This cable tram Gripman’s badge, or driver’s badge, was part of a tram driver’s uniform. The inscriptions on the front of the badge identify it as belonging to Gripman number 14, at the South Melbourne Car House depot of the Tramways Board. The Gripman Badge would be re-issued whenever another Gripman takes over the position. Cable trams were invented in America in 1873. In Melbourne, cable trams were in use from 1885 until 1940, with a network of up to 1200 cable cars or 'dummies' and trailers travelling at around 9.5 miles (15km) per hour along 46 miles (74km) of double tracks. The Gripman drove the dummy car, operating the heavy levers to connect the gripping gears to the cable installed in a slot in the road. To turn at intersections he would skilfully disconnect, freewheel around the corner and carefully reconnect to the continuously operating steel cable. Large winding gears in an Engine House along the line pulled the cable along, powered by steam engines and later electric engines. The gripping gears were in the centre of the car's floor with seating all around the sides, a dangerous place for curious children. , whose worried parents would guide them into the tram that was towed behind the dummy car. The Melbourne Tramways Board operated the cable trams between July 1916 and November 1919 after taking over from the privately operated Melbourne Tramway and Omnibus Company. In 1919, the Melbourne and Metropolitan Tramways Board (MMTB) took over the Tramways Board. Stokes & Sons: - The maker of the badge, Thomas Stokes, migrated to Melbourne from Birmingham in 1854 and set up business in Mincer Lane as a die-sinker, producing medals, tokens, buttons and silverware, and an engraving service. He moved to Flinders Lane in 1856. After a time, in 1894, the business became Stokes & Sons Pty: Ltd, electroplates and badge makers at Post Office Place in Melbourne. The maker's mark 'Stokes & Sons' was made on badges until 1962. LOCAL CONNECTION: -t was common practice to recycle the used cables from the tramway. For example, the Wollaston Bridge in Warrnambool, Victoria, is suspended by recycled cable tram Melbourne. (Other recycled cables were used for fencing wire.) -Portland's cable tram is an example of the cable trams used in Melbourne from 1885 to 1940.This badge was used to identify a Gripman who operated a cable car tram's dummy car for the Tramways Board in Melbourne between 1916 and 1919. It represents the need for people to be able to identify workers in the service industry, a need still addressed today by staff ID badges and digital identification. The badge also represents the period in Melbourne's history when cable cars were used for public transport for over four decades, gradually changing from steam to electric power. Trams still have an important role in Melbourne's public transport. Badge, round hollow metal dome with two open metal guides on the back. A cable tram Gripman (driver) badge with embossed inscriptions on the front and stamped on the back. There is a logo of entwined letters T and B on the front. It identifies Gripman number 14, South Melbourne, Tramway Board. It was made by Stokes & Sons of Melbourne. Impressed into the front: "S / 14 / M" "GRIPMAN" Logo intertwined "T" and "B" Embossed on reverse "STOKES &o SONS"flagstaff hill, flagstaff hill maritime museum and village, warrnambool, maritime museum, maritime village, great ocean road, shipwreck coast, badge, gripman, stokes & sons, numesmatics, tramway, tram, tram driver, uniform, cable tram, identification, cable car driver, tramway board, south melbourne, melbourne tramways board, tb, mtb, mmtb, melbourne and metropolitan tramways board, tramway button, gripman button, id, identification badg, staff badge, name badge, employee, grip car, dummy car

Negative of the interior of South Melbourne depot or car sheds, 1937. Has trailers 514 and 504? in the view. Shows the wood structure of the depot. Photographer could be Wal Larsen based on negative size - see Reg Item 5064.trams, tramways, cable trams, south melbourne depot, interiors, tram 514, tram 504?

Colour Print laminated of a screen shot of two men, one carrying a Gladstone Bag walk in front of tram 939 at South Melbourne Depot from the film Malcolm, 1986. Sourced by Roger Gosney. Use on the fleet page for the BTM.trams, tramways, w6 class, malcolm, films, south melbourne depot, tram 939

Black and White photograph of W2 641 at the South Melbourne Beach terminus, Victoria St. Tram showing "Not in Service". Has adverts for Pecks, Tolleys Brandy and St Moritz ice skating. No details on rear, possibly late 1980's.trams, tramways, w2 class, south melbourne beach, tram 641

Colour slide - Ansachrome Plastic mounts of Y 469 running a LGR Tram tout 4-10-1970 .1 - slide number 22/70/37 - Albert Park loop .2 - 22/70/38 - South Melbourne BeachHas Warren Doubleday's slide number on slide in pencil and adhesive tape.trams, tramways, y class, tours, albert park, south melbourne beach, tram 667, tram 1

Black and white photograph of MMTB Scrubber No. 4 at South Melbourne Depot, during 1939 On the right hand side of the photograph is W2 probably 568 painted for the 25th (and lit) for the 25th Anniversary of Luna Park. See email from Mal Rowe - htd3597doca.pdftrams, tramways, scrubber tram, south melbourne depot, service tramcars, luna park, tram 4, tram 568

Book - black comb bound, plastic front cover, green cover, black back, approx. 75 pages, titled "Melbourne Tramway Memories", prepared by Ray Roberts, conductor at South Melbourne or Hanna St depot - personal notes - 1961 to 1994 (33 years - page 60). Includes copies of tramway events from newspapers interwoven with Ray's notes. At the rear of the document is a brief history of South Melbourne depot, 1925-1995 - by Alistair Fincher. Includes notes on industrial matters, including a map where workers came from. See also items 6719 and 7272 for other versions and documents.trams, tramways, conductors, south melbourne depot, personal papers, history

Black and White photograph of W2 282 at the South Melbourne Beach, route 1 terminus, early 1970's, at corner of Victoria Ave and Beaconsfield Parade. Tram has adverts for National batteries, the ABC TV News. In the background is an Mobil Service Station. Photo by Dave Macartney.trams, tramways, south melbourne beach, route 1, w2 class, victoria ave, beaconsfield parade, tram 282

Black and white negative, by Wal Jack, of Track Cleaner No. 7 at the South Melbourne Depot, 1949 with a young boy standing on the bumper bar. See History for notes on the boy. Identical print on page 77 of the Wal Jack Melbourne 1st album and page 26 in the 2nd album.Ken Train on rear of photo in coloured pencil and 1949.trams, tramways, south melbourne depot, work trams, track cleaner, tram 7

Sepia toned photograph - X1 462 , titled "One Man electric Tram" with an inset photo of the controls. Photo caption says the photo was taken at Hanna St depot, and describes the tram. Most likely made for the 70th anniversary of South Melbourne Depot on the rear. Two copies -trams, tramways, x1 class, new trams, south melbourne, hanna st depot, tram 462

Black and white print of MMTB Scrubber Car No. 8 at South Melbourne Depot on 10/2/1962. Photo by Dave Macartney. Appeared in the November 1999 issue of Trolley Wire on Page 29. Photo on Ilford paper. Has the front of other trams on right hand side of the photograph.In top left hand corner, "No. 8 at Sth Melbourne Depot / 10-2-62", in top right hand corner "262-2". In centre of photo on rear is label with "Photo / Same Size", crop marks and a yellow sticker with "38" written on it. In bottom right hand corner, "Dave Macartney".trams, tramways, mmtb, south melbourne depot, hanna st. depot, scrubber tram, tram 8

Black and white negative, by Wal Jack, of W2 572 (West Preston, route 11) and Scrubber Tram No. 10 and a ballast trailer in the yard at South Melbourne depot - c1960, though the yellow flashing lights on the roof line may indicate a later photo. In the background is a MMTB works vehicle, the Shrine of Remembrancetrams, tramways, south melbourne depot, w2 class, scrubber tram, work trams, west preston, route 11, tram 572, tram 10

Australian Electric Traction Association (AETA) Calendar for 1989, featuring a photograph of B1 2002 at South Melbourne Station on the St Kilda light rail. Photo by John Dare. Gives contact details for the AETA divisions. Stapled to the sheet is a 12 sheet preprinted calendar for 1989 with various details of holidays etc.trams, tramways, b class, aeta, south melbourne, tram 2002

Colour photograph, printed on a postcard back format of MMTB W4 671, with destination of Hanna St Depot. On front dash canopy has advertisement for Rivella. Photographed in Sturt St, South Melbourne. Photo used in the Topmill 1996 Calendar and photo credited to Dr. H D Ellerton, 25/4/62.trams, tramways, south melbourne, hanna st depot, w class trams, sturt st

Photocopy of a newspaper clipping from the Caulfield \ Glen Eira Reader 31/3/1997 titled "Era ends as tram depot closes", about the closure of the South Melbourne Depot, Kingsway, formerly Hanna St closure on Feb. 8 1997. Has a photo of the front gate of the depot. Written by Scott Whiffin.trams, tramways, south melbourne depot, hanna st, closure, tram depot

Black and white reproduction photograph of an image of the construction of South Melbourne Depot, with W 375 entering the depot still under construction. Original photos, possibly from a newspaper mid 1920's. (W 375 in service during December 1925). Not known when photo made, assumed 1970's and MMTB.On rear in pencil "139 3-f16"trams, tramways, south melbourne depot, mmtb, construction, tram 375

Yields information about one of the Museum's tram when it was Melbourne and the South Melbourne Beach terminus in 1968.Digital Image of MMTW W4 671 (now a BTM Tram) at the South Melbourne Beach terminus, August 1968. Photo Dick Jones via Carolyn Cleak 28/6/2010 (Trams Down Under email dated 28/6/2010). Reilly's Bleak House Hotel in the background. Note the Bundy Clock. Tram has the destination of City and showing route number 2A. This is a later photo of South Melbourne Beach terminus, with yet another view of a W4, this time 671 in August 1968. Must have been getting toward the end of the W4's by that time. The hotel verandah had gone by this time and the bundy clock had been moved. Use photo only with Dick Joni's OK.trams, tramways, south melbourne beach, mmtb, w class trams, tram 671

Set of tour notes using tram L class 104. Gives details of the tram used, South Melbourne depot, cable trams, the route - Spencer St, Bridge Road Richmond, Hawthorn, Malvern, Queensway, Ackland St, St Kilda, and return to South Melbourne depot. Prepared by Keith Kings and the TMSV.Demonstrates a set of tour notes for a non-tramway enthusiast group,Tour notes - two Foolscap sheets for a tour by the Adult Education Association Historical Group of Vic - 12-9-1971trams, tram tours, tours, tour notes, south melbourne depot, adult education assoc

Series of four Black and White Photographs of W2 262 deliberately derailed for re-railing training at South Melbourne depot 30/6/1984, by Keith Kings. .1 - tram has been derailed following split points situation .2 - R10 towing the tram .3 - as for .1 .4 - Hydraulic jacks lifting the tramOn rear in ink in each print, location, film number and situation.trams, tramways, accidents, derailments, recovery, south melbourne depot, training, mta, tram 262

Black and white photograph of MMTB SW6 896 at South Melbourne depot. Photographed on the fan, looking at the depot building. Has route number "68" visible. On the sides has two advertisements for TAA (Trans Australian Airlines) - "TAA Airmanship" and "Fly TAA the friendly way". Trams have trolley wheels. Indicates possibly early 1960's?.On the rear in pencil "Melbourne"trams, tramways, mmtb, south melbourne depot, sw6 class, taa, tram 896

Newspaper clipping from The Age, 8/3/195, titled "The stars go on a nostalgic journey" about the visit of Royal Shakespeare Company to South Melbourne Depot. Features a photo of actress Glenda Jackson at the door a wide body W class tram. Also quotes Norm Elliott as the Assistant Traffic Manager of the MMTB. Item written by Sally Wilkins.trams, tramways, mmtb, theatre, south melbourne depot