This children's eating utensil is believed to belong to the household of Chiltern writer and historian, W.C. Busse. The level of tarnish and the mark 'EPNS' may indicate it is electroplated. The blade also contains the maker's mark 'APEX', which was used by John Biggin & Co, Sheffield, United Kingdom. Pushers such as these were a common utensil in Victorian and early twentieth-century households. They were used to help children too young to use knives learn to eat politely at the table - the blunt blade was used to push food onto the fork. Pushers could also be used to pull food from a serving platter onto an individual plate. Wilfred Clarence Busse was born in Chiltern in 1898. He went to school at Wesley College in Melbourne, studied law at the University of Melbourne and became a barrister. Additionally, after spending time on a Victorian station in his early twenties, he wrote two historical novels about bush life. His first novel was 'The Blue Beyond: a Romance of the Early Days in South Eastern Australia', written in 1928 and published in 1930. Busse's second novel was titled 'The Golden Plague: A Romance of the Early Fifties'. The judges of the Henry Lawson Society's T.E. Rofe competition to advance Australian literature unanimously awarded it the Gold Medal in 1931 for the best historical novel of 1930. Newspaper articles about the award mention the writer's meticulous documentary and oral history research regarding life on the Gold Fields in the 1850s. It became a best-seller. Busse also wrote a series of articles about local history for "The Federal Standard" newspaper in Chiltern. He was a member of the Chiltern Athenaeum. He died in 1960.This child's eating utensil is significant for the detail it conveys of ordinary domestic life in the household of a significant Victorian writer with special reference to Chiltern and the surrounding region. It may also be significant in understanding the customs and practices of English-speaking nations in the early Twentieth Century. The object is a metal food pusher, a child's eating utensil with a blunt lozenge at right angles to the handle. The metal is tarnished, indicating that it may be silver or silverplated. APEX EPNS AI w.c. busse, wilfred clarence busse, chiltern, indigo shire, north-east victoria, gold fields, gold mining, gold rush, table manners, etiquette, children, childhood, john biggin & co, sheffield, golden plague, blue beyond, historical fiction, 1930s, 1850s, t.e. rofe, henry lawson society, electroplate, tableware, cutlery

No specific information is available for this item. However, ivory was common in early 20th century household items, which were often purchased overseas as souvenirs. Many ivory items originated from Asia. Letter openers are still used today; however, they are now made out of steel as ivory is illegal.This item is an example of the use of ivory in domestic households early in the 20th century. A long, cream-white letter opener made out of ivory with a plain blade and rounded handle.There is decorative patterning on the handle consisting of holes and circles.ivory, letter opener, letters, chiltern athenaeum museum, mail

No specific information is available for this object. However, fountain pens originated in France in 1827, with the first patent attributed to a Parisian student named Romanian Petrache Poenaru. The fountain pen typically has a fine stainless-steel tip that is filled with ink via an ink well. Widespread production of fountain pens occurred from 1857, with new designs having improved filling techniques. Fountain pens became popular with professionals, such as barristers, professors, doctors, and accountants for over 100 years. The only downside to using fountain pens was their tendency to sometimes leak onto documents, so in the 1950s, they were made with disposable cartridges. The cartridges made the pens more popular, especially with university students. For this reason, in the early 1960s, fountain pens were renamed cartridge pens and were deemed the best writing instrument in most schools.This object is an example of the use of fountain pens in domestic households and professional workplaces since 1827.A solid and complete green and gold patterned fountain pen.There is green shimmer-like decorative patterning on the body with gold-coloured veining.pen, fountain pen, ink, france, chiltern athenaeum museum, victoria

No specific information is available for this object. However, fountain pens originated in France in 1827, with the first patent attributed to a Parisian student named Romanian Petrache Poenaru. The fountain pen typically has a fine stainless-steel tip that is filled with ink via an ink well. Widespread production of fountain pens occurred from 1857, with new designs having improved filling techniques. Fountain pens became popular with professionals, such as barristers, professors, doctors, and accountants for over 100 years. The only downside to using fountain pens was their tendency to sometimes leak onto documents, so in the 1950s, they were made with disposable cartridges. The cartridges made the pens more popular, especially with university students. For this reason, in the early 1960s, fountain pens were renamed cartridge pens and were deemed the best writing instrument in most schools.This object is an example of the use of fountain pens in domestic households and professional workplaces since 1827.A solid and complete black patterned fountain pen.There is black decorative patterning on the body.pen, fountain pen, ink, france, chiltern athenaeum museum, victoria

RASPBERRY VINEGAR AND OTHER SOFT DRINKS MADE IN CLUNES BY EBERHARD & CO. CORDIAL MAKERS.FLAVOURED CORDIAL BOTTLE: FLAVOURED RASPBERRY VINEGAR MANUFACTURED BY EBERHARD & CO. CLUNES.FLAVOURED CORDIAL - TRADE MARK FLAVOURED RASPBERRY VINEGAR EBERHARD & CO.local history, food technology, bottling, eberhard & co.

KNIFE WITH STEEL BLADE AND BONE HANDLEC. JOHNSON & CO. SHEFFIELD, ENGLAND. FAST HANDLEdomestic item, mclennan family, knife

PUMP ACTION METAL FLY SPRAYER "SHELLTOX" BRANDlocal history, domestic items, pest control, domestic items, pest control

SHERRY GLASSES PRESENTED TO MR. & MRS. TINKER AT THEIR NATURALISATION CEREMONY BY THE SHIRE OF TALBOT AND CLUNES .1 SHERRY GLASS, GOLD RIMMED .2 SHERRY GLASS, GOLD RIMMED .3 SHERRY GLASS, GOLD RIMMEDSHIRE OF TALBOT AND CLUNESlocal history, trophies & awards, tinker

PRESENTED TO JOHN LEWIS ESQ. BY A FEW OF THE SHAREHOLDERS IN THE NEW NORTH CLUNES QUARTZ MINING CO. IN RECOGNITION OF HIS SKILFUL, ECONOMICAL AND HONOURABLE MANAGEMENT OF THE COMPANY MINE FOR NINE YEARS, DURING WHICH PERIOD THE SHAREHOLDERS RECEIVED IN DIVIDENDS Pounds 450,000 BALLARAT OCTOBER 1876ORNATE SILVER TEA & COFFEE SERVICE COMPRISING; .1 TEAPOT .2 COFFEE POT .3 SUGAR BOWL .4 CREAM JUG .5 CIRCULAR TRAYINSCRIPTION ON TRAY: Presented to John Lewis Esq. By a few of the shareholders in the New North Clunes Quartz Mining Co. In recognition of his skilful economical and honourable management of the Company mine for nine years during which period the shareholders received in dividends 460,000 Pounds Ballarat October 1876local history, metalcraft, silverware, mining, lewis, john