Francis Powell (1861-) and Francis Hanmer (1858-1925) founded Powell and Hanmer Ltd in the Summer of 1885 for the manufacturer of bike and carriage lamps. Their first advertisements began to appear in November of 1885. In 1890 they lodged a Patent for “velocipede” lamps to be used by lightweight wheeled vehicles propelled by a rider, such as a bike, tricycle and railroad handcar. In April of 1913, they were selling headlamps for cars and in 1914 built their second factory manufacturing dynamo lighting sets in Rocky Lane Birmingham, also for the production of dynamos for motor cars. Then in 1929 Powell and Hanmer Ltd, was acquired by the Lucas company which was at that time the main competitor for the manufacture of non-electrical equipment for cycles and motorcycles. When a director of Powell and Hanmer joined the board of Austin motor cars, Lucas feared that Austins might encourage Powell and Hanmer to start to produce electrical equipment for supply to the company and as a result this association might affect Lucas's business with other large vehicle manufacturers. As a result, Lucas made an offer to Powell & Hanmer and purchased the business for £500,000. Carbide lighting was used in rural and urban areas of Australia which were not served by electrification. Its use began shortly after 1900 in many countries and continued past the 1950s. Calcium carbide pellets were placed in a container outside the home, with water piped to the container and allowed to drip on the pellets releasing acetylene. This gas was piped to lighting fixtures inside the house, where it was burned, creating a very bright flame. Carbide lighting was inexpensive but was prone to gas leaks and explosions. Early models of the automobile, motorbike and bicycles used carbide lamps as headlamps. Acetylene gas, derived from carbide, enabled early automobiles to drive safely at night. Thick concave mirrors combined with magnifying lenses projected the acetylene flame light. These type of lights were used until reliable batteries and dynamos became available, and manufacturers switched to electric lights. Acetylene lamps were also used on riverboats for night navigation. The National Museum of Australia has a lamp made in about 1910 that was used onboard the PS Enterprise, an 1878 Australian paddle steamer, currently owned by the National Museum of Australia in Canberra. It is still operational, and one of the oldest working paddle steamers in the world, listed on the Australian Register of Historic Vehicles.Acetylene Carbide lamp, Model “Panther” distinct patterned side red and green lenses. These lamps were also known as acetylene gas lamps. They work off a chemical reaction between calcium carbide and water.Model 75flagstaff hill, warrnambool, flagstaff-hill-maritime-museum, maritime-museum, shipwreck-coast, flagstaff-hill-maritime-village, carbide lamp, motor vehicle, bike lamp, lighting, vehicle lighting, powell, hanmer, acetylene gas lamp, early lighting

Francis Powell (1861-) and Francis Hanmer (1858-1925) founded Powell and Hanmer Ltd in the Summer of 1885 for the manufacturer of bike and carriage lamps. Their first advertisements began to appear in November of 1885. In 1890 they lodged a Patent for “velocipede” lamps to be used by lightweight wheeled vehicles propelled by a rider, such as a bike, tricycle and railroad handcar. In April of 1913, they were selling headlamps for cars and in 1914 built their second factory manufacturing dynamo lighting sets in Rocky Lane Birmingham, also for the production of dynamos for motor cars. Then in 1929 Powell and Hanmer Ltd, was acquired by the Lucas company which was at that time the main competitor for the manufacture of non-electrical equipment for cycles and motorcycles. When a director of Powell and Hanmer joined the board of Austin motor cars, Lucas feared that Austins might encourage Powell and Hanmer to start to produce electrical equipment for supply to the company and as a result this association might affect Lucas's business with other large vehicle manufacturers. As a result, Lucas made an offer to Powell & Hanmer and purchased the business for £500,000. Carbide lighting was used in rural and urban areas of Australia which were not served by electrification. Its use began shortly after 1900 in many countries and continued past the 1950s. Calcium carbide pellets were placed in a container outside the home, with water piped to the container and allowed to drip on the pellets releasing acetylene. This gas was piped to lighting fixtures inside the house, where it was burned, creating a very bright flame. Carbide lighting was inexpensive but was prone to gas leaks and explosions. Early models of the automobile, motorbike and bicycles used carbide lamps as headlamps. Acetylene gas, derived from carbide, enabled early automobiles to drive safely at night. Thick concave mirrors combined with magnifying lenses projected the acetylene flame light. These type of lights were used until reliable batteries and dynamos became available, and manufacturers switched to electric lights. Acetylene lamps were also used on riverboats for night navigation. The National Museum of Australia has a lamp made in about 1910 that was used onboard the PS Enterprise, an 1878 Australian paddle steamer, currently owned by the National Museum of Australia in Canberra. It is still operational, and one of the oldest working paddle steamers in the world, listed on the Australian Register of Historic Vehicles.Acetylene Carbide lamp, marine pattern burner housing and reflector missing Carbide Lamp, metal. Has plate for attaching to wall, & gimbal to allow lamp to remain vertical. Noneflagstaff hill, warrnambool, flagstaff-hill-maritime-museum, maritime-museum, shipwreck-coast, flagstaff-hill-maritime-village, carbide lamp, motor vehicle, bike lamp, lighting, vehicle lighting, powell, hanmer, acetylene gas lamp, early lighting, marine lighting

A photo of The Esplanade, Torquay in the 1920's before electricity poles and lines were erected to interrupt the landscape.Central Torquay in early days before electrification.Black and white copy photo

Black and white photograph of an ESCo tram towing a heavily loaded ex horse tram as a trailer, eastbound along the north side of Sturt St. with the Town Hall in the background. Many people and a number of horse drawn vehicles in the photograph. Photo taken soon after opening it would appear, as a destination box on the electric tram is not visible. Copy photograph from a print held by the Ballarat Historical Society. See also item 835 for a print of a coloured copy postcard. For a list and description of the same base image see Archives file - "Notes on ESCo Tram towing a heavily loaded trailer" Copy 2 - slightly different crop of the same picture. See Reg Item 162 for the coloured postcard.trams, tramways, sturt st., esco, trailers, electrification.

Real Estate advertising, marketing brochure or pamphlet, 240g stock, four colour, laminated after printing for the sale by tender of the former SEC Ballarat A power station, corner Ripon and Wendouree Parade, Ballarat. Agents Jens Gaunt, and Jones Lang Wootton. Has on the rear of the brochure an aerial photo. showing the location, location map and a short marketing statement. Three copies held. Two additional copies added 19/05/2006. See Reg Item 2783 for the contract of sale document.trams, tramways, power station, wendouree parade, sec, ballarat a power station

ill. p.172.non-fictionAn entertaining look at railway events in Australia in the month of September - from 1848, when a meeting was called to start a railway company in New South Wales, to 2013, when the great Bayer-Garrett AD6029 steam engine was restored to working order. For some strange reason, September has been a month when particularly memorable railway events tend to occur. Author David Burke has crafted a 'diary' which documents, day by day, major happenings to do with railways in Australia - from the days of steam, to diesel, to diesel-electric and electrification, covering the first trains that ran between New South Wales and Queensland, and to Melbourne. It was in also September that the first sod was dug for the Trans-Australian Railway across the Nullarbor to Perth. The book is heavily illustrated with historic photographs, both black and white and colour, newspaper cuttings, sketches and maps, and features 13 paintings by renowned railway artist Phil Belbin. Names that leap to the fore among those who made railway history happen include Ben Chifley, the locomotive driver who became Prime Minister of Australia, engineer Dr John Bradfield, designer of the Sydney Harbour Bridge and responsible for putting Sydney's city trains underground, James Fraser, first Australian-born Chief Commissioner for Railways, and Harold Young, the Scotsman who designed the C38 engine and the Silver City Comet. Cover picture shows: Climbing the steep Fassifern Grade with a heavy coal train maakes for plenty of Bayer-Garrett action in Phil Belbin's painting of the AD60 class at work on the Shorty North line to Newcastle New South Wales Australia.railroads -- australia -- history., railroad travel -- australia -- history.

ill, maps, p.96.non-fictionA brief history of the electrified railway system operated by the New South Wales Government from 1926 to 1976.railroad operations - new south wales - history, electric trains - new south wales - history

Hand coloured black and white photograph of the Ballaarat Tramway Co. horse tram fleet massed for a group photograph within the Gardens, at one of the loops. May have been taken on the same day as items 800 in 1903 About the same number of horse trams. Close up of some the trams. The first has "CONVENT" destination and "Havelock Tobacco" advertisements. By the first tram is person dressed in an overcoat and hat. Conductor and driver on either side See items 802 and 1121 for poor-quality versions. Demonstrates a photo used to possibly show the Liverpool Office of the British Insulated Wire Company who had purchased the horse tramway prior to electrification by the Electric Supply Co. of Victoria. Wood framed glased hand coloured black and white photograph, framed with cloth between gold lining with cloth strip between the lining, plain back with brown tape on the edges and a wire hanging strip framing made possibly c1970. Image 420mm x 258mm.tramcars, tramways, horse trams, wendouree parade, gardens, esco

Image of a group of ESCO employees (motormen conductors and pointsboys?) in front of the tram depot with tram cars 17, 10 and 2 behind. All wearing uniform hats with white tops, but not all wearing full uniform (no badges but wearing ties - possibly temporary or casual staff - c1906 - 51 people. Has four Velcro dots on rear. Trams have destination boards fitted to the tram above the roof. 2nd copy - unlaminated added 29/7/2007 from Alan Bradley 5/2007. See also related documents for Museum Vic information on their copy. See reg item 8497 for a block mounted version.Yields information about the early staff of the Electric Supply Co. of Victoria following the electrification of the tramways and their appearance.Laminated Black and white print from a copy negative.trams, tramways, esco, employees, group photo, tram 17, tram 10, tram 2

Black and white print from a copy negative of a group of ESCO employees (motormen conductors and pointsboys?) in front of the tram depot with tram cars 17, 10 and 2 behind. All wearing uniform hats, but not all wearing full uniform (no badges but wearing ties - possibly temporary or casual staff - c1906 - 51 people. Trams have destination boards fitted to the tram above the roof. See Reg Item 709 for a wider view.Yields information about the early staff of the Electric Supply Co. of Victoria following the electrification of the tramways and their appearance.Block mounted photograph with gold edges onto a heavy card back and foam with four holes with a support screw.esco, group photo, tramways, ballarat, employees, crews

index, ill, maps, p.104.non-fictionA history of the electrification of the Victorian railway in Melbourne and Gippsland.railway construction - victoria - history, electric trains - victoria - history

index, ill, maps, p.100.non-fictionA history of the electrification of the Perth suburban system in Western Australia.railway rollingstock - western australia, electric trains - western australia - history

ill, maps, p.138.non-fictionA history of the electrified system and cars of the New South Wales Government Railwaysrailway rollingstock - new south wales, electric trains - new south wales - history