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

The Mitcham Chess Club was established in 1970 and disbanded Dec-1976. The Nunawading Chess Club reformed from Mitcham Club Jan-1977 and disbanded permanently in 1998. It operated from The Avenue Neighbourhood House, Blackburn.Wooden rectangular box sitting on rectangular base. The box contains two timing windup clocks used to time chess games. Two starter knobs on top. Metal label on top marked 'Olympia'. Metal clock faces with yellow background with brass coloured numbers and hands. Each clock has a red arrow on top. Back has brass circles with wind up mechanism; left hand side has knob to adjust time but not right clock.'Olympia' and repaired 8/83 Mitcham Chess Clubhorology, clocks, toys, games

Square-based wooden trophy awarded to Ken C. Ellis with a turned knob on the top with a silver WHS logo and a gold plate reading:Ken C. Ellis WANGARATTA HIGH SCHOOL Chisolm Street WANGARATTA, VIC HEAD PREFECT 1949 SPORTS AWARD 1948 ATHLETIC OPEN CHAMPION 1948 FOOTBALL CAPTAIN 1948 CRICKET CAPTAIN 1948 HOUSE CAPTAIN 1948, 49

Gold scales, wooden box with white marble top and hinged brass and glass top, 2 small dishes with arrows for weighing, mechanism for scales inside box, knob on front. Partial paper label inside reads S. R. Bark Resident Phone 34weighing, weights & measures, scales

The lightweight metal (? tin) suggests this was an everyday item for the working class. It dates to c. 1878 although these were still being sold in 1915 when it was noted that the pot should be rinsed immediately after use with salt water to prevent a tin taste.Old metal French coffee, pot a tapering cylinder fourteen centimeters on the bottom and nine centimeters at the top. It is twenty-eight centimeters high. There is a cap on top with a knob to remove it, there was a hinge attached to the pot which is broken. the wooden handle is 100 centimeters long and 25 centimeters diameter it's attached to a 50 centimeter metal protrusion from the pot. The spout is a tapered tube 140 centimeters long, 30 centimeters diameter at the pot and 15 at its end. there has been some re-soldiering repair where the spout is attached to the pot. Thew spout is at right angle to the handle. the pot has a rusted appearance,coffee pot, miner's item

A telegraph key or Morse key is a specialised electrical switch used by a trained operator to transmit text messages in Morse code in a telegraphy system. Keys are used in all forms of electrical telegraph systems, including landline (also called wire) telegraphy and radio (also called wireless) telegraphy. An operator uses the telegraph key to send electrical pulses of two different lengths: short pulses, called dots or dits, and longer pulses, called dashes or dahs. These pulses encode the letters and other characters that spell out the message.Metal device with black knob mounted on a wooden base. A plaque with printed text is also attached to the base.Printed: GIVE A SERIES OF DASHES INSTEAD / OF A STEADY EXPOSURE WHEN CALL- / ING FOR LIGHT, OR SHOWING LIGHT. / USE THE PLUG IN No. 1 / SOCKET AS LONG AS THE / LIGHT IS GOOD ENOUGH. / THEN CHANGE TO No. 2 THIS WILL / LENGTHEN THE LIFE OF BOTH BULB / AND BATTERY.morse code, communication, telegraph key, messages, pulses

Manufactured in the 1960s, this mobile emergency telephone exchange was fitted into a caravan. Part of the Shepparton Division State Disaster Plan, the caravan could be towed to areas affected by disasters to enable communications to recommence. The caravan remained in service until approximately 1974.Mobile infrastructure plays an important role in Australian communications, owing to the often remote and hostile environments in which Australians live and work. Exchanges such as this facilitated phone calls in the aftermath of an emergency, particularly for hospitals, police and other emergency services. Today, Mobile Exchange on Wheels (MEOWs), Cell on Wheels (CoW) and Satellite Cell on Wheels (SatCOW) - which provide temporary landline and broadband services, mobile phone coverage and service in areas without communications infrastructure respectively - are a critical part of emergency response procedures for natural disasters such as fire and flood. Though technology has progressed, the need for rapid service in remote areas remains a present concern of the communications service providers in Australia. This mobile service infrastructure is historically significant as an early example of a service which has evolved over decades, yet is still needed today. The exchange, as a representative example of a vehicle which would provide early-response in a disaster, is socially significant as a facilitator of critical communications needs in devastated communities: access to emergency services and contact with family and friends. The exchange itself, intact from its period of use, provides an insight into technology of the 1970s.Mobile emergency exchange housed in a caravan trailer on 2 wheel base, duralin body, steel tow bar, Caravan divided into 3 sections; the exchange room; the relay room and the main frame room. The exchange room contains 3 switchboards, a folding table, cupboards, benches and switch rack (.1). table (.2), steel bar for attaching the table (.3), back boards of switchboards (.4-.6), switches (.7-.16), box of switches (.17). There is a wall phone magneto, 300 type handset on wall and 2 skylights with wire screens. .11? hat pegs and shelf; there are 2 fluorescent tubes for lighting, all in exchange section. The floor is covered with 2 tone grey tiles and there are wire mesh on outside of windows and a geometric curtain inside behind switch rack. There is a flywire screen door as well as exterior door. The relay room has a sectioned door so half can open at a time. Room contains a cupboard with folding bench top beneath a curtained window. The opposite wall has a bank of batteries and transmission condensers; there is a shelf above window, one fluorescent tube and fuse boxes. Tiles on floor also. The main frame room contains many metres of coiled black covered cable, a black covered magneto wall telephone with 300 type handset; grey plastic jumper cords, a rack of termination points and wire with wasp nests attached. There is a small iron step under door, a fluorescent tube on wall and 3 hat hooks. Roll of Paper Handtowels (.18), cord and handle (.19), red exchange cords and plugs (.20-.22), plastic aluminium runners (.23,.24), headset (.25,.26), logbook (.27), battery readings (.28), box containing papers circuit drawings etc (.29-.93), paper lists off wall (.94,.95). Books, record books etc (.96-.103). Manila folder (.104) containing circuit drawings (105-.124). Wooden drawer (.125), metal drawer containing subscribers master cards, record of faults cards, particular switchboards connected, Junction line cards (.126). Box of valves (.127), box of clamps (.128). Box of 2000 type rack fuses, red 1 1/2 AMPS, black 3 AMP, blue 1/2 AMP (.129). Box of sleeves for covering wire joints (.130), plastic beakers (.131,.132), soap (.133), box of white plastic squares (.134), time switch "Venner BF/43 time switch" Made in England (.135), box of bolts, knobs etc (.136), box of switchboard number indicators (.137), fuse (.138), fuse wire (.139), football card (.140). Box of cartridge fuse 6 AMP (.141). Envelope of drawing pins, rubber bands (.142), black plastic, paper tape centres (.143-.152), metal plug (.153), 2 signs "Beware of vehicles" (.154-.155). Paper listing Naringal East automatic conversion (.156). Green Commonwealth of Australia note pad (.157). Wiring plug for tail lights (.158). Black fuse plugs (.159,.160). Box of bolts (.161). 2 sections of blue plastic coated wires (.162,.163). Gloves used for working on batteries (.164-.167). Wasp nests (.168,.169). White fuse (.170). Photographs of van in use (.171,.172)..1 on front: "ANOTHER / MOBILETRAIL / PRODUCT" "MAX SPEED / 25MPH" "TRAILER BRAKES / --- / " On sides: "EMERGENCY TELEPHONE EXCHANGE" "NO 1" "PMG" "TCQ / GROSS 250 / TARE 182 / LOAD 162" "6" "COUNTRY BRANCH / NORTH REGION / [SHEPPARTON DIVISION]" "LAW'S SIGNS" "Telecom Australia" On back: "DANGER / LONG LOAD" "MQA 3787" .133: "FIR OIL" "AUSTRALIA"mobile telephone exchanges, mobile telecommunications trailers, trailers, transport, natural disaster, black saturday, bushfires, floods, emergency communications

A telegraph or Morse key, sends a series of electrical signals down a telegraph line or via radio frequencies; the signals are interpreted as Morse code, a binary form of language constructed of 'dots and dashes', combinations of which correspond to letters of the alphabet. The motion of the key acts to complete an electrical circuit between the sender and receiver, producing a short pulse 'dot' or longer 'dash,' the space between the code indicates a broken current or wave.Device used to transmit telegraphic messages in Morse code through the manipulation of electric signals. The metal 'key' sits in a central bracket on which it moves up and down aided by a spring, controlled by an operator pushing the black Bakelite knob on the protruding end of the device. The motion presses the key onto a circular metal disc, completing the circuit and sending an electrical pulse to the receiver. The apparatus is secured to a wooden base with wires attached to the terminals; a cut out section of the base suggests wires may have entered through this area, attaching to a battery.Printed ink on base: "PMG"telegraph, telegraphist, morse code, mechanisation

Portable table model record player in a brown wooden box, with 4 control knobs, and a lift up needle arm."PL-6S 240Volt AC 48 Watt" "Made in Japan" record players

Made from local BlackwoodCrystal wooden wireless with one valve amplifier. Two doors, hinged lid and five knobs.crystal receiving sets

Radio and gramophone combined in a wooden cabinet, with pull-out turntable. Two side cupboards with 2 shelves each. Built in speaker, and bakelite radio knobs.'Astor'combined radio and gramophone, radiograms

Television set with volume/channel knobs on top, in a metal cabinet, glass screen, and with 4 wooden legs with brass stoppers on the bottoms.television sets

The sewing machine was brought from Italy by the Ghirardello Family in 1928, and has been kindly donated by Mrs Bernadette ChirardelloPortable hand operated sewing machine on a wooden base, with a wooden carry lid, and a bone china knob on the handle. Machine is painted with gold trim, and has 4 shuttles, and also has 'cm' measures.Margue De Fabriquesewing machines

From the home of the late Mr and Mrs W.J. Sebire, C1890Beaten brass dinner gong with silver trim on two supporting horns at side, mounted on a wooden base. Mallet is silver with hanging ring and leather surround on knob. Has a leather hanging strap.gongs, gong strikers

Original Victorian Railways teapot, part of the silver service at Mt Buffalo Chalet. Part of Victorian Railways silver service. When the Victorian railways took over management of the Chalet from 1 October 1924, they ran their dining room and café in similar fashion to the dining cars on their trains and refreshment rooms on their stations, using the same ceramic hotel-ware and electro plated nickel silverware (EPNS), all made to order items that are clearly identified by the distinctive 'VR' monogram. The Chalet retains a good selection of the diverse range of EPNS item formerly used in the dining room..- which in all their variety and function help to interpret the dining room protocols of the 'tourist house' and the service provided by the Victorian Railways refreshment and Services Branch. Many of the items were manufactured by Stoke & Sons of Melbourne (est. 1856.)' (Pg. 103. Historica) Possibly once graced the chrome display cabinet.Listed in Draft Inventory of Significant Collection items. Appendix A.3.Tableware. (Pg 166 Historica).Large electroplated teapot with "VR" engraved on one side. Handle features holes at base either end of join. Lid features a circular knob and scroll handle at front with a wooden insert. Teapot has flat wide circular base."EPNSSRS / MADE IN AUSTRALIA / STOKES & SONS / MELBOURNE / BOOMERANG PLATE / WARRANTED / HARD SOLDERED / 745 / VICTORIAN RAILWAYS"

This was used in the family kitchen to tenderise meat 60 - 70 years ago.A long handled wooden vintage meat mallet which has a knob on the end of the handle as well as a thin decorative line near the top. It has a thick mallet shape at the bottom to tenderise meat.domestic objects, meat mallet, meat tenderiser, kitchenware

There is a brass plaque that states: THIS PLAQUE IS IN MEMORY OF DORA CHAPMAN daughter of William and Estelle Chapman CALLED HOME WHILE PLAYING THE ORGAN ON THE OCCASION OF THE 30TH ANNIVERSARY OF THE SILVAN CHURCH. SEPTEMBER, 27TH 1936 DORA WAS A SISTER TO MR ERNEST CHAPMAN On another plaque it states: THIS ORGAN WAS A WEDDING PRESENT TO ERN AND BERYL CHAPMAN AND WAS DONATED TO MONT DE LANCEY IN THE YEAR 1994 BY MAVIS, BOB, LES AND ALBERT CHAPMAN The organ was a present from Mr Ernest Chapman and his bride on the occasion of their wedding on October 26th 1927. The organ was made in Meriden Connecticut USA by Wilcox and White in 1885. A date inside the organ indicates that it was last tuned June 16th 1900. A highly decorated, delicate ornate carved wooden pump organ with a round mirror set back into the front panel. It has a sheet music rest or shelf with an opening lid to store sheet music inside the cupboard. There are two side shelves with five knobs on each at the front. It has a keyboard with thirteen stops below. Next to the key stops above the keyboard is gold lettering with 'Wilcox & White Meriden. Connecticut. USA.There are two brass patterned pump foot pedals below: the left one has 'WILCOX' stamped on it, the right pedal has '& WHITE' stamped on it and the metal is damaged from use. There are two carved levers underneath the keyboard: the left one has a sticker saying "Grand Organ", the right one's sticker says, "Knee Swell". There is no stool.The brass covered left foot pump pedal has 'WHITE' stamped on it, the right pedal has '......' stamped on it. There are two carved levers underneath the keyboard: the left one has a sticker saying 'Grand Organ', the right one's sticker says, 'Knee Swell'. The manufacturer : WILCOX AND WHITE is printed in gold letters on ......The thirteen 'stops' all have different musical terms printed in a sticker. e.g...............parlour organs, cabinet organs, harmoniums, pump organs

A long wooden handled tool which has a shaped knob at the end. It has a steel point at the other end with a large curved hook casing, attached underneath with a metal bolt. It was used to roll heavy logs or bags.hooks, tools, farm equipment, grappling irons

Used in the 19th century.A curved wooden handled adze with a forged steel head which has a wide cutting blade and a small 5cm steel knob on top. It was used by woodworkers for cutting and trimming rough wooden planks and shaping ans smoothing wooden surfaces in the late 19th century.woodworking tools, wood, steel, froes, cleaving axes, axes, cutting tools, hand axes, adzes

Modern communication tecnology arrived on Gabo Island with the construction of the telegraph line from Eden to Gabo Island in 1870. These and other cylindricial insulators were associated with the original 1870 copper wire telegraph line and later the P.M.G. line. The items of telegraphic equipment comprise a number of ceramic and glass insulators of varying age and type. Two bell-shaped insulators are made of clear glass, one with remains of wooden dowel inside. In addition to insulators, there is a telephone insulator bracket made of metal with wooden pins. It was once attached to the top of a steel pole and some of theseremain in situ along the former telegraph line. Telegraphic communication commenced at the Gabo Lightstation in 1870, just eight years after the lightstation opened.The line from Sydney reached Eden, NSW by 1868 and was then extended to Gabo with the costs shared equally by NSW and Victoria. It was initially carried on posts across the sea to the island but was changed to a line along the seabed after the posts were washed away. The first telegraph office was a timber building on east side of the assistants’ quarters. In 1887 a new concrete telegraph office was built which included quarters for the operator, with Victoria and NSW sharing the construction costs. The 1992 CMP identified remnants of the line from its various phases of operation,231 and these can still be seen in 2016. Other ceramic insulators in the collection are associated with lines supported on utility poles for the transmission of high voltage electricity. The various insulators have second level significance for their historic value and provenance1. Clear glass insulator. Cyndrical bottle shape with smaller dome -like knob on top. Hollow with inscription on lower edge. Has remains of wooden dowell inside. 2.Clear glass insulator. Cyndrical bottle shape with smaller dome -like knob on top. Hollow with inscription on lower edge.Around lower edge on opposite sides,"C.C / 42"

Rectangular wooden base with two metal strips on top of each other. Each strip is separated with a rectangular block between them at one end and has a terminal knob at that end. The other end of the top strip has a knob that when pressed produces a contact between the two strips. Engraved on top: 'GAMBRELL BROS & CO LTD / PATT. 5037'morse code switch, contact switch, gambrell bros, telegraphy

Wooden box with brass top and 24 knobs (22 larger and 2 smaller) on the right-hand side. In addition there are two extra knobs on the right side of the top, as well as two removable oval access panels with handles on each of the ends.Stamped on top of box: a coat of arms 'HARTMANN OF BRAUN A/M' 'RICHTIG BEI / 20 / GRAD CELSIUS' increments for measurement On front side: Sticker labelled 'NATURAL PHILOSOPHY LABORATORY / NO 7 / UNIVERSITY OF MELBOURNE' Stamped on end of metal top: 'No. 2665'hartmann of braun, resitance decade box, resistance box, electical instruments, frankfurt, natural philosophy laboratory

Wooden door with brass sign inscribed "Misses Wilson Costumiers" with brass knocker on top. Door has brass doorknob and key hole. Door has panels front and back. Inside door has brass knob and small brass plate under."Misses Wilson Costumiers"door, building-fittings, costumiers

Saved from a house in Nicholson Street, Nunawading owned by the Jenkinson's. Mrs Jenkinson died in Strathdon Nursing Home, Forest Hill and was buried on her 100th birthday. Plaque made in 1922. Door and plaque is now in fitted on a shopfront display in the Schwerkolt Cottage and Museum Complex.Wooden door with brass sign inscribed 'N. Jenkinson Piano & Theory'. Brass door knob and door ringer inset panels'N. Jenkinson Piano & Theory'buildings, fittings, museum, business, music

Long baton with large silver knob on one end. White and gold cord with tassels at other end. Long wooden centre pole with a metal ferrule at the other end.brass bands, linton brass band, mr. m. trengrove, mr. w. todd

The first tape based talking book machine from the late 1950s, produced by Clarke & Smith, that allowed the listener to hear up to 20 hours of recordings. Although bulky (each tape cartridge alone weighed over 2 kgs), the MK1 was the first magnetic, multi-track tape produced and considered quite novel for it's time. The cartridge designed to be played on the Clarke & Smith MK1 Talking Book player came in it's own separate container. Each cartridge houses the complete mechanism, track change linkages, replay heads and tape spools, which are stacked on top of each other within the housing. When one track was finished, the user was required to lift the metal cassette, turn it over, and replace it on the turntable. The bulky cartridges were distributed by post or train in strong 'Globite' cases made with reinforced corners and strapped. The costs associated with talking book players were high and individuals/groups/service clubs were asked to sponsor a machine to help those who could not afford to buy or rent one. In this example, a plate attached to the lid indicates who raised the funds: "This talking book/is presented to you/by Tallimba Branch/ of CWA of NSW." Please note: despite images, there are no cartridges with this model.Metal talking book machine housed in a brown wooden carry case. There are two plastic knobs on the front facing right hand side, and an electric cord extending from the back of the case. To the left of the knobs is a speaker grille. Also includes talking book cartridge 'The darling buds of May'.audio equipment, clarke and smith

Victoria once had well over one hundred fire lookouts and firetowers. Fire lookouts, or observation posts, were often just a clearing on a hill or a vantage point, whereas firetowers were definite structures. There are at least three categories of firetowers… (1) tree perches, (2) four-legged towers made of either wood or steel, as well as (3) hilltop cabins and observatories. Many were established by the Forests Commission Victoria (FCV) in the 1920s, but the network was expanded rapidly in response to recommendations of the Stretton Royal Commission after the 1939 Black Friday bushfires. The wooden towers were often built by bush craftsmen like legendary FCV overseer Clem Heather from Orbost. But advances in aerial reconnaissance and radio technology led to the gradual reduction in the number of fixed towers. FFMV now operates 72 firetowers. The CFA, Melbourne Water, Hancock Victorian Plantations (HVP) also operate some, the Army has one at Puckapunyal overlooking the live-firing range. Only two remaining fire towers of this design remain in Victoria (Mt Little Dick and Big Tower in the Mullungdung State Forest). Mt Nowa Nowa and Stringers Knob burnt down in the 2019/20 bushfiresLarge model of an Reef Hills fire tower. Presumably used for instructional purposes. Traditional FCV four legged design with three landings and closed cabin.bushfire, forests commission victoria (fcv)