Showing 347 items
matching compasses
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Tennis Australia
Racquet, Circa 1961
A Spalding, "Pancho Gonzales" Autograph Model tennis racquet, featuring whipping around shoulders, leather handle grip with perforations, and a black plastic butt cap. Manufacturer's name across base of head; model name across throat. Globe and compass symbol features on throat on both sides. Wreathed 'S' trademark features on lower shaft and butt cap. Strings printed with 'WILSON' and 'CHAMPIONSHIP'. Materials: Wood, Metal, Lacquer, Glue, Ink, Nylon, Paint, Plastic, String, Adhesive tape, Leather, Fibre, Plastictennis -
Flagstaff Hill Maritime Museum and Village
Tool - Howel Plane, Prior to 1950
The Howel plane is really no different from a compass or circle plane, it is attached to a large curved fence that rides along the top of the staves. The Howel cuts a smooth shallow hollow, to give a level place to cut into with the next tool the Croze which cuts a narrow groove for the barrel head. The Croze has a similar wide fence that rides on the ends of the staves, but with either a saw-tooth type cutter or two nickers and a single tooth like a router plane. The head of the barrel fits into this groove and is made up of two or three boards doweled together and smoothed with a large shave called a swift. The cooper cuts the edges to a fine bevel of the head to fit snugly into the groove cut by the Croze. A tool specific to the cooper that has been in use since the making of barrels and wooden buckets for hundreds of years without much change to the design or how the tool is used. Howel Coopers Plane Noneflagstaff hill, warrnambool, shipwrecked-coast, flagstaff-hill, flagstaff-hill-maritime-museum, maritime-museum, shipwreck-coast, flagstaff-hill-maritime-village -
Bendigo Historical Society Inc.
Medal - JOHN FREDERICK HARPER COLLECTION: FREEMASONS OF VICTORIA LIFE GOVERNOR MEDAL, 1952
Object. A 5 cm long brass pin at rear, to attach to a uniform. A clasp .75 cm deep, 4 cm long is in navy blue enamel, with gold lettering 'LIFE GOVERNOR'. From this clasp a 5 cm long light blue grosgrain ribbon holds a brass clasp or suspender, from which hangs a circular medal, with five star points. On a circle shape of dark blue enamel are the words:FREEMASONS HOMES OF VICTORIA.In the centre on a light blue enamel background is the Lodge Symbol of Compass and Square. On the back of the medal is engraved: J.E.Harper 1852.organisation, masonic lodge, life governor medal -
Uniting Church Archives - Synod of Victoria
Pamphlet - Flags chart, International Code of Signals
Single sheet of white paper with white, red, blue, yellow and black flags on the front and the names of the flags on the back.non-fictionpilots, congregational church, congregational church youth groups -
Uniting Church Archives - Synod of Victoria
Flag - Pilots flag
Started in 1936, the aim of the Pilots was to capture the imagination and the devotion of children for the service of the Kingdom of God and to begin the training for membership of the world wide church of Jesus Christ. Pilots was mainly a week-night activity to supplement the training which boys and girls are given on Sundays, either through Family Church courses or approved Sunday School guides. Many churches were already using the lesson courses prepared by the Youth and Education Department of the Congregational Union for the Family Church. A Pilot company consisting of six or more boys meet regularly under the leadership of a Captain. The Pilot's promise was "I will learn, pray and serve all I can in the world-wide church of Jesus Christ". [from "Compass : for Pilot Captains" book 1947]BN057 and BN004: Rectangular blue and green screen printed cream linen flag with cord and wood toggle at one sidePILOTScongregational church, pilots - congregational church, flags, congregational union, london missionary society -
Queenscliffe Maritime Museum
Functional object - Door, cabin
The Victoria Tower made landfall after a voyage of 85 days from Liverpool, and headed towards the Port Phillip Heads pilot boarding ground. It had been an uneventful voyage despite some contrary headwinds (causing the long voyage) and problems with the compasses, that could not be relied upon. The weather was hazy, with gale force winds and heavy rain squalls. Reaching the pilot ground Captain Kerr fired rockets and burned blue lights to attract attention, but met with no response. Sighting the Cape Shank lighthouse he sailed towards it, then wore the Victoria Tower onto a port tack in a westerly direction. No soundings nor observations were taken, as Captain Kerr was confident he was on a safe course and knew his position tolerably well. Slatted wooden cabin door with 2 locksPatent disk on top lock, W2 SR on either side of coat of arms. Number 60 in the middle and 1A carpenter patentee underneathdoor, cabin, victoria tower, shipwrecks -
Mont De Lancey
Functional object - Tablecloth
A square, souvenir tablecloth from the Channel Islands. On an azure background, all the islands are printed and named on the tablecloth, as well as the names of the towns, villages and the bays of both Jersey and Guernsey. There are four rectangular pictures, surrounded by a white border, representing significant places and buildings, as well as others, without borders, depicting old and modern ships, a compass, a coat of arms and the distinctive Jersey and Guernsey cow.There is a red and white border, almost at the edge of the azure background and in each corner is printed a white anchor and rope. There is also a 3 cm. plain white outer border around the tablecloth.Names of places, beaches and bays on the Channel islands. Pictorial representations of significant places and buildings and a white anchor and rope in each of the four corners. "Exclusive to Creaseys of Guernsey" is printed at the bottom left hand corner of the tablecloth.table ware., household textiles., table linen. -
Alfred Hospital Nurses League - Nursing Archive
Book - Illustrated Book, Betty Jeffrey 1908-2000 et al, White Coolies, 1954
In 1942 a group of sixty-five Australian Army nursing sisters was evacuated from Malaya aboard the Vyner Brooke, a few days before the fall of Singapore. Two days later their ship was bombed and sunk by the Japanese. Of the fifty-three survivors who scrambled ashore, twenty-one were murdered and the remaining thirty-two were taken prisoner. The book is the engrossing record kept by one of the sisters, Betty Jeffrey, during the three grueling years of imprisonment that followed. It is an amazing story of survival and deprivation in the harshest of conditions.Illustrated book with dustjacket. Book has a light green cover, with an image of a compass embossed in gold. on the front. The tile author's surname and publisher's name are embossed in gold on the spine. Dust jacket has multicoloured illustration by J.P.L Kickhefer on front and spine: group of women, some with head scarves walking behind a ?prison guard, barbed wire topped fence in front of and behind group. In the background is a hut and tropical plants. Title (white print) and authors name (red print) appear on a black background at base of front of dustjacket. Title, author's and publisher's names are printed in black on spinenon-fictionIn 1942 a group of sixty-five Australian Army nursing sisters was evacuated from Malaya aboard the Vyner Brooke, a few days before the fall of Singapore. Two days later their ship was bombed and sunk by the Japanese. Of the fifty-three survivors who scrambled ashore, twenty-one were murdered and the remaining thirty-two were taken prisoner. The book is the engrossing record kept by one of the sisters, Betty Jeffrey, during the three grueling years of imprisonment that followed. It is an amazing story of survival and deprivation in the harshest of conditions.world war 1939-1945 prisoners of war, betty jeffrey -
Uniting Church Archives - Synod of Victoria
Badge
Started in 1936, the aim of the Pilots was to capture the imagination and the devotion of children for the service of the Kingdom of God and to begin the training for membership of the world wide church of Jesus Christ. Pilots was mainly a week-night activity to supplement the training which boys and girls are given on Sundays, either through Family Church courses or approved Sunday School guides. Many churches were already using the lesson courses prepared by the Youth and Education Department of the Congregational Union for the Family Church. A Pilot company consisting of six or more boys meet regularly under the leadership of a Captain. The Pilot's promise was "I will learn, pray and serve all I can in the world-wide church of Jesus Christ" An Acting Able Seaman was for Pilots between the 8 - 10 years. [from "Compass : for Pilot Captains" book 1947] 3 x blue and white tin Pilots Acting Able Seaman badges. B018.1 B018.2 B018.3"Pilots Acting Able Seaman"pilots, congregational church, congregational union, congregational church youth groups -
Uniting Church Archives - Synod of Victoria
Badge
Started in 1936, the aim of the Pilots was to capture the imagination and the devotion of children for the service of the Kingdom of God and to begin the training for membership of the world wide church of Jesus Christ. Pilots was mainly a week-night activity to supplement the training which boys and girls are given on Sundays, either through Family Church courses or approved Sunday School guides. Many churches were already using the lesson courses prepared by the Youth and Education Department of the Congregational Union for the Family Church. A Pilot company consisting of six or more boys meet regularly under the leadership of a Captain. The Pilot's promise was "I will learn, pray and serve all I can in the world-wide church of Jesus Christ" An Acting Able Seaman was for Pilots between the 8 - 10 years. [from "Compass : for Pilot Captains" book 1947]5 x blue and white badges with gold border. B017.1 B017.2 B017.3 B017.4 B017.5"C.U. & L.M.S. Acting Able Seaman"pilots - congregational church, congregational union, london missionary society, acting able seaman -
Uniting Church Archives - Synod of Victoria
Certificate - Pilot's ticket, Congregational Union and London Missionary Society Pilot's ticket
White card with blue text and decorative border.non-fictioncongregational church, pilots -
Forests Commission Retired Personnel Association (FCRPA)
Ventimeter, Wind anemometer in cardboard tube
Bushfire behaviour is influenced by many factors including temperature, relative humidity (RH), forest type, fuel quantity and fuel dryness, topography and even slope. But wind has a dominant effect on the Rate of Spread (ROS), as well as fire size, shape and direction. Wind speed can be measured using a variety of anemometers. This simple hand-held Venitimer was made by Elvometer in Sweeden, probably in the 1960s, and was designed for principally for mariners. Some models have a compass in the handle to measure wind direction. The small inlet hole on the side is faced towards the wind and air pressure lifts small plastic disk inside. The upper tube is tapered so that as wind speed increases more air escapes and stronger winds are needed to raise the disk. Wind speed in MPH is read from the side of the clear plastic tube. The waterproof container has instructions on use and conversion scales. Simple and robust device.Hand- held wind anemometer Instructions on use on containerbushfire, forests commission victoria (fcv) -
Flagstaff Hill Maritime Museum and Village
Parallel Rule, 1947-1950
Navigators use parallel rule with maps and charts for plotting a specific course on a chart. One long edge is used with the compass rose on the chart, aligning the centre of the rose with the desired direction around the edge of the rose. The compass bars are then ‘walked’ in and out across the map to the desired location so that lines can be plotted to represent the direction to be travelled. Kelvin Company History: The origins of the company lie in the highly successful and strictly informal relationship between William Thomson (1824-1907), Professor of Natural Philosophy at Glasgow University from 1846-1899 and James White, a Glasgow optical maker. James White (1824-1884) founded the firm of James White, an optical instrument maker in Glasgow in 1850 and was involved in supplying and mending apparatus for Thomson university laboratory and working with him on experimental constructions. White was declared bankrupt in August 1861 and released several months later. In 1870, White was largely responsible for equipping William Thomson laboratory in the new University premises at Gilmore hill. From 1876, he was producing accurate compasses for metal ships to Thomson design during this period and this became an important part of his business in the last years of his life. He was also involved in the production of sophisticated sounding machinery that Thomson had designed to address problems encountered laying cables at sea, helping to make possible the first transatlantic cable connection. At the same time, he continued to make a whole range of more conventional instruments such as telescopes, microscopes and surveying equipment. White's association with Thomson continued until he died. After his death, his business continued under the same name, being administered by Matthew Edwards until 1891 when he left to set up his own company. Thomson who became Sir William Thomson and then Baron Kelvin of Largs in 1892, continued to maintain his interest in the business after James White's death in 1884, raising most of the capital needed to construct and equip new workshops in Cambridge Street, Glasgow. At these premises, the company continued to make the compass Thomson had designed during the 1870s and to supply it in some quantity, especially to the Admiralty. At the same time, the firm became increasingly involved in the design, production and sale of electrical apparatus. In 1899, Lord Kelvin resigned from his University chair and became, in 1900, a director in the newly formed limited liability company Kelvin & James White Ltd which had acquired the business of James White. At the same time Kelvin's nephew, James Thomson Bottomley (1845-1926), joined the firm. In 1904, a London branch office was opened which by 1915 had become known as Kelvin, White & Hutton Ltd. Kelvin & James White Ltd underwent a further change of name in 1913, becoming Kelvin Bottomley & Baird Ltd. Hughes Company History: Henry Hughes & Sons were founded in 1838 in London as a maker of chronographic and scientific instruments. The firm was incorporated as “Henry Hughes & Sons Ltd” in 1903. In 1923, the company produced its first recording echo sounder and in 1935 a controlling interest in the company was acquired by S Smith & Son Ltd resulting in the development and production of marine and aircraft instruments. Following the London office's destruction in the Blitz of 1941, a collaboration was entered into with Kelvin, Bottomley & Baird Ltd resulting in the establishing “Marine Instruments Ltd”. Following the formal amalgamation of Kelvin, Bottomley & Baird Ltd and Henry Hughes & Sons Ltd in 1947 to form Kelvin & Hughes Ltd. Marine Instruments Ltd then acted as regional agents in the UK for Kelvin & Hughes Ltd who were essentially now a part of Smith's Industries Ltd founded in 1944 and the successors of S Smith & Son Ltd. Kelvin & Hughes Ltd went on to develop various marine radar and echo sounders supplying the Ministry of Transport, and later the Ministry of Defence. The firm was liquidated in 1966 but the name was continued as Kelvin Hughes, a division of the Smiths Group. In 2002, Kelvin Hughes continues to produce and develop marine instruments for commercial and military. This model parallel map ruler is a good example of the commercial diversity of navigational instruments made by Kelvin & Hughes after World War II. It was made in numbers for use by shipping after the second world war and is not particularly rare or significant for it's type. Also it was made no earlier than 1947 as the firms of Kelvin, Bottomley & Baird Ltd and Henry Hughes & Sons Ltd who took over from Smith & Sons were not amalgamated until 1947. It can therefor be assumed that this ruler was made during the company's transitional period to Kelvin & Hughes from Smith Industries Ltd.Brass parallel rule in wooden box with blue felt lining.Rule inscribed on front "Kelvin & Hughes Ltd" " Made in Great Britain"flagstaff hill, warrnambool, shipwrecked-coast, flagstaff-hill, flagstaff-hill-maritime-museum, maritime-museum, shipwreck-coast, flagstaff-hill-maritime-village, parallel rule, kelvin & hughes ltd, map ruler, plot direction, navigation, maps, echo sounder, kelvin & james white, lord kelvin, baron kelvin of largs, scientific instrument -
Greensborough Historical Society
Photograph - Digital Image, Art at WaterMarc, July 2017, 22/07/2017
Photographs of an art installation by Jessie Stanley at WaterMarc Greensborough on 22/07/2017. From Jessie Stanley's FaceBook page :Dust to Dust is complete... It's an ephemeral site-specific work about how the Melbourne suburb of Greensborough has transformed over time. This area's exceptionally fertile soil [used by] by white settlers for farms, market gardens and orchards reshaped the Wurundjeri's traditional lands - and today the private sale and division of these farms informs the streetscape and town plan. With soil sourced locally this work reveals some of the area’s history - the text running around the perimeter was written by former resident Val Wilson, a snippet of her recollections of growing up in the area in the 1950s. The arrows and text act like a compass to orientate this site with greater Melbourne. On display in the lobby of Banyule Council until chance, time (or a broom) sweeps it away, Many thanks to Banyule City Council, Greensborough Historical Society and Valerie Wilson. "An artistic representation of Greensborough's history.Digital photographs of art installation.jessie stanley, watermarc, greensborough historical society, banyule council -
Moorabbin Air Museum
Instrument (Item) - W&G "Douglas" Combined Protractor And Parallel Rule
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Bendigo Historical Society Inc.
Tool - PITTOCK COLLECTION : TWO DRAFTING INSTRUMENT SETS
Two drafting instrument sets: * smaller green boxed set with non-operating lock, noted R. Pittock on the face of the box; seven drafting components made of steel an bone; 165 mm L x 85 mm W x 20 mm D * red boxed drafting set, complete set, with A. G. Thornton maker's marking. British made, Limited Paragon Works, Practical manufacturers, King St West Manchester. Six component set, includes two compasses, also three drawing pins. Box 193 mm L x 85 mm W x 20 mm D. Items stored in Pittock coach builders box, reference 13000. -
Melton City Libraries
Photograph, Burning Off, Unknown
Many of the brigade and group base radios were situated in private residences and operated primarily by fire fighters wives who held the position of Communications Officer, either registered as a brigade member or informally. Edna Barrie was never registered as an operational brigade member but operated informally as an assistant to her husband Bon. She was however a member of the Melton Fire Brigade Ladies Auxiliary from its inception in 1968, a non-operational position. Edna kept up to date with radio procedure following the 1967 handbook; preparing maps, plotting compass points and taking notes on weather forecasts from the SA Border and Western District. Daily notes were taken in anticipation of fire warnings. These log books and daily radio traffic were incidental to the regular radio schedules. Emergency turnouts noted, burning off times and predicted location of smoke. In the summer fire season all TBF (total fire ban days were recorded.)CFA burning off dry grassemergency services -
Dutch Australian Heritage Centre Victoria
Wooden Plaque
The VOC sent its trading ships to the (then) Dutch East Indies to collect spices and other goods. In the 17th century accurate navigation was not always possible and ships might end up on the wild, unchartered West Australian coastline. Item recalls the fact that the WA coast was unintentionally visited by Dutch ships during the 17th and 18th centuries. Because the coast was so unattractive the Dutch did not try to settle the country.Large rectangular timber plaque with scalloped edges depicting historic shipwrecks of Western Australia.An insert reads: "Historic Shipwrecks of Western Australia (Protected as of 1983). Coastal cities are marked with their names and dots along the coastline indicate wreck sites. Most are named and dated; others marked as unidentified. An inset map deals with the area around Fremantle and shows a large number of wrecks. A separate typed notice attached to the map identifies the five known Dutch wrecks - all ships of the VOC - Vereennigde East Indian Compagnie (Dutch East India Company). Further than that there are a distance scale and a compass. -
Vision Australia
Equipment - Object, Wormald International Sensory Aids Ltd, Mowat sensor, 197
The Mowat Sensor model MS 01, is a pale green, palm-sized, plastic battery-operated device with a darker green switch on top. It is partially open at one end with two grilles. A microphone plugs into the other end with a wrist strap. It came with a brown vinyl carry case and owner's manual, which are not included. This handheld device for the visually impaired uses high frequency sound to detect objects within a narrow beam. The sensor vibrates if an object is present, responds to closest object within the beam. The vibration rate increases as user approaches object. There are two range settings: short, responds to objects less than 1 meter away (indoor use) and long, responds to objects of sufficient size up to 4 meters. The sensor can be handheld or carried in pocket or purse. As a facility intended for partially sighted people, the compass also includes an in-built color indicator (visible through the semi-transparent enclosure), which indicates the direction using a combination of three colours. Weight: 185 grams. Comes with dark brown vinyl case.1 pale green coloured plastic rectangle sensor with a brown nylon, plaited wrist strap Model MS01assistive devices, orientation and mobility -
Flagstaff Hill Maritime Museum and Village
Instrument - Hourglass
An hourglass or sandglass is an instrument for measuring a defined time and can be used perpetually by simply turning it over immediately the top bulb empties. The clear blown glass is shaped into two equal sized bulbs with a narrow passage in the centre and contains uniform sized sand or glass particles in the lower bulb. The width of the neck regulates the constant flow of the particles. The glass is held in a stand with top and bottom of equal shape and size. Hourglasses can measure an infinite variety of time by gauging the size of the particles, the shape and size of the bulbs and the size of the passage between the bulbs, thus measuring hours or minutes or even seconds. Generally an hourglass sits between discs of wood at the ends, which are joined by long wooden spindles between the ends and tightened by screw caps. The length of time can be adjusted by adding or removing sand particles. The use of the marine sandglass (or hourglass) has been recorded in the 14th century in European shipping. A one minute sandglass was used in conjunction with the ship’s log for ‘dead reckoning’, (see below) that is, for measuring the ship’s speed through the water. They were also used to regulate ringing the ship’s timetable; for example a 4 hour sandglass was used for the length of the sailors’ watch, and a half hour timer for taking of readings for the ship’s log; the ship’s bell would be rung every half hour. It was usually the role of the cabin boy to watch and turn the sandglasses over at the exact time of them emptying their upper chambers and to ring the ship’s bell. Hourglasses have been used historically for many hundreds of years. Some have been used for timing church sermons, in cooking, in industry and at sea. Even today they are used for measuring the cooking time of eggs and timing a player’s turn in games such as Boggle and Pictionary. The sandglasses at sea were gradually replaced in the late 1700’s to early 1800’s by the more accurate chronometers (marine clocks) when they became reliable instruments. DEAD RECKONING (or Deduced Reckoning) Dead reckoning is the term used to describe the method of calculating the ship’s position from its speed and direction, used in early maritime travel, mostly in European waters. Both the (1) speed and the (2) direction of travel were recorded on a Traverse Board at half-hourly intervals during a helmsman’s watch of 4 hours. The navigator would record the readings in his ship’s log, plot them on his navigational chart and give his updated course directions to the next helmsman on watch, along with the cleared Traverse Board. This was a very approximate, but none-the-less helpful, method of navigation. The wooden Traverse Board was a simple pegboard with a diagram of a compass with eight peg holes along the radius to each of the compass points, plus a grid with ascending half hours in the left column and increasing ship’s speed in knots in a row across the column headings, with a peg hole in each of the intersecting cells. A number of wooden pegs were attached to strings on the board. By placing one peg consecutively in the direction’s radius hole, starting from the centre, and the speed holes when the half hourly reading was taken, a picture of speed and direction for the whole 4 hour watch was created. (1) To measure the ship’s speed a one minute hourglass timer was usually used to measure the ship’s speed through the water and help to calculate its longitude. A rope, with knots at regular standard intervals and a weight such as a log at the end, would be thrown overboard at the stern of the ship. At the same time the hourglass would be turned over and a seaman would start counting the number of knots on the rope that passed freely through his hands as the ship travelled. When the timer ran out the counting would be stopped. A timer of one minute (one-sixtieth of an hour), knots spaced one-sixtieth of a nautical mile apart, and simple arithmetic easily gave the speed of the ship in nautical miles per hour ("knots"). This would be recorded every half hour. The speed could however be inaccurate to the travel being affected by ocean currents and wind. (2) To calculate the ship’s direction a compass sighting would be recorded each half hour.Marine hourglasses or sandglasses were used from around the 14th to 19th century during the time of sailing ships. This hourglass is representative of that era, which is during the time of the colonisation of Australia. Hourglass or sandglass; an instrument used to measure time. Two equal sized clear glass bulbs joined with a narrow passage between them, containing equal sized particles of sand grains in lower bulb. Glass sits in a brass collar at each end, in a frame comprising 3 decorative brass columns or posts, each attached top and bottom, using round screw-on feet, to round brass discs. Disc have Roman numerals for the numbers 1 - 12 pressed into their inner surfaces and hieroglyphics on the outer surfaces. Roman numerals on inner surface of discs " I II III IV V VI VII VIII IX X XI XII " Hieroglyphics impressed on outer surface of discsflagstaff hill, warrnambool, shipwrecked coast, flagstaff hill maritime museum, maritime museum, shipwreck coast, flagstaff hill maritime village, great ocean road, horology, hourglass, hour glass, sandglass, sand glass, timing instrument, dead reckoning, deduced reckoning, finding latitude at sea, sandglass with hieroglyphics and roman numerals, hourglass with hieroglyphics and roman numerals, brass hourglass -
Kiewa Valley Historical Society
Educational Aids - Primary
Mt Beauty Primary School commenced in 1948. At the time the Educational Aids / games were up to date and plentiful in the Primary grades. Educational aids continue to be updated along with technology.Mt Beauty Primary School began with up to date equipment and teaching methods. This collection is an example of pre-computer equipment.Variety of educational games and aids including those for teaching Italian 1. La Tombola del flori 2. Ecco Pinocchio - illustrated by Edward Dyas 3. Children's Italian Dictionary by Franko Leoni 4. La Befana- Notes for Teachers - Produced by the Catholic Education Office of Victoria 5. Italy a brief outline 6. Orizzonti - April Edition 1995 7. Zucchero filato - illustrated by Edward Dyas 8. La tombola dei negozi 9.Variform Inset Placing Trays Set 1- Philograph Publications 10. Cubes for matching 11. Kitten Cards - A Child's Play Quartet 12. Symmetry & Reversal Pairing Cards Boxes 1,2 & 3 Philograph Publications 13. Picture Dominoes - Hoborn Productions 1980 14. Figura Shapes 15. Colour and Lay Shapes 16. Tessellations 17. Tangram x2 18. Compass - Mathematical instrument -wooden, large size to fit drawing a circle with chalk on a blackboardmt beauty primary school, educational game and aids -
Flagstaff Hill Maritime Museum and Village
Rangefinder, E R Watts & Sons, 1930-1945
E. R. Watts and Son, makers of theodolites and other surveying instruments, of 123 Camberwell Road, London. The company was established in 1856 by Edwin Watts at twenty-three he had saved £100 from his earnings to start the business with his staff consisting of one boy and later Alexander Clarkson as an apprentice with the workshop a small room over a Bemondsey stable. Watts' first order was from Negretti and Zambra for a mining dial Alexander Clarkson In the early days the firm worked mainly on marine compasses. Edwin Watts would go down to the Docks to adjust the compasses once they had been installed on the ships. In May 1873 the business moved to larger premises a house with a garden. The workshop was also the home of Mr and Mrs Watts and their five sons and three daughters. By now there were fifteen to twenty men employed by the firm. The company were commissioned to supply the Theodolites and Levels for the construction to the Canadian Pacific Railway in 1881. Towards the end of the century, the firm began to make heliographs continuing to produce them for the government until just before the Second World War when by agreement assigned their manufacture to another firm. 1904 The first dividing engine was completed by George William Watts. It was so remarkable an instrument at the time and for years afterwards, In 1907 Arthur Ames went to Canada and started an organisation in Winnipeg in 1909 this became a separate company called E. R. Watts and Son Ltd. of Ottawa. This firm developed considerably and was eventually with the co-operation of three other instrument companies (Cambridge Instrument Co, Ross, and Negretti and Zambra), were reconstituted as ”Instruments Ltd” of Ottawa and Toronto. During the next ten years, the firm expanded greatly to include glass grinding, leather work, dividing and engraving, testing, adjusting and packing. This expansion was continued during the First World War when workshops were completed and the machinery installed and running within eleven weeks from the start of construction. During the war, a Sergeant Coles, among the rats, lice and mud of the trenches, fitted various bits of scrap into his cocoa tin and made the first Flash Spotter for plotting the positions of enemy guns. Coles was rushed home to the firm's factory where he and George William Watts designed a spotter not made out of a cocoa tin and as a result, the Watts Vertical Force Variometer was developed during WWI. Other Watts instruments made in the First World War included the Light Mountain Theodolites which were taken on Mt Everest expeditions. In 1919 ER Watts and Sons was incorporated as a limited company and in 1939 G. A. Whipple joined the Board of Directors. Shortly afterwards, Frank Charles Watts died having been Chairman of the firm for over 37 years and seen it through the First World War with all its expansions and difficulties. He was succeeded by his brother George William Watts with the vacant post of Managing Director being filled by G. A. Whipple. During the Second World War, the company expanded further and the number of employees rose to well over 1,300. In 1946 Watts acquired 78% of Adam Hilger and the microscope maker James Swift and Son Who were Manufacturers of Theodolites, Levels, Alidades, Meteorological Instruments, Variometers, and many other types of scientific instruments Then in 1948 the company amalgamated with Adam Hilger as Hilger and Watts which was then incorporated as a public company.Naval Rangefinder with a vertical wooden handle, and an arrangement of optical lenses. Three reversible brass inserts calibrated on both sides in yards, correspond to various base heights, (20 and 25 feet, 30 and 35 feet and 40 and 50 feet). They are fitted along the axis of the instrument. When the scale for the appropriate base height is selected and inserted, the carriage can be slid for coincidence and the distance read at the index mark on the sliding carriage.inscribed "Rangefinder Cotton Type Mk II" Calibrated scale up to 5000 yds (50 ft), 5000 yds (35 ft), 4000 yds (25 ft) made by E. R. Watts & Son.flagstaff hill, warrnambool, shipwrecked coast, flagstaff hill maritime museum, maritime museum, shipwreck coast, flagstaff hill maritime village, great ocean road, rangefinder, cotton type, e r watts & sons, naval range finder, marine equipment -
Federation University Historical Collection
Book, Mechanics' Magazine vol. 3, 1825 (exact)
Hardcovered book, half leather bound with marbled paper. Formerly book number 4040 from the Ballaarat East Public Library. Contents include: new pit-saw, self-moving carriage (car), Lord Worcestor's steam engine, extinction of fires, Cameron's Soda Water Apparatus, Newton's Lectures on Astronomy, coining at the Royal Mint, mechanical geometry, lifting ships by steam, voltaic-mechanic agent, steam navigation, portable hand-mill, Brown's pneumatic engine, Bell's invention for saving lives from shipwreck, triple pump, cycloidal chuck, potato-washer, sand clock, Galvanic electricity, perpetual motion, Hadley's Quadrent, Wollaston's Night-Bolt, rope bridges, boring machinery, locomotive steam-engines, new London Bridge, naval architecture, steam and water wheel, Spencer's Patent Forge, boat with wings, ivory profile portraits, Jenning's Gas burner, Ramage's Telescope, washing machine, tallow lamp, iron masts, self regulating pendulum, prismatic compass, simple blowpipe. Includes image of Henry Brougham, and many drawings of inventions.non-fictioncar, newton, fire, shipwreck, bell, naval architecture, locomotive, ballaarat east public library, ballarat east public library, ballarat east library, henry brougham, potassium, meridian lines, pit saw, self moving carriage, lord worcestor, steam engine, cameron s, soda water, astronomy, royal mint, mechanical geometry, lifting ships by steam, voltaic mechanic agent, steam navigation, hand mill, brown s pneumatic engine, triple pump, cycloidal chuck, potato washer, sand clock, galvanic electricity, perpetual motion, hadley s quadrent, wollaston s night bolt, rope bridges, boring machinery, steam engines, new london bridge, steam and water wheel, spencer s patent forge, boat with wings, ivory profile portraits, jenning s gas burner, ramage s telescope, washing machine, tallow lamp, iron masts, self regulating pendulum, prismatic compass, simple blowpipe, bookplate -
Numurkah & District Historical Society
Carpentry Tools & Storage Box
These carpentry items were owned and used by Archibald (Mick) Blackley, a local long-time resident of Numurkah. Born 1912 in Numurkah, Mick was the son of Archibald (Senior) and Grace Blackley, also residents of Numurkah. Archie Senior was a carter, horse-breaker, conducted a livery stable and worked at Brown Corke & Co for a number of years. Archie also served in the Veterinary Corps in WW1. Some of the tools donated belonged to Archie Senior eg wooden hand planes. Mick Blackley used his dad’s tools (and also added some of his own) when he worked in various carpentry jobs during the 1930’s and 1940’s. One particular carpentry job was during the depression when Mick relocated to the Wonthaggi State Coal Mines building stables for the horses, and also completing some building works inside the mines. Returning to Numurkah, Mick joined a Mr Murray as carpenter and painter to build and repair houses. He then joined another builder for 4 years (We think this was Jim Tuttle). Mick then went on to work at the Butter Factory (originally called Holdenson & Nielsen) where some of his carpentry skills were still used. Item list: • Wooden box for carpentry tools • 1 x steel pliers • 2 x wooden hand planes • 1 x tin snips • 1 x wooden spirit level in canvas bag • 1 x small wooden spirit level • 5 x wooden handled hand-saws • 1 x wooden handled right- angle square • 1 x wooden handled tenon-saw • 1 x steel plumbers wrench • 1 x wooden handled hedge-clippers • 1 x cloth & leather measuring tape • 1 x wooden mallet • 1 x narrow wooden plane • 1 x plastic handled hand-saw • 1 x plane blade sharpening stone • 1 x brace hand drill • 1 x compass for marking wood • 1 x cold chisel • 1 x set of various chisels and hand drill bits in a canvas bag • 1 x steel sike • Various other drill bits, chisels, files • 1 x wooden handled trowel • • 2 x steel garden secateurs • carpentry, building, wood, tools, planes, levels, chisels, hammers, saws, drills, drill bits -
Moorabbin Air Museum
Accessory (Item) - Beaufighter Pilots Escape kit
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Flagstaff Hill Maritime Museum and Village
Book - Textbook, Introduction to Modern Geography
This mid-19th century scientific reference book, Introduction to Modern Geography, explains geography and astronomy using the globe of the world as a teaching aid. The inscription connects this book to the Bobinawarrah Public Library but research to date has found no further details about the library. The rural area was settled in 1859, but in 2016 its population was only 87. It is situated about 21 kilometres south of the City of Wangaratta, in Northeast Victoria. In 2024 the local community received a grant for preservation of its almost 100-year-old Bobinawarrah Memorial Hall which displays an honour board of the Pioneers of Bobinawarrah 1859-1959. The donor of the book lived in Warrnambool. ABOUT THE AUTHOR, James Thomson (1786-1849): - James Thomson was a British Irish mathematician. He became Professor of Mathematics at the University of Glasgow. He wrote many school textbooks and reference books, one of which was Introduction to Modern Geography, first published in Belfast in 1827, and revised and published in over 20 more editions. Thomson tutored two of his several children at home. His older son James Thomson (1822-1892) became an engineer and physicist. His younger son William Thomson (1824-1907) became Professor of Natural Philosophy from 1846-1899 at the University of Glasgow, and later the 1st Baron of Kelvin, famous for his designs of nautical instruments such as the navigational compass and sounding equipment used in the transatlantic installation of sea cable. William was part of the firm that became famous as Kelvin & Hughes Ltd., suppliers of radar and echo sounders to the Ministry of Transport and the Ministry of Defence. The name continued on as Kelvin & Hughes. James Thomson (1786-1849) was a renowned British Irish mathematician and Professor of Mathematics at the University of Glasgow. He was a respected author of many important school books and textbooks that were widely used to provide understanding of arithmetic and geography. Thomson encouraged practical education and held extra classes for young ladies to learn mathematics and geography, which were a novelty at that time. Many of his works were known and used worldwide. This work was published in many editions. It is now considered as culturally significant as a basis for knowledge about our civilisation and has been made publicly available in overseas countries, and republished and reproduced in a readable format, including its diagrams and maps. Book; scientific textbook. The book has a black leather cover. The front cover is blank, but the spine has an embossed gold vertical title within a rectangular border boasting fancy corners. The fly page has a detailed title. The author is James Thomson. It is the Eighteenth edition, published in Simms & McIntyre of London and Belfast in 1845. An inscription connects it to the Bobinawarrah Public Library in Victoria.Spine within a gold border: "THOMSON'S GEOGRAPHY" Fly Page: "AN INTRODUCTION TO MODERN GEOGRAPHY, WITH AN APPENDIX, CONTAINING AN OUTLINE OF ASTRONOMY, AND THE USE OF THE GLOBES. BY JAMES THOMSON, LL.D., PROFESSOR OF MATHEMATICS IN THE UNIVERSITY OF GLASGOW." "Eighteenth Edition" "LONDON: SIMMS AND McINTYRE, ALDINE CHAMBERS, PATERSOSTER ROW; AND DONEGALL -STREET, BELFAST.""1845"flagstaff hill, flagstaff hill maritime museum and village, warrnambool, maritime museum, maritime village, great ocean road, shipwreck coast, introduction to geography, james thomson, reference book, professor thomson's introduction to modern geography, bobinawarrah public library, james thomson mathematician, james thomson engineer, 19th century irish mathematician, irish presbyterian, william thomson 1st baron of kelvin, professor of mathematics, glasgow university, william thomson professor of natural philosophy, introduction to modern geography, outline of astronomy, use of the globes, james thomson ll.d., simms and mcintyre, 1843, scientific book, school book, lord kelvin, baron kelvin of langs, nautical instruments, marine instruments, transatlantic cable, kelvin & hughes, thomson’s geography, astronomy, geography, world globe, cartography, pioneers of bobinawarrah, textbook -
Surrey Hills Historical Society Collection
Work on paper - Vertical file, Aircraft
Roger Meyer was at one time a member of the Surrey Hills Historical Society. He presented at a meeting on a subject of personal interest. David (Dave) Staig lived in Surrey Hills and was an early aviator. A vertical file containing information related to aircraft and Surrey Hills; it is largely related to Dave Staig: 1. Article: ‘New air compass planned / invented here’, The Herald, about 1930s (1 page). 2. Article: ‘Homing pigeons, test on aeroplane flight’, Herald ? about 1933 (1 page). 3. Staig family – addresses July 1992 (1 page). 4. Timber cutting, extract from ‘David Staig a pioneer of Australian Aviation’ by W.L. Greer, 1991 (1 page). 5. David Staig notes from a conversation between Jocelyn Hall and Bill Greer, 1991 (1 page). 6. David Staig, aviator, notes from Bill Greer & Wes Vickers (undated) (1 page). 7. ‘Building a plane’ from ‘Slipstream’ as told to Chas. J. Gordon by Dave Staig (undated), (2 pages). 8. Surrey Hills Historical Society Inc. notice of meeting 20.9 (no year) (1 page). 9. Letter to Jocelyn Hall from David H. Staig c. Nov. 1993 or 4 (2 pages). 10. ‘The early aerodromes of Melbourne, and the origins of Essendon airport’, talk at Surrey Hills Historical Society by Roger Meyer, 19.4.2004 (12 pages including maps).roger meyer, dave staig, david staig -
Mission to Seafarers Victoria
Photograph - Photographs, Serie, Mission to Seafarers Victoria, The sea is all around us, 29 May 2015
EXHIBITION in the DOME The Sea is All Around Us - Margaret Woodward 11-21 May 2015 Dome Gallery – Mission to Seafarers, 717 Flinders Street, Melbourne, Australia. 37 º 49'21" S 144º 57'03"E Hours: Daily 11.00am - 4.00pm The sea is all around us is a multi-layered event which will create a memorable experience for those visiting the Dome Gallery and the Mission to Seafarers in Melbourne’s Docklands. The event will acknowledge and raise awareness of the working lives and journeys of seafarers by making visible their role in transporting commodities, materials and objects to and from Australia’s shores. This installation invites seafarers and visitors to participate in a global project which aims to witness sea journeys and trace the mobile life of seafarers and souvenirs. For a fortnight in May 2015, the Dome Gallery will become an architectural large scale compass, with the circular floor marking the intersection of its latitude and longitude (37 º 49'21" S 144º 57'03"E). Over these two weeks the Dome Gallery will be inscribed with marks recording journeys made by seafarers, recording destination and departure ports, home lands and waterways, and in doing so making visible a small segment of the global patterns of seafaring. Custom-made souvenirs designed for the installation will be given to seafarers as gestures of welcome and a memento of their visit. The souvenirs originating in Poland will continue their journey by sea, to destinations beyond the Dome becoming part of the global network of seafaring, with an invitation for seafarers to record their future journeys using QR code scanning technologies. It is hoped that by releasing the 200 limited edition souvenirs accompanying the seafarers the mobile life of souvenirs and seafarers will also become visible. For more information visit the website: sensingtheremote.net Margaret Woodward is Associate Professor of Design at Charles Sturt University For a fortnight in May 2015, Margaret Woodward was ‘in residence’ at the Mission to Seafarers Norla Dome Gallery with her participatory installation project "The Sea is All Around Us". The floor of the gallery became a large scale compass. Seafarers were welcomed to the gallery their ships, journeys and destinations were recorded and mapped on the floor drawing. Seafarers were welcomed with cake and souvenir mugs of tea. These mugs, a momento for the seafarers, were inscribed with a scannable QR code and an invitation for seafarers to record their journeys on a dedicated project website. Around 120 souvenirs are now continuing their journey by sea and seafarers have scanned the mugs from locations including Singapore, Brisbane, Fremantle, Adelaide, Busan and Johor! After the exhibition Margaret Woodward was able to follow the seafarers' whereabout: ""The Sea is all Around Us". I am in awe of where this project might go, well done Margaret. One week has passed since finishing up at the Mission to Seafarers Victoria. Today I check my website and can see that the cup-carrying seafarers are reaching warmer climates, they tell me it’s getting hot as some are already in Suva and Port Lautoka. I’ve watched the souvenirs travel and fan out from Melbourne, some West to Adelaide and Fremantle, others going north to Sydney Brisbane, Singapore and Busan. Another seafarer scans in from Changi Airport, excited to be going home for some time with his family in the Phillipines. I keep an eye on my ‘fleet’ of 22 ships that visited the Dome Gallery, and see where they are on the Live Shipping website, watch some of them sail up the coast of Western Australia and marvel at the steady pace this journey takes. I am so used to flying over coastlines and countries in a matter of hours, impatiently watching the tracking screen from my airline seat, this shipping pace seems so much more real, so much more of a passage. I feel connected to these ships, to the people on board, to know that an object has passed from my hands to theirs, now holding in it my cargo of concern."margaret woodward, installation, exhibition, norla dome, 2015, sea voyage, sea journey, cultural events -
Mission to Seafarers Victoria
Booklet - Catalogue, Margaret Woodward, The Sea is All Around us, 2015
Margaret Woodward is a an artist and an an associate professor of design at Charles Sturt University. Artist statement: "The Sea is All Around us is a multi-layered event which creates a memorable experience for those visiting the Dome Gallery and the Mission to Seafarers in Melbourne’s Docklands. The event acknowledges and raises awareness of the often difficult and dangerous working lives and journeys of seafarers by making visible their role in transporting commodities, materials and objects to and from Australia’s shores. This installation at the Dome Gallery in the Mission to Seafarers in Melbourne’s Docklands marks the third stage of an ongoing research project which seeks to reveal the ‘social life’ of souvenirs. Beyond their representational role souvenirs also trigger intangible, affective qualities – reminders of journeys and places, new associations with tastes, sounds and people, and thereby becoming objects which focus and hold memories. This installation invites seafarers and visitors to participate in a global project which aims to witness sea journeys and trace the mobile life of seafarers and souvenirs. For a fortnight in May 2015, the Dome Gallery became an architectural large scale compass, with the circular floor marking the intersection of its latitude and longitude (37 º 49'21" S 144º 57'03"E). Over these two weeks the Dome Gallery was inscribed with marks recording journeys made by seafarers, recording destination and departure ports, home lands and waterways, and in doing so making visible a small segment of the global patterns of seafaring. Custom-made souvenirs designed for the installation are given to seafarers as gestures of welcome and a memento of their visit. The souvenirs originating in Poland continue their journey by sea, to destinations beyond the Dome becoming part of the global network of seafaring, with an invitation for seafarers to record their future journeys using QR code scanning technologies. It is hoped that by releasing the 200 limited edition souvenirs accompanying the seafarers the mobile life of souvenirs and seafarers will also become visible. Like messages in bottles they leave our shores, becoming ambassadors, representing the Dome Gallery at the Mission to Seafarers, the waters of Port Phillip Bay, Australia’s red soil and vegetation, and carrying memories of visiting Melbourne." The Mission has always been open to the community and has a tradition of hosting cultural events: shows, concerts, exhibitions, festivals.Small flyer in PDf for the art installation by artist Margaret Woodward at the Mission to Seafarerscultural events, norla dome, mso, 2015, art installation, margaret woodward -
Flagstaff Hill Maritime Museum and Village
Instrument - Sextant, Late 20th Century
In 1941, the scientific instrument manufacturing firms of Henry Hughes & Son Ltd, London, England, and Kelvin Bottomley & Baird Ltd, Glasgow, Scotland, came together to form Kelvin & Hughes Ltd. Kelvin Company History: The origins of the company lie in the highly successful and strictly informal relationship between William Thomson (1824-1907), Professor of Natural Philosophy at Glasgow University from 1846-1899 and James White, a Glasgow optical maker. James White (1824-1884) founded the firm of James White, an optical instrument maker in Glasgow in 1850 and was involved in supplying and mending apparatus for Thomson university laboratory and working with him on experimental constructions. White was declared bankrupt in August 1861 and released several months later. In 1870, White was largely responsible for equipping William Thomson laboratory in the new University premises at Gilmore hill. From 1876, he was producing accurate compasses for metal ships to Thomson design during this period and this became an important part of his business in the last years of his life. He was also involved in the production of sophisticated-sounding machinery that Thomson had designed to address problems encountered laying cables at sea, helping to make possible the first transatlantic cable connection. At the same time, he continued to make a whole range of more conventional instruments such as telescopes, microscopes and surveying equipment. White's association with Thomson continued until he died. After his death, his business continued under the same name, being administered by Matthew Edwards (until 1891 when he left to set up his own company. Thomson who became Sir William Thomson and then Baron Kelvin of Largs in 1892, continued to maintain his interest in the business after James White's death. In 1884 raising most of the capital needed to construct and equip new workshops in Cambridge Street, Glasgow. At these premises, the company continued to make the compass Thomson had designed during the 1870s and to supply it in some quantity, especially to the Admiralty. At the same time, the firm became increasingly involved in the design, production and sale of electrical apparatus. In 1899, Lord Kelvin resigned from his University chair and became, in 1900, a director in the newly formed limited liability company Kelvin & James White Ltd which had acquired the business of James White. At the same time Kelvin's nephew, James Thomson Bottomley (1845-1926), joined the firm. In 1904, a London branch office was opened which by 1915 had become known as Kelvin, White & Hutton Ltd. Kelvin & James White Ltd underwent a further change of name in 1913, becoming Kelvin Bottomley & Baird Ltd. Hughes Company History: Henry Hughes & Sons were founded in 1838 in London as a maker of chronographic and scientific instruments. The firm was incorporated as “Henry Hughes & Sons Ltd” in 1903. In 1923, the company produced its first recording echo sounder and in 1935 a controlling interest in the company was acquired by S Smith & Son Ltd resulting in the development and production of marine and aircraft instruments. Following the London office's destruction in the Blitz of 1941, a collaboration was entered into with Kelvin, Bottomley & Baird Ltd resulting in the establishing “Marine Instruments Ltd”. Following the formal amalgamation of Kelvin, Bottomley & Baird Ltd and Henry Hughes & Sons Ltd in 1947 to form Kelvin & Hughes Ltd. Marine Instruments Ltd then acted as regional agents in the UK for Kelvin & Hughes Ltd who were essentially now a part of Smith's Industries Ltd founded in 1944 and the successors of S. Smith & Son Ltd. Kelvin & Hughes Ltd went on to develop various marine radar and echo sounders supplying the Ministry of Transport, and later the Ministry of Defence. The firm was liquidated in 1966 but the name was continued as Kelvin Hughes, a division of the Smiths Group. In 2002, Kelvin Hughes continues to produce and develop marine instruments for commercial and military. G. Falconer Company History: G Falconer (Hong Kong Ltd) appear to have had a retail presence in Hong Kong since 1885, according to the company website, and currently have a shop in the Peninsula Hotel. G Falconer was the Hong Kong selling agent for several British companies. Ross Ltd of 111 New Bond St London was one and the other was Kelvins Nautical Instruments. Falconers were primarily watchmakers, jewellers and diamond merchants.They were also agents for Admiralty Charts, Ross binoculars and telescopes, and sold English Silverware and High Class English Jewellery. In 1928 the company was operating from the Union Building opposite the Hong Kong general post office. It is unclear if the item is an original Sextant made by Kelvin prior to his amalgamation with Henry Hughes & Sons in 1941 as Kelvin appears to have only made compasses up to this date. If the Sextant can be established that it was made by Kelvin then it is very significant and a rare item made for and distributed through their Hong Kong selling agents G Falconer Ltd. There are many Sextants advertised for sale stating "Kelvin & Hughes 1917 model sextant". These can be regarded as replicas as the company was not formed until 1941 and production of marine instruments was not fully under way until after the war in 1947. Further investigation needs to be undertaken to accurately determine the provenance of this item. As the writer currently has the impression that the subject object was possibly made by Kelvin and Hughes in the mid to late 20th century or is a replica made by an unknown maker in the late 1970s. Purchased as an exhibition of marine navigational instruments for the Flagstaff Hill museum. The Sextant is a brass apparatus with filters and telescope lens, and comes with a wooden felt lined storage box. It is a doubly reflecting navigation instrument that measures the angular distance between two visible objects. The primary use of a sextant is to measure the angle between an astronomical object and the horizon for the purposes of celestial navigation.G Falconer and Co. Hong Kong (retailers of nautical equipmentflagstaff hill, warrnambool, shipwrecked-coast, flagstaff-hill, flagstaff-hill-maritime-museum, maritime-museum, shipwreck-coast, flagstaff-hill-maritime-village, sextant, kelvin & hughes ltd, hong kong, navigational instrument, g falconer, mariner's quadrants