A mining safety cage was used in a mine lift. It was fitted with mechanisms to prevent the cage from dropping if the lifting rope broke. In the 1870s in Victoria, deaths and injuries from falling cages in vertical shafts of gold mines were a major problem. The inventor of this safety cage was Robert Allan, a machinery maker of Creswick Rd, Ballarat. He said his cage featured a ‘dissolving’ fulcrum. Others called it an eccentric (off centre) system. Note the pair of clutch levers designed to grab the side guides if tension ceases in the suspending rope from the poppet head pulley. Also, the hinged ‘lids’; designed to protect miners trapped in a braked cage from falling rope, and to enable rescue of the miners. This model was presented to The Ballarat School of Mines Council in November 1876. This model was shown at the Smeaton Show in November 1874, Ballarat School of Mines Museum from 1876, and examined by the 1879 Victorian Board of Inquiry (Pg 15 of FedUni Catalogue 3437) From the Argus of 13 November 1874: At Smeaton Show, Robert Allan of Ballarat won 1st prize for a Model of a Mining Cage, a Butter working machine, a Cheese press and a Curd Mill. By 1878 an Allan Safety-Cage was in operation in the Number 6 shaft of the Band and Albion Consols mine in Ballarat. This cage was judged the best inspected by the Victorian Board of Inquiry by 1879, p. 39.Mining was a big industry in Ballarat in the late 1800s and a lot of deaths were recorded because of mining accidents, the development of the mining safety cage brake limited the deaths and injuries from falling cages in vertical shafts. The model also has links to the Ballarat School of Mines, being presented to the council in 1876. Ballarat School of Mines is the oldest Technical School in Australia and is a predecessor of Federation University. The model is significant to Ballarat's mining history.Model of a mine safety cafe. A grey painted wooden frame with metal model of cage and safety brake system. When tension ceases in rope a pair of crutch levers grab strongly onto the wooden guide strips which run down the sides of a vertical shaft. This safety cage was discussed in "Safety Mining Cages. Report of the Board of Enquiry on Safety Cages 1878-9; together with proceedings of the Board and Appendices".safety cage, mine cage safety brake, robert allan, model, safety cage model, machine maker, millwright, mining, gold mining, tools, equipment, victorian board of inquiry

An Awl is used to make indentations in wood or other materials in order to ease the insertion of a nail or screw. The blade is placed across the fibers of the wood, cutting them when pressure is applied. The Awl is then twisted through 90 degrees which displaces the fibers creating a hole. This then gives a start to the nail or screw being inserted into the work piece. There is a difference between an Awl and a Bradawl, the Awl is a small hand-held tool with a sharpened point and a Bradawl is similar but is flattened at its tip to produce a sharp chisel edge.An everyday tool used in carpentry, the subject item at this time cannot be associated with an historical event, person or place, provenance is unknown, item assessed as believed to have been produced during the 20th century.Awl with wooden handle with brass ferrule & steel pointed shaftStamped on handle J McArthur (owner)flagstaff hill, warrnambool, flagstaff-hill, flagstaff-hill-maritime-museum, maritime-museum, shipwreck-coast, flagstaff-hill-maritime-village, awl, j mcarthur, carpenders tools, woodworking tools, nail starter

Printed plan showing cross sections of various mine shaftsplan, underground survey, ballaarat east, mining

Button Hook with elaborate silver handle. A long shaft with hookstawell

Found in the grounds of Schwerkolt Cottage by Donor.Large four pronged pitchfork with a small shaft for a handle.Handle is missing.rural industry, agriculture

Long iron shaft with 'J.P' on bottom and curved handle on top.rural industry, livestock

Small wooden handled 'knife' shaped utensil with blade on shaft

As used in the late 18th century by Horse and Buggy driversManufactured by Holden and Frost Ca1900Long narrow leather bound shaft with thatched whip endwhip, buggy

Collection of corroded nails with a rectangular shaft that narrows to a blunt tip.archaeology, historic building, former royal mint

Corroded screw with grooves and a circular shaft narrowing to a pointed tip.archaeology, historic building, former royal mint

Three corroded nails with rectangular shaft narrowing to a pointed tip.archaeology, historic building, former royal mint

Corroded nail with a rounded shaft consistent in diameter to a pointed tip.archaeology, historic building, former royal mint

Collection of corroded nails with rectangular shaft that narrows to a blunt tip. archaeology, historic building, former royal mint

Small nail with a rounded shaft consistent in diameter to pointed tip.archaeology, historic building, former royal mint

Collection of two nails with a rectangular shaft narrowing to a blunt tip.archaeology, historic building, former royal mint

Collection of 10 nails with square shaft end to end and a kink.archaeology, historic building, former royal mint

Corroded nail with rounded shaft and consistent in diameter to a pointed tip.archaeology, historic building, former royal mint

Corroded nail with rounded shaft and consistent in diameter to a pointed tip.archaeology, historic building, former royal mint

An Head 'Comp Pro' (i.e. Composite Professional) tennis racquet, featuring: split shaft; and, sealed leather handle grip around hard plastic shaft casing.. Manufacturer's name across base of shaft, and butt sticker. Model name across base of shoulders, and along right side of frame. Head emblem features at top of shaft casing. Materials: Composite Materials, Nylon, Paint, Plastic, Leather, Adhesive tape, Paper, Inktennis

A Yamaha 'XAM 8' Boron & Carbon Graphite tennis racquet, featuring: open throat, truncated shaft; nylon net strings; blue synthetic handle grip; black plastic shaft casing; and black plastic butt cap. Manufacturer name printed on bridge. Logo embossed in silver on butt cap. Model name printed on base of shaft and outer edges of shaft pillars. Materials: Graphite, Plastic, Nylon, Adhesive tapetennis

8452.1 - Not of "coal shovel" type ( blade lacks steep sides); has "D" handle; blade is secured to handle shaft by bolt and washer, but also a loop of thick wire through shaft.

Used by blacksmithsMetal shaft with wooden handle attached to shaft Metal piece, square on one end, pointed on other end which is heated in fire until hot enough to melt metal solder

A ply-wood paddle, with a handle/shaft slightly tapering from the butt to the throat. Obverse and reverse of shaft/handle feature basic carved design. Materials: Wood, Metal, Glue, Lacquertennis

A trophy comprising of a metallic cup and hollow cylindrical metal shaft. Shaft is positioned between two pieces of white marble, and mounted onto a pink marble plinth. Materials: Metal, Marbletennis

Wooden glove stretchers were used in the early 1900s in the production and manufacturing of leather gloves to stretch the finger inserts in gloves and gauntlets. Long wooden object, comprising two shafts joined at centre with metal ball and hinge. Both wooden shafts have decorative linework engraved at centre point. Approximately 25cm in length.glove stretcher, haberdashery, manufacturing, clothing accessory, tool, glovemaking, early 20th century

Map, Hustler's Line of Reefs, Hustler's Reef Mine, East & West Cross-Cuts, North & South of Shaft. Plate No. X1X (19).Bulletin No 33 Signed H.A.Whitelaw. Drawing shows the vertical shaft descending to over 1296 feet and appears to show samples of connecting horizontal shafts with their respective mineral contentsUnderground Survey Office, Bendigo.map, bendigo, hustler's reef mine