Showing 2005 items
matching grey white.
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Bendigo Military Museum
Book, The First Day of the Blitz, 2007
... a brew. Writing is in black, grey and white ink. Pages 212... is in black, grey and white ink. Pages 212 Illustrated with a few ...Soft cover book. Front cover has orange background with a black and white photo of a Bobby and a bomb victim sharing a brew. Writing is in black, grey and white ink. Pages 212 Illustrated with a few photos"Donated by Bendigo YMCA"books, military history -
Unions Ballarat
Servant of the house (Don Woodward Collection), Green, Frank C, 1969
... of the author. Front cover: grey background; white lettering; author's.... Dustjacket: black background; red and white lettering; author's name ...Autobiography of Frank Green who worked as a clerk of the House of Representatives from 1937-1955.Political relevance - including insights into the Petrov Affair and the Prime Ministerships of Scullin, Chifley, Menzies, Lyons and Curtin. Book; 173 pages. Dustjacket: black background; red and white lettering; author's name and title; two-tone photo of the author. Front cover: grey background; white lettering; author's name and title on the spine.Valerie Muir in blue biro.btlc, ballarat trades hall, ballarat trades and labour council, politics and government, house of representatives - australia, parliamentiary staff, autobiography, prime ministers - australia -
National Wool Museum
Textile - Art Quilt, Fiona Gavens, Ghost Blanket IV, 2020
... Woven black white and grey checked design appliqued onto... white and grey checked design appliqued onto silk organza. Ghost ...Ghost Blanket IV won the 'Award for Excellence' at Ozquilt Network's biennial juried exhibition Art Quilt Australia for 2021. The quilt presented with the Award for Excellence is acquired into the National Wool Museum's Collection dating back to 2000 with the art quilt "Earth Blanket". Artist statement: In "Ghost Blanket IV", woven checked blankets are deconstructed and reimagined to create an appliquéd work with the feel of lace. It celebrates the natural colours of alpaca fleece and the qualities of felted, woven fabric.Woven black white and grey checked design appliqued onto silk organza.ozquilt, quilt, art quilt, wool -
Vision Australia
Poster - Object, Help poster
... 1 yellow and grey poster with red, white and black text... of Victoria ... 1 yellow and grey poster with red, white and black ...Appeal poster for people to include a bequest to the RVIB in their wills. It features a kneeling boy, holding flowers, with his eyes partially closed and dressed in a jacket and short pants. At the base of the poster is written: Royal Victorian Institute for the Blind, 557 St Kilda Road, Prahran, Phone 5113811 yellow and grey poster with red, white and black text with grey illustrationWhen you make or amend your Will include a Bequest to HELP the Blind Babies and Children of Victoria ...royal victorian institute for the blind, fundraising -
National Wool Museum
Clothing - Suit, 1987
... have grey or white showing through the pink. This checker plate... have grey or white showing through the pink. This checker plate ...Hand spun, hand dyed, hand woven and hand sewn suit which won best garment in the 1987 Geelong show. Size 12 in a design by Chanel. It was spun with variegated natural greys on a Sheridan horizontal spinning wheel. It was then dyed pink using natural dyes. The jacket had commercially brought warp and hand spun weft in twill on a 24” loom. All spinning, dyeing and weaving was by Jean Inglis of Geelong. The suit was sewn by Caroline Mogic of Geelong, with iron on interfacing, commercially brought trim. It was worn only once in the parade at the Geelong show. The pink suit jacket has four pockets with gold buttons on front, size 12. The jacket has a checker-plate pattern in which the predominate pink is always present and is accompanied in areas which have grey or white showing through the pink. This checker plate pattern continues down the sleeves of the jacket. The edge of the jacket has a lighter pink trim. A pink skirt accompanies the suit jacket. It has horizontal lines with pink as the predominate colour and areas of grey and white showing through in sections. geelong show, hand spun, hand dyed, hand woven, hand sewn, channel -
The Beechworth Burke Museum
Animal specimen - Barking Owl (Male), Trustees of the Australian Museum, 1860-1880
... -grey in colour with white spots on the wings and vertically...This male Barking Owl is average sized with brown, grey...-grey in colour with white spots on the wings and vertically ...The Barking Owl is a nocturnal, medium sized (390-440 mm) bird of prey native to Australia, parts of Papua New Guinea, and the Moluccas. Males are generally slightly larger by weight than females and they are only one of small number of owl species that do not exhibit marked sexual dimorphism. Barking Owls have characteristic vocalisations, ranging from 'a 'woof woof' barking dog sounds to shrill, human-like scream sounds, which reportedly alarmed early European settlers. The Barking Owl's shrill and explosive vocalisation is sometimes associated with Bunyip mythology or referred to as 'the screaming woman call'. The male call is slightly lower in pitch than the female, and males and females often duet, contrasting low and high pitches. The owls are brown-grey in colour with white spots on the wings and vertically streaked chest. Their eyes are large and yellow. Barking Owls may be vulnerable in some parts of Australia due to woodland habitat loss. This specimen is part of a collection of almost 200 animal specimens that were originally acquired as skins from various institutions across Australia, including the Australian Museum in Sydney and the National Museum of Victoria (known as Museums Victoria since 1983), as well as individuals such as amateur anthropologist Reynell Eveleigh Johns between 1860-1880. These skins were then mounted by members of the Burke Museum Committee and put-on display in the formal space of the Museum’s original exhibition hall where they continue to be on display. This display of taxidermy mounts initially served to instruct visitors to the Burke Museum of the natural world around them, today it serves as an insight into the collecting habits of the 19th century. This specimen is part of a significant and rare taxidermy mount collection in the Burke Museum. This collection is scientifically and culturally important for reminding us of how science continues to shape our understanding of the modern world. They demonstrate a capacity to hold evidence of how Australia’s fauna history existed in the past and are potentially important for future environmental research. This collection continues to be on display in the Museum and has become a key part to interpreting the collecting habits of the 19th century. This male Barking Owl is average sized with brown, grey and white spots and vertical chest streaks. The face and breast are lighter in colour than the wings and dorsal plumage. The eyes are large and dark and the legs and feet are yellowish. The eyes are large and yellow irises and the legs and feet are yellowish. The specimen stands on a wooden perch pedestal with identification tags attached to its leg. 17. / Bookook Owl / See catalogue page, 4 /taxidermy mount, taxidermy, animalia, burke museum, beechworth, australian museum, skin, owls, barking owls, screaming woman call, yowing, woodland birds, birds of prey, australian owls, endangered, loss of habitat, woodland habitat, bunyip, australian early settler mythology -
Circa Vintage Archive
La Petite Hat, La Petite, Late 1950s to early 1960s
... , netting, wired frame and assorted flowers in shades of blue, grey... in shades of blue, grey and white. From the Collins Street salon ...Large tiara style garden party hat of twisted silk cording, netting, wired frame and assorted flowers in shades of blue, grey and white. From the Collins Street salon of top Melbourne couturier La Petite.Labelled "La Petite 165 Collins St. Melbourne" -
Phillip Island and District Historical Society Inc.
Photograph, circa 1900
... photograph extensive white - grey sky. Road and hotels in front... to Phillip Island. Large photograph extensive white - grey sky. Road ...From left of picture showing the San Remo and Piers Hotels. A horse hitched to part fence on side of road. Bushes between hotels and foreshore. The Genesta, Jetty, Coal Jetty and Jetty leading to what could be baths jutting out into Westernport. Phillip Island foreshore in background.Sea shore looking across to Phillip Island. Large photograph extensive white - grey sky. Road and hotels in front of beach.local history, photography, photographs, slides, film, sea shore san remo, hotels, black & white photograph, miss elms san remo -
Glen Eira City Council History and Heritage Collection
Photograph, c. 1970
... grey colour suit, white shirt and corporate tie.... wearing a plain grey colour suit, white shirt and corporate tie ...One of 11 similarly presented b/w half portrait photographs showing various councillors within Glen Eira City Council. Copyright for this image is unknown, although likely commissioned by Council. It has been digitised and published here for educational and research purposes. If you believe that you have copyright to this image and would like it removed from the site please contact us through the 'Leave a Comment' tab below. B/w portrait photograph of Cr Ian Barklamb wearing a plain grey colour suit, white shirt and corporate tie.Handwritten on verso in blue ink pen: "Cr Ian Barklamb" -
Beechworth Honey Archive
Publication, The Future Of Farming - The Rise of the Rural Entrepreneur ) Global Farmers Master Class Team) 2012, 2012
... A5 Soft Cover book, White with 6 pictures, Grey strip...-country A5 Soft Cover book, White with 6 pictures, Grey strip ...A5 Soft Cover book, White with 6 pictures, Grey strip with white writing 160 pages From conference in the Netherlands -
Warrnambool and District Historical Society Inc.
Postcard - My Landlady's Cat, 1914-1918
... bottle held against his eye. There is a grey and white cat.... There is a grey and white cat wearing a bow in the foreground and black ...This is number 17 of 27 items in the Daisy Vickers collection of World War One memorabilia. These items were sent or given to Daisy Ogier (nee Vickers) during World War One by Corporal Arthur Anderson who enlisted from Warrnambool in 1915 at the age of 21. He served in Egypt and France and returned to Australia in 1919. Daisy Ogier (1907-1987) was a student and then a teacher at Warrnambool Technical School with her early teaching years there from 1925 to 1936 and in 1949. She became the head mistress from 1950 to 1963 and in 1968. She officially retired in 1976. Daisy Vickers was one of the best loved and dedicated teachers that the school ever had. She married the Reverend Fred Ogier and continued her association with the school after her husband's deathThis card is interesting because of its association with World War One and two local people Daisy Vickers and Arthur AndersonThis coloured postcard features a man looking into an empty bottle held against his eye. There is a grey and white cat wearing a bow in the foreground and black and blue printing. The reverse has hand written ink writing and space for a stamp.My Landlady's Cat wears a Blue Ribbon but I don't believe it's a Teetotaller !!. Il me semble qu'on y a mis un doigt France Jan 26th Dear Daisy I received your letter dated 6th Nov saying you had been to the show what are you learning to play on the piano Arthur daisy vickers, arthur anderson, warrnambool technical school, world war 1 postcard -
Tatura Irrigation & Wartime Camps Museum
Book, John Nicholson et al, Australia Locked Up, 2006
... Grey, blue, white and black hard cover. Red spine. Red... fleet to today australian prisons Australia Locked Up Grey, blue ...The story of Australia's prisons from the first fleet to todayGrey, blue, white and black hard cover. Red spine. Red and white printing in an arch like frame on front cover. White printing on spine. Rope noose printed on the back cover and brief outline of contents on the back.Australia Locked Upaustralian prisons -
Tatura Irrigation & Wartime Camps Museum
Painting - Painting - Watercolour, Airy Symphony, 1943
... . The tree appears to be rising up through blue, grey and white.... The tree appears to be rising up through blue, grey and white ...Kurt Winker was born in Germany in 1902 and was a survivor of the "Arandora Star". He was sent to Australia on the "Dunera" where he was interned at Tatura 1940-1945.A large tree in centre with bare twisted branches. The tree appears to be rising up through blue, grey and white fluffy clouds. There are small red faced birds perched on some of the branches and a flock of birds flying in towards the tree.Tatura Kurwin 1942kurwin -
Greensborough Historical Society
Photograph Album, Diamond Valley Community Hospital. Reception and Training, 1990o
... Photo album with white and grey cover. 38 pages, 125... with white and grey cover. 38 pages, 125 photographs of varying sizes ...Photographs of reception area at DVCH and staff training. Includes CPR classes and operating theatre training. The Diamond Valley Community Hospital was established in 1942 in Grimshaw Street Greensborough. Due to financial circumstances, the hospital closed in 2000. This collection of photo albums is from the 1990s and was collected by staff. Photographs are not named. Albums may be accessed at the GHS Resource Centre. This volume is numbered 8.As the Diamond Valley Community Hospital is now closed, this collection of albums records some of the people involved. Photo album with white and grey cover. 38 pages, 125 photographs of varying sizes. Title handwritten and pasted on front cover. diamond valley community hospital, greensborough, dvch -
Alfred Hospital Nurses League - Nursing Archive
Book - text book, Medical Nursing, 1970
... dark blue cover with white and grey printing. Covered..., C'berra, Hobart dark blue cover with white and grey printing ...Medical Nursing text bookdark blue cover with white and grey printing. Covered in a plastic library protective coveringnon-fictionMedical Nursing text book -
Hume City Civic Collection
Headwear - Hair nets
... 2 hair nets in different shades of grey inside a small... shades of grey inside a small white paper bag. Headwear Hair nets ...Hair nets were used to hold unmanageable hair in place. Earlier nets were made from fine natural yarn but nylon replaced the natural fibres in latter years.2 hair nets in different shades of grey inside a small white paper bag.hair accessories, hair nets, personal effects, george evans collection -
Geelong RSL Sub Branch
Magazine - Diggers Annual, 1951
... An oblong booklet, grey cover and white pages - Digger's... booklet, grey cover and white pages - Digger's Annual, Jubilee ...This magazine was printed and issued in 1951. It is a collection of stories and poems compiled by Plugger Martin and W Gilbert, both late 2AIF.This is an original Digger's Annual Magazine from 1951.An oblong booklet, grey cover and white pages - Digger's Annual, Jubilee Year 1951 - Time Marches On - Tales of Diggers Old and New.The Magazine is compiled by Diggers Plugger Martin and W Gilbert. The Magazine was set up and printed by the Clyde Press, 608 High Street, Thornbury, Victoria.magazine, stories & poems, plugger martin & w gilbert, 2aif, 1951 -
Uniting Church Archives - Synod of Victoria
Souvenir - Bud vase, New Devon Pottery, c1950s
... , grey, black and white decal on one side and black text... with brown, green, grey, black and white decal on one side and black ...1 Rectory Street, Epworth, Doncaster DN9 IHX, Lincolnshire was home to the rector of Epworth from 1697 to 1735, the Reverend Samuel Wesley, his wife Susanna and their 19 children, one of whom, John Wesley was a founder of Methodism.Cream pottery gondola shaped bud vase with brown, green, grey, black and white decal on one side and black text on the other. "Epworth Old Rectory"new devon potter newton abbott devon, epworth old rectory -
Whitehorse Historical Society Inc.
Textile - Embroidery Piece and Frame
... frame. Embroidery pattern of large shells in grey, blue... of large shells in grey, blue and white silks and pink flowers ...Unfinished piece of embroidery still in circular embroidery frame. Embroidery pattern of large shells in grey, blue and white silks and pink flowers.handcrafts, equipment, needlework -
Warrnambool and District Historical Society Inc.
Book, Basil Watson Pioneer Aviator, March 2015
... , advertisements, posters and newspaper cuttings. The cover is mainly grey... and newspaper cuttings. The cover is mainly grey and white in colour ...This book gives details on the life and work of Basil Watson (1893-1917), a pioneer aviator in AustraliaThis is a paper back book with a plastic-laminated cover. There are 61 pages with diagrams, photographs, illustrations, advertisements, posters and newspaper cuttings. The cover is mainly grey and white in colour with printed material in a red insert and two photographs superimposed over the background.This book gives details on the life and work of Basil Watson (1893-1917), a pioneer aviator in Australiabasil watson, warrnambool and aviation pioneer, australian aviators -
Royal District Nursing Service (now known as Bolton Clarke)
Photograph - Digital image, c.1920
... uniform of a grey cotton frock with white collar, and a grey...) Trained nurse (Sister) wearing a grey uniform with white collar... uniform of a grey cotton frock with white collar, and a grey ...This digital image is taken at the home of a Melbourne District Nursing Society (MDNS) patient, and depicts a MDNS Sister attending to a lady who is lying in a wicker bed pram in the rear garden of her home. The wicker bed pram enabled the lady to enjoy fresh air and to be moved about easily. The image shows the MDNS uniform of a grey cotton frock with white collar, and a grey brimmed hat with a red Maltese cross in the centre of the hatband. In 1885, 50 years after Melbourne was founded, it was recognized that nursing care was needed for the sick poor in inner Melbourne. The Melbourne District Nursing Society (MDNS) was founded in February 1885 with one Trained nurse, known as 'Nurse' in those days, and a second employed six months later,. The two Nurses worked in the now CBD, ie from Spencer Street to Spring Street and from Victoria Parade to Flinders Street. At that time they walked the streets and lane ways amid the slums of inner Melbourne carrying their nursing bags containing lotion, ointments, powders, liniment, bandages, dressings, a case of spirits, and the Nurse's own clean apron, soap and small towel. They supplied equipment on loan, such as earthenware hot water bottles, splints, urinals, bed pans, bed cradles, feeding mugs, and air-cushions as well as providing blankets and clean bed linen, and nightdresses as necessary. From its inception the Society was at the forefront of health care and liaised with Doctors. They provided high quality nursing care to a range of people, often in destitute situations, some lying on rags on the floor as they had no bed, others with just a bed and maybe a thin blanket, a chair and nothing else. Their ages ranged from babes, children, adults to the elderly. The Nurses gave medications as ordered, dressed wounds e.g. to the injured, and surgical cases, and to those with leg ulcers; attended to patients with ‘surgical ailments’ such as ‘hip disease’; gave care to those with acute illnesses such as bronchitis, pleurisy, pneumonia, measles, and scarlet fever, as well as those with chronic illnesses such as consumption (tuberculosis), heart disease, arthritis, cancer, debility, neuritis and paralysis. This image shows a Melbourne District Nursing Society (MDNS) Trained nurse (Sister) wearing a grey uniform with white collar, and a grey brimmed hat, which has a hatband with Maltese cross applied, standing behind and attending an elderly lady patient laying in a wicker bed pram outside her home. The Sister has her right hand resting on the pram and is looking down at the lady, and the lady, who has short grey hair, is smiling and looking toward the camera. Her body is covered with a floral cover. To the left, part of the horizontal weatherboards of a wooden house can be seen, and to the right and rear, a brick, tiled hip roof, building can be seen. The wicker bed pram has four spoked wheels and a metal frame that bends up to form a handle on its right hand side.melbourne district nursing society, mdns, mdns nurses, mdns patient care, mdns uniforms, rdns, royal district nursing service -
Bendigo Military Museum
Book - BOOK WW2 NURSES, Pan Macmillan Aust PTY LTD, On Radji Beach, 2010
... in uniform in red, white and grey, 360 pages, plain white paper... in uniform in red, white and grey, 360 pages, plain white paper ...The story of Australian Nurses after the Fall of Singapore, February 1942, an account of the fate of every Nurse who boarded the Coastal Freighter “Vyner Brooke”, the nurses service, ill fated evacuation and their courage, compassion, ingenuity and fortitude in the unthinkable events that followed.Book, soft cover, cardboard, red and black print on front, spine and back, front cover has a photo of three Nurses in uniform in red, white and grey, 360 pages, plain white paper, illustrated B & W and colour photographs.books, nurses ww2, biography, pow’s, japan -
Bendigo Military Museum
Book, Norman G Manners, Bullwinkel, 1999
... picture of Vivian Bullwinkel in red, grey and white nurse's... and inset colour picture of Vivian Bullwinkel in red, grey and white ...Details the story of Vivian Bullwinkel, sole survivor of a massacre of Australian nurses by the Japanese during WWII.Orange buckram hardcover book with title in gold on cover and spine. Red dust cover with image of nurses and inset colour picture of Vivian Bullwinkel in red, grey and white nurse's uniform. 239 plain paper pages with cut edges and illustrations.On front end paper "John W Bill Toon OAM. 8th Div AASC. Ex POW. VX30397. Siam Burma Death Railway Slave 1942-45" and "Donated by Bgo YMCA" books, military history -
Warrnambool and District Historical Society Inc.
Book, Hazells Offset Ltd, The Little Girl and the Tiny Doll, 1966
... has image of two women in grey and white coats. Names... of two women in grey and white coats. Names of authors ...This is a child's picture book from 1966 which belonged to the Framlingham State School which is situated approximately 15 ks north of Warrnambool. Of limited significance apart from being an example of books which were in use in primary schools in the 1960's.Hard cover book with title in red text. Image of child reaching into freezer with smallish doll figure below.back cover has image of two women in grey and white coats. Names of authors is in black text on white background.48 pages.Stamp " S.S Framlingham" dedicated to Miss Irene Theobald.warrnambool -
Clunes Museum
Photograph - PHOTOGRAPH - BACK TO CLUNES, 1920
... .1 ORIGINAL BLACK AND WHITE PHOTOGRAPH. GREY MOUNTING... COSTUME. 1920. .2 ORIGINAL BLACK AND WHITE PHOTOGRAPH. GREY ...PHOTOGRAPH TAKEN AT BACK TO CLUNES..1 ORIGINAL BLACK AND WHITE PHOTOGRAPH. GREY MOUNTING. BACK TO CLUNES. PEOPLE WEARING FANCY DRESS COSTUME. 1920. .2 ORIGINAL BLACK AND WHITE PHOTOGRAPH. GREY MOUNTING. BACK TO CLUNES. PEOPLE WEARING FANCY DRESS COSTUME. 1920..1 On Front BACK TO CLUNES 1920. .2 On Front; BACK TO CLUNES 1920 On Reverse; Handwritten in pencil Back to Clunes 1920photographs, events and celebrations, back to clunes, back to clunes 1920 -
Seaworks Maritime Museum
Plaque, Wooden "Vampire" Plaque
... . Painted white, blue, grey and gold.... and boat. Painted white, blue, grey and gold. Wooden "Vampire ...Wooden plaque featuring a carved vampire bat and boat. Painted white, blue, grey and gold."VAMPIRE" -
Flagstaff Hill Maritime Museum and Village
Animal specimen - Whale bone, Undetermined
... as indicated by deep pitting. Off white to grey.... as indicated by deep pitting. Off white to grey. Animal specimen Whale ...Prior to carrying out a detailed condition report of the cetacean skeletons, it is useful to have an understanding of the materials we are likely to encounter, in terms of structure and chemistry. This entry invites you to join in learning about the composition of whale bone and oil. Whale bone (Cetacean) bone is comprised of a composite structure of both an inorganic matrix of mainly hydroxylapatite (a calcium phosphate mineral), providing strength and rigidity, as well as an organic protein ‘scaffolding’ of mainly collagen, facilitating growth and repair (O’Connor 2008, CCI 2010). Collagen is also the structural protein component in cartilage between the whale vertebrae and attached to the fins of both the Killer Whale and the Dolphin. Relative proportions in the bone composition (affecting density), are linked with the feeding habits and mechanical stresses typically endured by bones of particular whale types. A Sperm Whale (Physeter macrocephalus Linnaeus, 1758) skeleton (toothed) thus has a higher mineral value (~67%) than a Fin Whale (Balaenoptera physalus Linnaeus, 1758) (baleen) (~60%) (Turner Walker 2012). The internal structure of bone can be divided into compact and cancellous bone. In whales, load-bearing structures such as mandibles and upper limb bones (e.g. humerus, sternum) are largely composed of compact bone (Turner Walker 2012). This consists of lamella concentrically deposited around the longitudinal axis and is permeated by fluid carrying channels (O’Connor 2008). Cancellous (spongy) bone, with a highly porous angular network of trabeculae, is less stiff and thus found in whale ribs and vertebrae (Turner Walker 2012). Whale oil Whales not only carry a thick layer of fat (blubber) in the soft tissue of their body for heat insulation and as a food store while they are alive, but also hold large oil (lipid) reserves in their porous bones. Following maceration of the whale skeleton after death to remove the soft tissue, the bones retain a high lipid content (Higgs et. al 2010). Particularly bones with a spongy (porous) structure have a high capacity to hold oil-rich marrow. Comparative data of various whale species suggests the skull, particularly the cranium and mandible bones are particularly oil rich. Along the vertebral column, the lipid content is reduced, particularly in the thoracic vertebrae (~10-25%), yet greatly increases from the lumbar to the caudal vertebrae (~40-55%). The chest area (scapula, sternum and ribs) show a mid-range lipid content (~15-30%), with vertically orientated ribs being more heavily soaked lower down (Turner Walker 2012, Higgs et. al 2010). Whale oil is largely composed of triglycerides (molecules of fatty acids attached to a glycerol molecule). In Arctic whales a higher proportion of unsaturated, versus saturated fatty acids make up the lipid. Unsaturated fatty acids (with double or triple carbon bonds causing chain kinks, preventing close packing (solidifying) of molecules), are more likely to be liquid (oil), versus solid (fat) at room temperature (Smith and March 2007). Objects Made From the Whaling Industry We all know that men set forth in sailing ships and risked their lives to harpoon whales on the open seas throughout the 1800s. And while Moby Dick and other tales have made whaling stories immortal, people today generally don't appreciate that the whalers were part of a well-organized industry. The ships that set out from ports in New England roamed as far as the Pacific in hunt of specific species of whales. Adventure may have been the draw for some whalers, but for the captains who owned whaling ships, and the investors which financed voyages, there was a considerable monetary payoff. The gigantic carcasses of whales were chopped and boiled down and turned into products such as the fine oil needed to lubricate increasing advanced machine tools. And beyond the oil derived from whales, even their bones, in an era before the invention of plastic, was used to make a wide variety of consumer goods. In short, whales were a valuable natural resource the same as wood, minerals, or petroleum we now pump from the ground. Oil From Whale’s Blubber Oil was the main product sought from whales, and it was used to lubricate machinery and to provide illumination by burning it in lamps. When a whale was killed, it was towed to the ship and its blubber, the thick insulating fat under its skin, would be peeled and cut from its carcass in a process known as “flensing.” The blubber was minced into chunks and boiled in large vats on board the whaling ship, producing oil. The oil taken from whale blubber was packaged in casks and transported back to the whaling ship’s home port (such as New Bedford, Massachusetts, the busiest American whaling port in the mid-1800s). From the ports it would be sold and transported across the country and would find its way into a huge variety of products. Whale oil, in addition to be used for lubrication and illumination, was also used to manufacture soaps, paint, and varnish. Whale oil was also utilized in some processes used to manufacture textiles and rope. Spermaceti, a Highly Regarded Oil A peculiar oil found in the head of the sperm whale, spermaceti, was highly prized. The oil was waxy, and was commonly used in making candles. In fact, candles made of spermaceti were considered the best in the world, producing a bright clear flame without an excess of smoke. Spermaceti was also used, distilled in liquid form, as an oil to fuel lamps. The main American whaling port, New Bedford, Massachusetts, was thus known as "The City That Lit the World." When John Adams was the ambassador to Great Britain before serving as president he recorded in his diary a conversation about spermaceti he had with the British Prime Minister William Pitt. Adams, keen to promote the New England whaling industry, was trying to convince the British to import spermaceti sold by American whalers, which the British could use to fuel street lamps. The British were not interested. In his diary, Adams wrote that he told Pitt, “the fat of the spermaceti whale gives the clearest and most beautiful flame of any substance that is known in nature, and we are surprised you prefer darkness, and consequent robberies, burglaries, and murders in your streets to receiving as a remittance our spermaceti oil.” Despite the failed sales pitch John Adams made in the late 1700s, the American whaling industry boomed in the early to mid-1800s. And spermaceti was a major component of that success. Spermaceti could be refined into a lubricant that was ideal for precision machinery. The machine tools that made the growth of industry possible in the United States were lubricated, and essentially made possible, by oil derived from spermaceti. Baleen, or "Whalebone" The bones and teeth of various species of whales were used in a number of products, many of them common implements in a 19th century household. Whales are said to have produced “the plastic of the 1800s.” The "bone" of the whale which was most commonly used wasn’t technically a bone, it was baleen, a hard material arrayed in large plates, like gigantic combs, in the mouths of some species of whales. The purpose of the baleen is to act as a sieve, catching tiny organisms in sea water, which the whale consumes as food. As baleen was tough yet flexible, it could be used in a number of practical applications. And it became commonly known as "whalebone." Perhaps the most common use of whalebone was in the manufacture of corsets, which fashionable ladies in the 1800s wore to compress their waistlines. One typical corset advertisement from the 1800s proudly proclaims, “Real Whalebone Only Used.” Whalebone was also used for collar stays, buggy whips, and toys. Its remarkable flexibility even caused it to be used as the springs in early typewriters. The comparison to plastic is apt. Think of common items which today might be made of plastic, and it's likely that similar items in the 1800s would have been made of whalebone. Baleen whales do not have teeth. But the teeth of other whales, such as the sperm whale, would be used as ivory in such products as chess pieces, piano keys, or the handles of walking sticks. Pieces of scrimshaw, or carved whale's teeth, would probably be the best remembered use of whale's teeth. However, the carved teeth were created to pass the time on whaling voyages and were never a mass production item. Their relative rarity, of course, is why genuine pieces of 19th century scrimshaw are considered to be valuable collectibles today. Reference: McNamara, Robert. "Objects Made From the Whaling Industry." ThoughtCo, Jul. 31, 2021, thoughtco.com/products-produced-from-whales-1774070.Whale bone was an important commodity, used in corsets, collar stays, buggy whips, and toys.Whale bone piece. Advanced stage of calcification as indicated by deep pitting. Off white to grey.None.flagstaff hill, warrnambool, shipwrecked-coast, flagstaff-hill, flagstaff-hill-maritime-museum, maritime-museum, shipwreck-coast, flagstaff-hill-maritime-village, whales, whale bone, corsets, toys, whips -
Flagstaff Hill Maritime Museum and Village
Animal specimen - Whale bone, Undetermined
... as indicated by deep pitting. Off white to grey.... as indicated by deep pitting. Off white to grey. Animal specimen Whale ...Prior to carrying out a detailed condition report of the cetacean skeletons, it is useful to have an understanding of the materials we are likely to encounter, in terms of structure and chemistry. This entry invites you to join in learning about the composition of whale bone and oil. Whale bone (Cetacean) bone is comprised of a composite structure of both an inorganic matrix of mainly hydroxylapatite (a calcium phosphate mineral), providing strength and rigidity, as well as an organic protein ‘scaffolding’ of mainly collagen, facilitating growth and repair (O’Connor 2008, CCI 2010). Collagen is also the structural protein component in cartilage between the whale vertebrae and attached to the fins of both the Killer Whale and the Dolphin. Relative proportions in the bone composition (affecting density), are linked with the feeding habits and mechanical stresses typically endured by bones of particular whale types. A Sperm Whale (Physeter macrocephalus Linnaeus, 1758) skeleton (toothed) thus has a higher mineral value (~67%) than a Fin Whale (Balaenoptera physalus Linnaeus, 1758) (baleen) (~60%) (Turner Walker 2012). The internal structure of bone can be divided into compact and cancellous bone. In whales, load-bearing structures such as mandibles and upper limb bones (e.g. humerus, sternum) are largely composed of compact bone (Turner Walker 2012). This consists of lamella concentrically deposited around the longitudinal axis and is permeated by fluid carrying channels (O’Connor 2008). Cancellous (spongy) bone, with a highly porous angular network of trabeculae, is less stiff and thus found in whale ribs and vertebrae (Turner Walker 2012). Whale oil Whales not only carry a thick layer of fat (blubber) in the soft tissue of their body for heat insulation and as a food store while they are alive, but also hold large oil (lipid) reserves in their porous bones. Following maceration of the whale skeleton after death to remove the soft tissue, the bones retain a high lipid content (Higgs et. al 2010). Particularly bones with a spongy (porous) structure have a high capacity to hold oil-rich marrow. Comparative data of various whale species suggests the skull, particularly the cranium and mandible bones are particularly oil rich. Along the vertebral column, the lipid content is reduced, particularly in the thoracic vertebrae (~10-25%), yet greatly increases from the lumbar to the caudal vertebrae (~40-55%). The chest area (scapula, sternum and ribs) show a mid-range lipid content (~15-30%), with vertically orientated ribs being more heavily soaked lower down (Turner Walker 2012, Higgs et. al 2010). Whale oil is largely composed of triglycerides (molecules of fatty acids attached to a glycerol molecule). In Arctic whales a higher proportion of unsaturated, versus saturated fatty acids make up the lipid. Unsaturated fatty acids (with double or triple carbon bonds causing chain kinks, preventing close packing (solidifying) of molecules), are more likely to be liquid (oil), versus solid (fat) at room temperature (Smith and March 2007). Objects Made From the Whaling Industry We all know that men set forth in sailing ships and risked their lives to harpoon whales on the open seas throughout the 1800s. And while Moby Dick and other tales have made whaling stories immortal, people today generally don't appreciate that the whalers were part of a well-organized industry. The ships that set out from ports in New England roamed as far as the Pacific in hunt of specific species of whales. Adventure may have been the draw for some whalers, but for the captains who owned whaling ships, and the investors which financed voyages, there was a considerable monetary payoff. The gigantic carcasses of whales were chopped and boiled down and turned into products such as the fine oil needed to lubricate increasing advanced machine tools. And beyond the oil derived from whales, even their bones, in an era before the invention of plastic, was used to make a wide variety of consumer goods. In short, whales were a valuable natural resource the same as wood, minerals, or petroleum we now pump from the ground. Oil From Whale’s Blubber Oil was the main product sought from whales, and it was used to lubricate machinery and to provide illumination by burning it in lamps. When a whale was killed, it was towed to the ship and its blubber, the thick insulating fat under its skin, would be peeled and cut from its carcass in a process known as “flensing.” The blubber was minced into chunks and boiled in large vats on board the whaling ship, producing oil. The oil taken from whale blubber was packaged in casks and transported back to the whaling ship’s home port (such as New Bedford, Massachusetts, the busiest American whaling port in the mid-1800s). From the ports it would be sold and transported across the country and would find its way into a huge variety of products. Whale oil, in addition to be used for lubrication and illumination, was also used to manufacture soaps, paint, and varnish. Whale oil was also utilized in some processes used to manufacture textiles and rope. Spermaceti, a Highly Regarded Oil A peculiar oil found in the head of the sperm whale, spermaceti, was highly prized. The oil was waxy, and was commonly used in making candles. In fact, candles made of spermaceti were considered the best in the world, producing a bright clear flame without an excess of smoke. Spermaceti was also used, distilled in liquid form, as an oil to fuel lamps. The main American whaling port, New Bedford, Massachusetts, was thus known as "The City That Lit the World." When John Adams was the ambassador to Great Britain before serving as president he recorded in his diary a conversation about spermaceti he had with the British Prime Minister William Pitt. Adams, keen to promote the New England whaling industry, was trying to convince the British to import spermaceti sold by American whalers, which the British could use to fuel street lamps. The British were not interested. In his diary, Adams wrote that he told Pitt, “the fat of the spermaceti whale gives the clearest and most beautiful flame of any substance that is known in nature, and we are surprised you prefer darkness, and consequent robberies, burglaries, and murders in your streets to receiving as a remittance our spermaceti oil.” Despite the failed sales pitch John Adams made in the late 1700s, the American whaling industry boomed in the early to mid-1800s. And spermaceti was a major component of that success. Spermaceti could be refined into a lubricant that was ideal for precision machinery. The machine tools that made the growth of industry possible in the United States were lubricated, and essentially made possible, by oil derived from spermaceti. Baleen, or "Whalebone" The bones and teeth of various species of whales were used in a number of products, many of them common implements in a 19th century household. Whales are said to have produced “the plastic of the 1800s.” The "bone" of the whale which was most commonly used wasn’t technically a bone, it was baleen, a hard material arrayed in large plates, like gigantic combs, in the mouths of some species of whales. The purpose of the baleen is to act as a sieve, catching tiny organisms in sea water, which the whale consumes as food. As baleen was tough yet flexible, it could be used in a number of practical applications. And it became commonly known as "whalebone." Perhaps the most common use of whalebone was in the manufacture of corsets, which fashionable ladies in the 1800s wore to compress their waistlines. One typical corset advertisement from the 1800s proudly proclaims, “Real Whalebone Only Used.” Whalebone was also used for collar stays, buggy whips, and toys. Its remarkable flexibility even caused it to be used as the springs in early typewriters. The comparison to plastic is apt. Think of common items which today might be made of plastic, and it's likely that similar items in the 1800s would have been made of whalebone. Baleen whales do not have teeth. But the teeth of other whales, such as the sperm whale, would be used as ivory in such products as chess pieces, piano keys, or the handles of walking sticks. Pieces of scrimshaw, or carved whale's teeth, would probably be the best remembered use of whale's teeth. However, the carved teeth were created to pass the time on whaling voyages and were never a mass production item. Their relative rarity, of course, is why genuine pieces of 19th century scrimshaw are considered to be valuable collectibles today. Reference: McNamara, Robert. "Objects Made From the Whaling Industry." ThoughtCo, Jul. 31, 2021, thoughtco.com/products-produced-from-whales-1774070. Whale bone was an important commodity, used in corsets, collar stays, buggy whips, and toys.Whale bone vertebrae. Advanced stage of calcification as indicated by deep pitting. Off white to grey.None.flagstaff hill, warrnambool, shipwrecked-coast, flagstaff-hill, flagstaff-hill-maritime-museum, maritime-museum, shipwreck-coast, flagstaff-hill-maritime-village, whales, whale bone, corsets, toys, whips -
Flagstaff Hill Maritime Museum and Village
Animal specimen - Whale bone, Undetermined
... as indicated by deep pitting. Off white to grey.... as indicated by deep pitting. Off white to grey. Animal specimen Whale ...Prior to carrying out a detailed condition report of the cetacean skeletons, it is useful to have an understanding of the materials we are likely to encounter, in terms of structure and chemistry. This entry invites you to join in learning about the composition of whale bone and oil. Whale bone (Cetacean) bone is comprised of a composite structure of both an inorganic matrix of mainly hydroxylapatite (a calcium phosphate mineral), providing strength and rigidity, as well as an organic protein ‘scaffolding’ of mainly collagen, facilitating growth and repair (O’Connor 2008, CCI 2010). Collagen is also the structural protein component in cartilage between the whale vertebrae and attached to the fins of both the Killer Whale and the Dolphin. Relative proportions in the bone composition (affecting density), are linked with the feeding habits and mechanical stresses typically endured by bones of particular whale types. A Sperm Whale (Physeter macrocephalus Linnaeus, 1758) skeleton (toothed) thus has a higher mineral value (~67%) than a Fin Whale (Balaenoptera physalus Linnaeus, 1758) (baleen) (~60%) (Turner Walker 2012). The internal structure of bone can be divided into compact and cancellous bone. In whales, load-bearing structures such as mandibles and upper limb bones (e.g. humerus, sternum) are largely composed of compact bone (Turner Walker 2012). This consists of lamella concentrically deposited around the longitudinal axis and is permeated by fluid carrying channels (O’Connor 2008). Cancellous (spongy) bone, with a highly porous angular network of trabeculae, is less stiff and thus found in whale ribs and vertebrae (Turner Walker 2012). Whale oil Whales not only carry a thick layer of fat (blubber) in the soft tissue of their body for heat insulation and as a food store while they are alive, but also hold large oil (lipid) reserves in their porous bones. Following maceration of the whale skeleton after death to remove the soft tissue, the bones retain a high lipid content (Higgs et. al 2010). Particularly bones with a spongy (porous) structure have a high capacity to hold oil-rich marrow. Comparative data of various whale species suggests the skull, particularly the cranium and mandible bones are particularly oil rich. Along the vertebral column, the lipid content is reduced, particularly in the thoracic vertebrae (~10-25%), yet greatly increases from the lumbar to the caudal vertebrae (~40-55%). The chest area (scapula, sternum and ribs) show a mid-range lipid content (~15-30%), with vertically orientated ribs being more heavily soaked lower down (Turner Walker 2012, Higgs et. al 2010). Whale oil is largely composed of triglycerides (molecules of fatty acids attached to a glycerol molecule). In Arctic whales a higher proportion of unsaturated, versus saturated fatty acids make up the lipid. Unsaturated fatty acids (with double or triple carbon bonds causing chain kinks, preventing close packing (solidifying) of molecules), are more likely to be liquid (oil), versus solid (fat) at room temperature (Smith and March 2007). Objects Made From the Whaling Industry We all know that men set forth in sailing ships and risked their lives to harpoon whales on the open seas throughout the 1800s. And while Moby Dick and other tales have made whaling stories immortal, people today generally don't appreciate that the whalers were part of a well-organized industry. The ships that set out from ports in New England roamed as far as the Pacific in hunt of specific species of whales. Adventure may have been the draw for some whalers, but for the captains who owned whaling ships, and the investors which financed voyages, there was a considerable monetary payoff. The gigantic carcasses of whales were chopped and boiled down and turned into products such as the fine oil needed to lubricate increasing advanced machine tools. And beyond the oil derived from whales, even their bones, in an era before the invention of plastic, was used to make a wide variety of consumer goods. In short, whales were a valuable natural resource the same as wood, minerals, or petroleum we now pump from the ground. Oil From Whale’s Blubber Oil was the main product sought from whales, and it was used to lubricate machinery and to provide illumination by burning it in lamps. When a whale was killed, it was towed to the ship and its blubber, the thick insulating fat under its skin, would be peeled and cut from its carcass in a process known as “flensing.” The blubber was minced into chunks and boiled in large vats on board the whaling ship, producing oil. The oil taken from whale blubber was packaged in casks and transported back to the whaling ship’s home port (such as New Bedford, Massachusetts, the busiest American whaling port in the mid-1800s). From the ports it would be sold and transported across the country and would find its way into a huge variety of products. Whale oil, in addition to be used for lubrication and illumination, was also used to manufacture soaps, paint, and varnish. Whale oil was also utilized in some processes used to manufacture textiles and rope. Spermaceti, a Highly Regarded Oil A peculiar oil found in the head of the sperm whale, spermaceti, was highly prized. The oil was waxy, and was commonly used in making candles. In fact, candles made of spermaceti were considered the best in the world, producing a bright clear flame without an excess of smoke. Spermaceti was also used, distilled in liquid form, as an oil to fuel lamps. The main American whaling port, New Bedford, Massachusetts, was thus known as "The City That Lit the World." When John Adams was the ambassador to Great Britain before serving as president he recorded in his diary a conversation about spermaceti he had with the British Prime Minister William Pitt. Adams, keen to promote the New England whaling industry, was trying to convince the British to import spermaceti sold by American whalers, which the British could use to fuel street lamps. The British were not interested. In his diary, Adams wrote that he told Pitt, “the fat of the spermaceti whale gives the clearest and most beautiful flame of any substance that is known in nature, and we are surprised you prefer darkness, and consequent robberies, burglaries, and murders in your streets to receiving as a remittance our spermaceti oil.” Despite the failed sales pitch John Adams made in the late 1700s, the American whaling industry boomed in the early to mid-1800s. And spermaceti was a major component of that success. Spermaceti could be refined into a lubricant that was ideal for precision machinery. The machine tools that made the growth of industry possible in the United States were lubricated, and essentially made possible, by oil derived from spermaceti. Baleen, or "Whalebone" The bones and teeth of various species of whales were used in a number of products, many of them common implements in a 19th century household. Whales are said to have produced “the plastic of the 1800s.” The "bone" of the whale which was most commonly used wasn’t technically a bone, it was baleen, a hard material arrayed in large plates, like gigantic combs, in the mouths of some species of whales. The purpose of the baleen is to act as a sieve, catching tiny organisms in sea water, which the whale consumes as food. As baleen was tough yet flexible, it could be used in a number of practical applications. And it became commonly known as "whalebone." Perhaps the most common use of whalebone was in the manufacture of corsets, which fashionable ladies in the 1800s wore to compress their waistlines. One typical corset advertisement from the 1800s proudly proclaims, “Real Whalebone Only Used.” Whalebone was also used for collar stays, buggy whips, and toys. Its remarkable flexibility even caused it to be used as the springs in early typewriters. The comparison to plastic is apt. Think of common items which today might be made of plastic, and it's likely that similar items in the 1800s would have been made of whalebone. Baleen whales do not have teeth. But the teeth of other whales, such as the sperm whale, would be used as ivory in such products as chess pieces, piano keys, or the handles of walking sticks. Pieces of scrimshaw, or carved whale's teeth, would probably be the best remembered use of whale's teeth. However, the carved teeth were created to pass the time on whaling voyages and were never a mass production item. Their relative rarity, of course, is why genuine pieces of 19th century scrimshaw are considered to be valuable collectibles today. Reference: McNamara, Robert. "Objects Made From the Whaling Industry." ThoughtCo, Jul. 31, 2021, thoughtco.com/products-produced-from-whales-1774070.Whale bone was an important commodity, used in corsets, collar stays, buggy whips, and toys.Whale bone piece. Advanced stage of calcification as indicated by deep pitting. Off white to grey.None.flagstaff hill, warrnambool, shipwrecked-coast, flagstaff-hill, flagstaff-hill-maritime-museum, maritime-museum, shipwreck-coast, flagstaff-hill-maritime-village, whales, whale bone, corsets, toys, whips -
Flagstaff Hill Maritime Museum and Village
Animal specimen - Whale bone, Undetermined
... as indicated by deep pitting. Off white to grey.... as indicated by deep pitting. Off white to grey. Animal specimen Whale ...Prior to carrying out a detailed condition report of the cetacean skeletons, it is useful to have an understanding of the materials we are likely to encounter, in terms of structure and chemistry. This entry invites you to join in learning about the composition of whale bone and oil. Whale bone (Cetacean) bone is comprised of a composite structure of both an inorganic matrix of mainly hydroxylapatite (a calcium phosphate mineral), providing strength and rigidity, as well as an organic protein ‘scaffolding’ of mainly collagen, facilitating growth and repair (O’Connor 2008, CCI 2010). Collagen is also the structural protein component in cartilage between the whale vertebrae and attached to the fins of both the Killer Whale and the Dolphin. Relative proportions in the bone composition (affecting density), are linked with the feeding habits and mechanical stresses typically endured by bones of particular whale types. A Sperm Whale (Physeter macrocephalus Linnaeus, 1758) skeleton (toothed) thus has a higher mineral value (~67%) than a Fin Whale (Balaenoptera physalus Linnaeus, 1758) (baleen) (~60%) (Turner Walker 2012). The internal structure of bone can be divided into compact and cancellous bone. In whales, load-bearing structures such as mandibles and upper limb bones (e.g. humerus, sternum) are largely composed of compact bone (Turner Walker 2012). This consists of lamella concentrically deposited around the longitudinal axis and is permeated by fluid carrying channels (O’Connor 2008). Cancellous (spongy) bone, with a highly porous angular network of trabeculae, is less stiff and thus found in whale ribs and vertebrae (Turner Walker 2012). Whale oil Whales not only carry a thick layer of fat (blubber) in the soft tissue of their body for heat insulation and as a food store while they are alive, but also hold large oil (lipid) reserves in their porous bones. Following maceration of the whale skeleton after death to remove the soft tissue, the bones retain a high lipid content (Higgs et. al 2010). Particularly bones with a spongy (porous) structure have a high capacity to hold oil-rich marrow. Comparative data of various whale species suggests the skull, particularly the cranium and mandible bones are particularly oil rich. Along the vertebral column, the lipid content is reduced, particularly in the thoracic vertebrae (~10-25%), yet greatly increases from the lumbar to the caudal vertebrae (~40-55%). The chest area (scapula, sternum and ribs) show a mid-range lipid content (~15-30%), with vertically orientated ribs being more heavily soaked lower down (Turner Walker 2012, Higgs et. al 2010). Whale oil is largely composed of triglycerides (molecules of fatty acids attached to a glycerol molecule). In Arctic whales a higher proportion of unsaturated, versus saturated fatty acids make up the lipid. Unsaturated fatty acids (with double or triple carbon bonds causing chain kinks, preventing close packing (solidifying) of molecules), are more likely to be liquid (oil), versus solid (fat) at room temperature (Smith and March 2007). Objects Made From the Whaling Industry We all know that men set forth in sailing ships and risked their lives to harpoon whales on the open seas throughout the 1800s. And while Moby Dick and other tales have made whaling stories immortal, people today generally don't appreciate that the whalers were part of a well-organized industry. The ships that set out from ports in New England roamed as far as the Pacific in hunt of specific species of whales. Adventure may have been the draw for some whalers, but for the captains who owned whaling ships, and the investors which financed voyages, there was a considerable monetary payoff. The gigantic carcasses of whales were chopped and boiled down and turned into products such as the fine oil needed to lubricate increasing advanced machine tools. And beyond the oil derived from whales, even their bones, in an era before the invention of plastic, was used to make a wide variety of consumer goods. In short, whales were a valuable natural resource the same as wood, minerals, or petroleum we now pump from the ground. Oil From Whale’s Blubber Oil was the main product sought from whales, and it was used to lubricate machinery and to provide illumination by burning it in lamps. When a whale was killed, it was towed to the ship and its blubber, the thick insulating fat under its skin, would be peeled and cut from its carcass in a process known as “flensing.” The blubber was minced into chunks and boiled in large vats on board the whaling ship, producing oil. The oil taken from whale blubber was packaged in casks and transported back to the whaling ship’s home port (such as New Bedford, Massachusetts, the busiest American whaling port in the mid-1800s). From the ports it would be sold and transported across the country and would find its way into a huge variety of products. Whale oil, in addition to be used for lubrication and illumination, was also used to manufacture soaps, paint, and varnish. Whale oil was also utilized in some processes used to manufacture textiles and rope. Spermaceti, a Highly Regarded Oil A peculiar oil found in the head of the sperm whale, spermaceti, was highly prized. The oil was waxy, and was commonly used in making candles. In fact, candles made of spermaceti were considered the best in the world, producing a bright clear flame without an excess of smoke. Spermaceti was also used, distilled in liquid form, as an oil to fuel lamps. The main American whaling port, New Bedford, Massachusetts, was thus known as "The City That Lit the World." When John Adams was the ambassador to Great Britain before serving as president he recorded in his diary a conversation about spermaceti he had with the British Prime Minister William Pitt. Adams, keen to promote the New England whaling industry, was trying to convince the British to import spermaceti sold by American whalers, which the British could use to fuel street lamps. The British were not interested. In his diary, Adams wrote that he told Pitt, “the fat of the spermaceti whale gives the clearest and most beautiful flame of any substance that is known in nature, and we are surprised you prefer darkness, and consequent robberies, burglaries, and murders in your streets to receiving as a remittance our spermaceti oil.” Despite the failed sales pitch John Adams made in the late 1700s, the American whaling industry boomed in the early to mid-1800s. And spermaceti was a major component of that success. Spermaceti could be refined into a lubricant that was ideal for precision machinery. The machine tools that made the growth of industry possible in the United States were lubricated, and essentially made possible, by oil derived from spermaceti. Baleen, or "Whalebone" The bones and teeth of various species of whales were used in a number of products, many of them common implements in a 19th century household. Whales are said to have produced “the plastic of the 1800s.” The "bone" of the whale which was most commonly used wasn’t technically a bone, it was baleen, a hard material arrayed in large plates, like gigantic combs, in the mouths of some species of whales. The purpose of the baleen is to act as a sieve, catching tiny organisms in sea water, which the whale consumes as food. As baleen was tough yet flexible, it could be used in a number of practical applications. And it became commonly known as "whalebone." Perhaps the most common use of whalebone was in the manufacture of corsets, which fashionable ladies in the 1800s wore to compress their waistlines. One typical corset advertisement from the 1800s proudly proclaims, “Real Whalebone Only Used.” Whalebone was also used for collar stays, buggy whips, and toys. Its remarkable flexibility even caused it to be used as the springs in early typewriters. The comparison to plastic is apt. Think of common items which today might be made of plastic, and it's likely that similar items in the 1800s would have been made of whalebone. Baleen whales do not have teeth. But the teeth of other whales, such as the sperm whale, would be used as ivory in such products as chess pieces, piano keys, or the handles of walking sticks. Pieces of scrimshaw, or carved whale's teeth, would probably be the best remembered use of whale's teeth. However, the carved teeth were created to pass the time on whaling voyages and were never a mass production item. Their relative rarity, of course, is why genuine pieces of 19th century scrimshaw are considered to be valuable collectibles today. Reference: McNamara, Robert. "Objects Made From the Whaling Industry." ThoughtCo, Jul. 31, 2021, thoughtco.com/products-produced-from-whales-1774070.Whale bone was an important commodity, used in corsets, collar stays, buggy whips, and toys.Whale bone piece. Advanced stage of calcification as indicated by deep pitting. Off white to grey.None.flagstaff hill, warrnambool, shipwrecked-coast, flagstaff-hill, flagstaff-hill-maritime-museum, maritime-museum, shipwreck-coast, flagstaff-hill-maritime-village, whales, whale bone, corsets, toys, whips