Showing 267 items
matching metal working
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City of Moorabbin Historical Society (Operating the Box Cottage Museum)
Tools, steel vice, c1900
Perak or State of Perak one of the 13 states of Malaysia, is the second largest state in Peninsular Malaysia. It borders Kedah and the Thai Yala Province to the north; Penang to the northwest; Kelantan and Pahang to the east; Selangor to the south, and the Straits of Malacca to the west. The state's administrative capital of Ipoh was known historically for tin-mining activities until the price of the metal dropped, severely affecting the state's economy. A vice is a tool with 2 jaws between which an object is gripped, usually by tightening a screw, so as to leave the hands free for working upon it. The vice is usually firmly attached to a bench . A steel vice THE PERAK TIN MINING COMPANYtools, vice, steel , clamps, metalwork, woodwork, carpentry, early settlers, pioneers, market gardeners, moorabbin, bentleigh, cheltenham, blacksmiths, perak tin mining co. -
Flagstaff Hill Maritime Museum and Village
Functional object - Hinge, 1800s to early 1900s
... for working more easily with metals, and ways were found for combining... discovered for working more easily with metals, and ways were found ...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 -
Flagstaff Hill Maritime Museum and Village
Tool - Draw Knife, Prior to 1950
A draw knife or drawing knife, draw shave, shaving knife is a traditional woodworking hand tool used to shape wood by removing shavings. It consists of a blade with a handle at each end. The blade is much longer along the cutting edge than it is deep (from cutting edge to back edge). It is pulled or "drawn" toward the user. A draw knife is commonly used to remove large slices of wood for flat faceted work, to debark trees, or to create roughly rounded or cylindrical billets for further work on a lathe, or it can shave like a spokeshave plane, where finer finishing is less of concern than a rapid result. The thin blade lends itself to create complex concave or convex curves such as in making staves for barrels.A specialised tool used in many different types of wood working and in the making of barrels, this type of tool has been used for many hundreds of years by coopers and other woodworking craftsmen all around the world. It is a tool that has not changed in design during this time and is still used today by craftsmen in the making of wooden barrels for the storage of wines etc.Draw knife with metal blade and two wooden handlesNoneflagstaff hill, warrnambool, flagstaff-hill, flagstaff-hill-maritime-museum, shipwreck-coast, flagstaff-hill-maritime-village, draw knife, coopers tools, woodworking tools, knife, cooperage -
Flagstaff Hill Maritime Museum and Village
Tool - Draw Knife, Prior to 1950
A draw knife or drawing knife, draw shave, shaving knife is a traditional woodworking hand tool used to shape wood by removing shavings. It consists of a blade with a handle at each end. The blade is much longer along the cutting edge than it is deep (from cutting edge to back edge). It is pulled or "drawn" toward the user. A draw knife is commonly used to remove large slices of wood for flat faceted work, to debark trees, or to create roughly rounded or cylindrical billets for further work on a lathe, or it can shave like a spokeshave plane, where finer finishing is less of concern than a rapid result. The thin blade lends itself to create complex concave or convex curves such as in making staves for barrels.A specialised tool used in many different types of wood working and in the making of barrels, this type of tool has been used for many hundreds of years by coopers and other woodworking craftsmen all around the world. It is a tool that has not changed in design during this time and is still used today by craftsmen in the making of wooden barrels for the storage of wines etc.Draw knife with metal blade and two wooden handlesMarkings on blade unreadable flagstaff hill, warrnambool, flagstaff-hill, flagstaff-hill-maritime-museum, shipwreck-coast, flagstaff-hill-maritime-village, draw knife, coopers tools, woodworking tools, knife, cooperage -
Flagstaff Hill Maritime Museum and Village
Tool - Fid, 1940s
A Fid is a conical tapered wooden tool used for separating the strands of rope for splicing. They were a tool traditionally made of wood or bone used to work with rope and canvas in marlinespike seamanship. A Fid differs from a marlinspike in material and purposes. A marlinspike is used in working with wire rope, natural and synthetic lines also may be used to open shackles, and is made of metal. A Fid is used to hold open knots and holes in the canvas, and to separate the "lays" (or strands) of synthetic or natural rope for splicing. A variation of the Fid, the grip fid, is used for ply-split braiding. The grip fid has a jamming cleat to pull a cord back through the cord split by the fid's point. Modern Fids are typically made of aluminium, steel, or plastic. In addition to holding rope open to assist the creation of a rope splice, modern push fid's have markings for precise measurements in a variety of sizes of rope. The length of these fid’s is typically 21 or 22 times the diameter of rope to be spliced. Fids have been used since sailing vessels were first used to travel the worlds seas the tool was invented to be used to splice rope and with working with canvas sails. A Fid is a sailors tool that has maintained its general design for hundreds of years and gives a snapshot into what the working life was like for sailors on board sailing ships for hundreds of years. The tool in its original design is still in regular use today by recreational sailors all over the world to splice and join lengths of rope.Metal Fid painted half green, flattened end with a lanyard holeNoneflagstaff hill, warrnambool, shipwrecked-coast, flagstaff-hill, flagstaff-hill-maritime-museum, maritime-museum, shipwreck-coast, flagstaff-hill-maritime-village, marlinspike -
Flagstaff Hill Maritime Museum and Village
Functional object - Carbide Lamp, Powell & Hanmer, Late 19th to early 20th century
Francis Powell (1861-) and Francis Hanmer (1858-1925) founded Powell and Hanmer Ltd in the Summer of 1885 for the manufacturer of bike and carriage lamps. Their first advertisements began to appear in November of 1885. In 1890 they lodged a Patent for “velocipede” lamps to be used by lightweight wheeled vehicles propelled by a rider, such as a bike, tricycle and railroad handcar. In April of 1913, they were selling headlamps for cars and in 1914 built their second factory manufacturing dynamo lighting sets in Rocky Lane Birmingham, also for the production of dynamos for motor cars. Then in 1929 Powell and Hanmer Ltd, was acquired by the Lucas company which was at that time the main competitor for the manufacture of non-electrical equipment for cycles and motorcycles. When a director of Powell and Hanmer joined the board of Austin motor cars, Lucas feared that Austins might encourage Powell and Hanmer to start to produce electrical equipment for supply to the company and as a result this association might affect Lucas's business with other large vehicle manufacturers. As a result, Lucas made an offer to Powell & Hanmer and purchased the business for £500,000. Carbide lighting was used in rural and urban areas of Australia which were not served by electrification. Its use began shortly after 1900 in many countries and continued past the 1950s. Calcium carbide pellets were placed in a container outside the home, with water piped to the container and allowed to drip on the pellets releasing acetylene. This gas was piped to lighting fixtures inside the house, where it was burned, creating a very bright flame. Carbide lighting was inexpensive but was prone to gas leaks and explosions. Early models of the automobile, motorbike and bicycles used carbide lamps as headlamps. Acetylene gas, derived from carbide, enabled early automobiles to drive safely at night. Thick concave mirrors combined with magnifying lenses projected the acetylene flame light. These type of lights were used until reliable batteries and dynamos became available, and manufacturers switched to electric lights. Acetylene lamps were also used on riverboats for night navigation. The National Museum of Australia has a lamp made in about 1910 that was used onboard the PS Enterprise, an 1878 Australian paddle steamer, currently owned by the National Museum of Australia in Canberra. It is still operational, and one of the oldest working paddle steamers in the world, listed on the Australian Register of Historic Vehicles.Acetylene Carbide lamp, marine pattern burner housing and reflector missing Carbide Lamp, metal. Has plate for attaching to wall, & gimbal to allow lamp to remain vertical. Noneflagstaff hill, warrnambool, flagstaff-hill-maritime-museum, maritime-museum, shipwreck-coast, flagstaff-hill-maritime-village, carbide lamp, motor vehicle, bike lamp, lighting, vehicle lighting, powell, hanmer, acetylene gas lamp, early lighting, marine lighting -
Port Melbourne Historical & Preservation Society
Document - Norman Robinson's time at Commonwealth Aircraft Corporation (CAC), Malcolm Moore Pty Ltd
Four documents relating to Norm Robinson's working history. .01 Hand written summary of Norm Robinson's working history .02 Advice of New Wage Rates - Moore Crane and Engineering Company Pty Ltd - 22 Jun 1956 .03 Notice - Metal Trades Award - Conditions of Work - Moore Crane and Engineering Company Pty Ltd - 22 Jun 1956 .04 Typed summary (with handwritten corrections) of Norm Robinson's time at Commonwealth Aircraft Corporation (CAC) Hand written timeline of Norman Robinson's time at the Commonwealth Aircraft Cororation 1941-48 Also advice of new wage rate; Condition of Works - Metal Trades Award. 1956. Typed summary of his experience at CACbuilt environment - industrial, industry, engineering, malcolm moore pty ltd, norm robinson, commonwealth aircraft corporation -
National Vietnam Veterans Museum (NVVM)
Photograph, Waiting For Orders
Colour photographic print in tan timber frame and musk coloured mat. Photograph depicts two field artillary weapons set up surrounded by sandbag perimeter.Personnel working on one of the guns. Background is bush, and a shelter with metal roof to left of picture.My Vietnam Collection Waiting for orders -105 Field Battery. Vietnam 1969 Copyright Jed Robinson.Gift Horse Gallery - Original works by local & interstate artists and crafts people.photograph, 105 field battery -
Bendigo Historical Society Inc.
Domestic Object - CLOCK
Small silver metal alarm with large ringer on the top. Roman numerals on clock face. Two small legs on front. Includes second hand. Not in working order.Manufactured by …. New York United States of America. -
NMIT (Northern Melbourne Institute of TAFE)
Plumbing tools: CTS and PTS 1920s onwards, Plumbing tools and texts used in teaching 1920s
A number of Plumbing tools dating from 1880s-1970s and used in teaching at Collingwood Technical School then also at Preston Technical School and at Northern Metropolitan College of TAFE's Heidelberg campus. Includes: Kerosene blow torch X 2 (1930s-); Stillson Grips; Pipe Cutter; Mash hammer; Adjustable spanner X 3 different sizes; Caulking tool; 5 way tee, 2X3 way tee, 4 way tee (1930s-); Old Handmade lead traps (student work) X 2; Metal tool tray holding; Offset adjustable spud spanner; Pear shaped lead working mallet; Bossing tool for lead work (1880s-1920s); Soldering iron (1920s-); Set square; Large screwdriver; Also Plumbing texts: • Problems for elementary physics, new rev. edn., by Thomas Tasker and Alexander Boden, Science Press, Sydney, 1966. • Gasfitting. Printed and published by McCarron Bird Pty. Ltd. [Melbourne] • Trade science for plumbing apprentices, Education Dept. Victoria, 1954 • Sanitary Plumbing and water supply, Dept. of Labour • Gasfitting, produced by members of the Colonial Gas Association Limited, Gas and Fuel Corporation of Victoria, and the Technical Division of the Education Department of Victoria. Rev metric edn. 1976 • Mechanical world year book 1953, Manchester Emmott & Co., 1953 collingwood technical school, preston technical school, northern metropolitan college of tafe, plumbing tools, plumbing texts, nmit -
Bendigo Historical Society Inc.
Instrument - MALONE COLLECTION: KALBE'S IMPERIAL BUTTON ACCORDION
Kalbe’s Imperial Accordion Made in Germany. Ten metal keys on right hand side; on left hand side two metal keys for bass chords and one key for the bellows. Case of black polished wood, bellows has nine folds. Nickel plated markings on corners of bellows read "Imperial Accordion, made in Germany, trade mark" with images of two fouled anchors. The accordion is in working condition. A cleaning brush is included.musical instruments, keyboard, button accordion -
Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Obstetricians & Gynaecologists (RANZCOG)
Surgical kit used by Lord Joseph Lister, Archibald Young of Edinburgh, 1870s
This surgical instrument kit, c1870s, originally belonged to Lord Joseph Lister. On his retirement in 1892, Lord Lister presented the instrument kit to his friend Dr Alexander Matthew. The donor of the surgical kit, Professor Ian Stewart Fraser, is the great grandson of Dr Alexander Matthew. The donor, Ian Fraser, checked with his mother about the inscription "Ethel Livie". There was no one of that name in his mother's family tree and the instruments were passed down from his mother's family.This surgical kit, made by Young of Edinburgh Scotland in the 1870s is significant because it belonged to and was most likely used by an internationally important figure in modern medicine, Lord Joseph Lister. Joseph Lister, 1st Baron Lister, Bt., OM, FRS, PC (5 April 1827 – 10 February 1912), known as Sir Joseph Lister, Bt., between 1883 and 1897, was a British surgeon and a pioneer of antiseptic surgery. By applying Louis Pasteur's advances in microbiology, he promoted the idea of sterile surgery while working at the Glasgow Royal Infirmary. Lister successfully introduced carbolic acid (now known as phenol) to sterilise surgical instruments and to clean wounds, which led to a reduction in post-operative infections and made surgery safer for patients. Surgical instruments in original timber case, containing two steel sharp hooks with the manufacturer's stamp,"YOUNG EDINBURGH" on the handles, five steel scalpels with ebony handles in assorted sizes. Also included separately are autopsy hooks, one metal blowpipe [commonly used with urine testing apparatus] and two dissector forceps. "YOUNG EDINBURGH"; "ETHEL LIVIE"surgery -
Bendigo Historical Society Inc.
Functional object - MINERS' HOT FOOD FLASK
Blue enamel hot food flask with lid. Lid has metal loop on side. Wire handle with wooden insert on handle. Item used to transport hot food for consumption by miner whilst working underground.domestic equipment, food consumption, hot food flask -
National Vietnam Veterans Museum (NVVM)
Functional Object - Clock, miniature
Metal Clock/watch type : Clock (Miniature) not working. Smith and Wesson on Clock faceCross Neil E. 078408223 A-POS DAV (USA-Aust)clock -
Geoffrey Kaye Museum of Anaesthetic History
Tube, Endotracheal, Kuhn, Circa 1900
The evolution of endotracheal intubation for anaesthesia was a slow process. Franz Kuhn (1806-1929), a head and neck surgeon working in Kassel, Germany, between 1902 and 1911, is said to have done more than any other to obtain general recognition for endotracheal anaesthesia. Kuhn's tube, is a flexible metal one inserted on a stilette which was then withdrawn. The tube was then secured with an elastic neck strap and connected by a rubber tube to a Trendelenburg cone. The glottis was packed with oiled gauze. Metal spiral tube with elaborate handle at one end and rounded at the other. There is a metal clasp at the base of the handle which all forms part of the endotracheal tube. Inside the tube is a curved metal piece that functions as an introducer.kuhn, endotracheal, airway, intubation -
Geoffrey Kaye Museum of Anaesthetic History
Photograph - Photograph, Geoffrey Kaye
Photograph has been taken in Geoffrey Kaye's later years, approximately late 1970s or early to mid 1980s.Large colour photograph of an elderly Dr Geoffrey Kaye wearing a white dustcoat and working on his lathe at his Cromwell Road, South Yarra home.geoffrey kaye, metal lathe, workshop -
Puffing Billy Railway
Hand Saw - Metal
... saw Historic - Early Industrial Timber working saw saw metal ...Early Industrial Timber working sawHistoric - Early Industrial Timber working sawLong metal hand saw.saw, metal, metal saw, hand saw -
Puffing Billy Railway
Sign - Safety Helmet Area
Sign - Safety Helmet Area, Mines Dept. of VictoriaHistoric - Safety Sign used by Mines Dept. of Victoriametal sign - Sign - Safety Helmet Area Mines Department of Victoria This is a Safety Helmet Area All persons working in or Entering The Quarry or Plant must wear A Safety Helmetpuffing billy, sign - safety helmet area,, mines dept. of victoria -
Puffing Billy Railway
Carriage Sign - Puffing Billy Museum Advertising, 1970's
Carriage Sign - Puffing Billy Museum Advertising This board was used to advertise the Menzies Creek Museum after it opened in 1970. This particular sign was displayed inside, on the end of the Puffing Billy NBH type carriages. Historic - Puffing Billy Railway - Carriage Sign - Puffing Billy Museum Advertising fitted to NBH carriages.Carriage Sign - Puffing Billy Museum Advertising metal signVisit the Puffing Billy Steam Museum you can see - Steam Locomotives - Working Exhibits - Early Rolling Stock - Souvenirs available the museum is located at Menzies Creek & opens every Sunday 11am to 5pmpuffing billy, puffing billy museum, carriage sign -
Puffing Billy Railway
Tool - Industrial Forge, unknown
Industrial Forge from Newport Railway WorkshopsIndustrial Forge is an excellent example of equipment used in the early 19th century through to the mid 20th century for industrial iron working. It directly links a fabrication method that is widely used across several of the other collection pieces.Large Industrial Forge made of cast metal and wrought ironNo markings or inscriptions puffing billy, industrial forge -
Clunes Museum
Functional object - EGG BEATER, DOVER STAMPING COMPANY
METAL HAND EGG BEATER WITH WOODEN HANDLE - IN WORKING CONDITIONDOVER EGG BEATER PAT MAY 6, APRIL 3 1889, NOV 24 1891egg beater, dover stamping company -
Anglesea and District Historical Society
Leather Working Punch
Metal oblong hole punch for use with leather. Called a crew or oblong punch which creates an elongated hole such as needed for buckles."53" on handleleather working, saddlery punch, arch and tube oblong punch, crew punch -
Tatura Irrigation & Wartime Camps Museum
Plane - Wooden, 1940's
Made by internee at Camp 3 Tatura. Used there as a wood working handtoolHandmade varnished, polished wooden plane with curved, turned handle. Metal washers support centre metal barHaeringplane, wood, haering, m, camp 3, tatura, ww2 camp 3, trades, tools -
National Wool Museum
Shuttle, estimate Mid-20th century
Example of a shuttle used for a loom in the weaving process. This shuttle was probably used as an advertising piece for Waddington's company as it is constructed differently to other examples of working shuttles in the museum collection. This shuttle is a a unique item in the collection as a shuttle made for advertising purposes instead of being made for use on a loom. Wooden loom with metal tips on either end. Loom is rectangular. One side has a green sticker. Metal pieces inside loom are not present.WADDINGTON'S/ FOR/ SHUTTLES OF QUALITY/ Phone Bradford 27668waddingston's, weaving, shuttle, loom, advertising, geelong, wool -
National Wool Museum
Machine - Sliding Box Plate Camera, 1866-1882
Made by Cox, F J 1845-1882 (1891), optical & mathematical instrument maker, optician, camera manufacturer, London.Sliding box camera, about 1855. This type of camera was in use before bellows became common. The camera belonged to Hugh Strachan who passed it on to an employee, Charlie Lugg. The Strachan family is distinguished in the Geelong wool industry. James Ford Strachan, born in Scotland, established a very successful wool broking business and his sons carried on his work.Wooden case with brass handle lined with green felt containing one sliding box camera, with a brass fitting for a lense, a removable glass focussing screen, which conseals the removable lense inside the camera. Also two small wooden frames for developping the photographs. Also a linen cape and a leather pouch containing metal filters with gradients. Booklet about the life of Charles Lugg who owned the camera before it was passed to his nephew who then donated it to the NWM. Booklet details Lugg's military service, working life in Stachan's wool stores and life in Geelong and Moriac. Measurements of parts (in centimeters): 27 26 41.5 Carry Case 24.5 36.5 21.2 Sliding box Camera 15.4 .5 17.6 slide frame 11 14.5 9.5 lens 152 71 cape 9 1.5 6.5 pouch 8.5 .1 6.5 5.5 Filter Lense 8.5 .1 6.5 4.5 Filter Lense 8.5 .1 6.5 3.5 Filter Lense 8.5 .1 6.5 1.2 Filter Lense F.J. Cox/ 26/Ludgate Hill/ London (Plaque on top of box) Fred J Cox/26 Ludgate Hill/London (Engraved on side of Lens)charles lugg, fred j cox, james ford strachan -
National Wool Museum
Stencil
Wool bale stencil owned and used by donor. Donor was a wool classer in New South Wales working from the 1960s to c2000. This stencil was used by the donor as they traveled from station to station and was used to stencil their registration number on the bales of wool that they had classed. The stencil was created by the Australian Wool Corporation who mailed the stencil to the donor. We also have the original envelope.Metal rectangular wool bale stencil. Stencil has cutouts of a sheep head symbol on left side and the number '83' and 'PI' on either side of an Australia shape on the top right. There are three horizontal rectangles below this, and below them is the number 54719. Faintly engraved at the top is the text AWC PROPERTY / NOT TRANSFERABLE. Rear of stencil is a shiny light metallic colour. Front side is scratched and stained, particularly around the text areas. This would be due to use. Associated envelope is worn and becoming frail. It is a cream colour with heavy staining and opened on the right side. Top left has a printed return address, top right has a stamp area. Affixed postal address is for the donor and that is above a blue stamped text reading IMPORTANT / DO NOT BEND. Back of envelope has a stamped print of the stencil and another bright red stamp. Possibly put there by the donor. -
Plutarch Project
Hand Operated drill
From January 1959 and until 1982, “Cosmopolitan Motion Pictures”, owned by Mr Peter Yannoudes (Παναγιώτης Γιαννούδης) and Mr Stathis Raftopoulos (Στάθης Ραφτόπουλος) travelled around Australia to entertain the Greek, Turkish, Indian and Yugoslav speaking population of Australia and provide a significant cinema culture. They travelled as far as Perth in WA, Adelaide in SA, Tasmania, Darwin in Nt, Canberra in ACT and Sydney and NSW. However they found themselves also in places like Berri and Renmark in NSW, where concentrations of migrants lived and thrived during the period. Initially they were travelling by train, carrying all their equipment by hand and placing them in boxes and suitcases. However after 1962 when they acquired their first automobile, travelling became less of a burden, nevertheless cumbersome and laborious. They carried with them initially two portable projectors (second one as a backup) and at times travelled with a third in order to ensure that technology will not be letting them down at the time of film projection. At times the films were projected onto a white sheet of cloth because there was no proper screen to project it on at the venue they were using.Primary historic significance in the context that it was used, as well as rarity significanceMetal adjustable height, hand operated drill. Rusty appearance. It seems to have a small piece at the bottom broken off, but still in working order according to Mr P. Yiannoudes. This drill was used to drill holes in cinema light carbon sticks in order to extend their life.drill, carbon, film, entertainment, greek, language, hand, yiannoudes, γιαννούδης, τρυπάνι -
Yarrawonga and Mulwala Pioneer Museum
Wood Chisel
Wooden handle with metal blade used in wood working -
Stawell Historical Society Inc
Photograph - The Crusher in Working Condition, B/W Photo of Ore Crusher
B/W Photo of two men standing on metal framework of an ore crusher -
Melbourne Athenaeum Archives
Barometer, Given the plaque affixed to the instrument states Royal Arcade as the premises’ address it is assumed that the barometer was manufactured no sooner than1869
Stick mercury barometer, named after Admiral Robert Fitzroy of the Royal Navy (1805 - 1865) for his detailed instructions on interpreting the weather that are included with the instrument. Fitzroy was the captain of the Beagle, a weather forecaster to Charles Darwin and the second Governor of New Zealand. He developed many different types of barometers and was the first person to introduce the science of weather forecasting to the British Isles. A local manufacturer of scientific instruments, Thomas Gaunt, produced the barometer and it was adapted for the southern hemisphere by Robert Ellery, the State Astronomer based at the Melbourne Observatory. Described as "Gaunt's Fitzroy Barometers" in the original sale catalogue, it was priced from 25/- to ₤9.9s. [See Miller, M., Gaunt’s Time, 2014]. Thomas Gaunt's business was originally located at 14 Bourke Street East from 1858. In 1869-1870 he moved to new premises in the Royal Arcade, Collins Street. Gaunt's business became an institution in Victorian Melbourne and Gaunt its leading clock maker. PROVENANCE According to official minutes the barometer was purchased by the Melbourne Athenaeum in 1874. In particular, at the March meeting of the General Committee the House Subcommittee was instructed to "obtain a Fitzroy or other reliable barometer" to be "fixed in the Reading Room". The 1874 Annual Report records the purchase at ₤3.10.0. The barometer is historically significant as an example of the work of Melbourne’s leading scientific instrument maker, Thomas Gaunt. The barometer has social significance as an example of the type of accoutrements provided by the committee of the Melbourne Athenaeum for the comfort of its members. Further social significance lies in the fact that Robert Ellery, the Government Astronomer, who designed the local version of the barometer, has a direct connection with the Athenaeum being a subscription member and committee member of the Athenaeum during the 1870s. There are also records of a T Gaunt as a subscription member of the Athenaeum during the 1870s and 1880s which may be Thomas Gaunt, however, this is yet to be verified. Stick mercury barometer known as the Admiral Fitzroy Barometer. It comprises an oblong wooden case with glass front panel, ornate pediment, barometer with bulb cistern (empty of fluid),printed instructions for interpreting information given by the gauge affixed to left and right face of instrument. Includes a thermometer. The barometer appears to be intact except for the turning knobs which are missing and the mercury in the tube which is not present. Whether the instrument could be restored to working order is unknown. Front right panel, metal plaque: "Thos Gaunt, Barometer Maker, Royal Arcade, Melbourne"melbourne athenaeum, barometer, thermometer, admiral fitzroy, thomas gaunt of melbourne, robert ellery