen mills ltd, sport, textile mills - sporting teams, textile mills - staff

Photo depicts a Federal Woollen Mills basketball team standing in front of the Belcher Fountain with City Hall in the background. Mrs Alsop was a mill worker from early 1930s till early 1970s. She worked at Federal and Foster Mills in Geelong District and Yarra Falls, Melbourne.N. Alsoptextile mills sporting teams, textile mills staff, federal woollen mills ltd, sport, textile mills - sporting teams, textile mills - staff, belcher fountain, city hall

Black and white mounted photograph of the Federal Woollen Mill Pty Ltd, North Geelong, Victoria - aerial view showing all buildings and grounds which includes 2 tennis courts in the background and 1 basketball court in the foreground. Negative and proof available currently held as film 48 frame 18.Black and white mounted photograph of the Federal Woollen Mill Pty Ltd, North Geelong, Victoria.The Federal Woollen Mills Pty. Ltd. North Geelong Victoriawoollen mills history, federal woollen mills ltd, woollen mills - history

Photo depicts an early manager of the Valley Mills (c.1940s?). Thought to be Mr Pickles (on the advice of Judith Rice, whose father worked at the mill at the same time. Info given 01/08/07)Depicts a Manager of the Valley Mill.T. Lockwoodtextile mills management, valley worsted mill, textile mills - management

From Foster Valley Mill.Featuring a Jacquard loomvalley worsted mill, jacquard

Interior view of machinery at Foster Valley Mill. Shows the winding (or twisting) machinery (where the spun yarn is threaded onto bobbins).Spinning machinery within the Valley Mill.T. Lockwood Lockwood / GEELONGtextile mills operation, valley worsted mill, winding machinery, textile mills - operation

Depicts part of the textile mach inery used at Foster Valley Mill. This particular machine has something to do with steam - possibly an autoclave?Textile machinery from Valley Mill.textile machinery, valley worsted mill

Interior view of machinery at Foster Valley Mill. Shows the winding (or twisting) machinery (where the spun yarn is threaded onto bobbins).Spinning machinery in the Valley Mill.T. Lockwood Lockwood / GEELONGtextile mills operation, valley worsted mill, winding machinery, textile mills - operation

Interior view of showing machinery at Foster Valley Mill. Shows a wall mounted drive shaft which runs the machinery.Drive shaft for textile machinery within the Valley Mill.T. Lockwood Lockwood / GEELONGtextile mills - operation, valley worsted mill

Photograph depicts Alice Kittelty, her sister and other female workers at the Federal Mill, c.1900-15.textile mills staff, federal woollen mills ltd, kittelty, ms alice, textile mills - staff

Photograph depicts Alice Kittelty, her sister and other female workers at the Federal Mill, c.1900-15.textile mills staff, federal woollen mills ltd, kittelty, ms alice, textile mills - staff

Photograph depicts Alice Kittelty, her sister and other female workers at the Federal Mill, c.1900-15.textile mills staff, federal woollen mills ltd, kittelty, ms alice, textile mills - staff

Photograph depicts Alice Kittelty or her sister or another female worker at the Federal Mill, c.1900-15.textile mills staff, federal woollen mills ltd, kittelty, ms alice, textile mills - staff

Photograph depicts Alice Kittelty or her sister or another female worker at the Federal Mill, c.1900-15.textile mills staff, federal woollen mills ltd, kittelty, ms alice, textile mills - staff

Photograph depicts Alice Kittelty or her sister or another female worker at the Federal Mill, c.1900-15.textile mills staff, federal woollen mills ltd, kittelty, ms alice, textile mills - staff

Photograph depicts Alice Kittelty or her sister or another female worker at the Federal Mill, c.1900-15.textile mills staff, federal woollen mills ltd, kittelty, ms alice, textile mills - staff