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Flagstaff Hill Maritime Museum and Village
Textile - Lace Sample, Late 1800s to 1940s
The sample of crochet lace is an example of a handmade item that would have been used to decorative purpose around the home. It may have been used to edge curtains, a table runner or a mantlepiece. Smaller pieces were used to edge towels. The shape of this piece suggests a possible use as a ladies collar however no tie or buttons have been attached at the ends.The item is significant socially to show the use of textile crafts, such as handmade crocheted lace, to decorate regular domestic objects or create pieces of clothing.A wide length of handmade crochet lace with an open pattern at the top and a pointed edged pattern underneath. For the open pattern mercerised white crochet thread has been used to crochet a double row of a repeat pattern of 'three circles and stems'. Underneath double crochet (US) / treble crochet (UK) is used to create the points which have been edged with the 'three circles and stems' pattern from above.flagstaff hill, warrnambool, maritime village, maritime museum, flagstaff hill maritime museum & village, shipwreck coast, great ocean road, lace, handmade lace, crocheted lace, decorative edging, decorative lace edging, domestic object, crocheted trim, ladies collar, crocheted collar -
Flagstaff Hill Maritime Museum and Village
Textile - Lace Sample, Late 1800s to 1940s
The sample of crochet lace is an example of a handmade item that would have been used to decorative purpose around the home. Being a shorter length it may have edged towels or found use as a collar however no tie or buttons have been attached at the ends.The item is significant socially to show the use of textile crafts, such as handmade crocheted lace, to decorate regular domestic objects or create pieces of clothing.A strip of handmade crochet lace with a pointed edge. Mercerised white crochet thread has been used to crochet a lace pattern consisting of small open weave areas reflecting the pointed shape of the lace and a larger, open, zig zag and line pattern. flagstaff hill, warrnambool, maritime village, maritime museum, flagstaff hill maritime museum & village, shipwreck coast, great ocean road, lace, handmade lace, crocheted lace, decorative edging, decorative lace edging, domestic object, crocheted trim, ladies collar, crocheted collar -
Flagstaff Hill Maritime Museum and Village
Textile - Lace Sample, Late 1800s to 1940s
The sample of crochet lace is an example of a handmade item that would have been used to edge material to create a doily for use around the home.The item is significant socially to show the use of textile crafts, such as handmade crocheted lace, to decorate regular domestic objects.A ring of handmade crochet lace consisting of ten motifs joined in a circle. Mercerised white crochet thread has been used to crochet each motif in an open lace pattern using picot edging to give a floral effect.flagstaff hill, warrnambool, maritime village, maritime museum, flagstaff hill maritime museum & village, shipwreck coast, great ocean road, lace, handmade lace, crocheted lace, decorative edging, decorative lace edging, domestic object, crocheted edging -
Flagstaff Hill Maritime Museum and Village
Clothing - Double Cape with Collar
The cape is of a style from the Victorian or the Edwardian Era and so provides a good example of women's clothing from that time. The light colour, silk material and lace suggest a cape used for special occasions with the possibility of initially being a wedding cape.The item is of significance historically and socially as an example of women's clothing in the Victorian and Edwardian eras.Ladies cape consisting of two circular tiers and a collar. The inner tier is knee length with a thin lace insert around the hem. The outer tier is elbow length with a wide lace edge and the thin lace insert inside this. The collar has lace edging and a lace insert of the same width. The lace used is of a repeat flower pattern most likely made of a combination of silk and cotton. The cape material appears to be a cream ribbed silk with the lining being of a polished cotton or silk variety. Both materials have a silken sheen in the right light. A silk ribbon ties the cape at the neck. The lining and lace have been sewn with fine hand stitching.flagstaff hill, warrnambool, maritime village, maritime museum, flagstaff hill maritime museum and village, shipwreck coast, great ocean road, ladies cape, double cape, silk cape, layered cape, cape with lace collar, decorative lace edging, victorian era, edwardian era -
Flagstaff Hill Maritime Museum and Village
Decorative object - Vase, ca. 1970s
... . It is representative of decorative domestic items used during that era ...This beautiful hand-cut crystal vase was made in Poland by Violetta Crystal Glassworks. Its design is decorative and functional. It reflects vases produced in the late 19th and early 20th century when hand-cut lead Crystalware was popular in England. The lead content in the glass makes the glass softer and easier to hand-cut. The crystal clear glass sparkles in the light. Crystalware was kept for special occasions such as weddings and religious events. The Violetta Crystal Glassworks was founded in 1864 by Franz Losky, at the district of in Stronie Śląskie. Its original name was Oransko-Nassawska Glassworks, then later named Oranienhütte. The Glassworks came under Poland's rule after World War II. In 1950 it was subject to the Central Board of the Glass Industry and Precious Ceramics, with its seat in Sosnowiec, and the Glassworks was called United Glassworks of the Lower Silesia Region – State Crystal Glassworks in Stronie Śląskie.In 1953 it began exporting its products. In 1970 the name was changed to Violetta Crystal Glassworks in the Polish district of Stronie Śląskie. The firm became the major exporter of Polish glass. From 1992, structural changes in the company resulted in the loss of production, which stopped altogether in May, 2008. Minex CEI SA bought the plant in 2011 and operated it until the end of 2018.This hand-cut lead crystal vase design reflects that of vases produced in the late-19th and early-20th centuries. It is representative of decorative domestic items used during that era, particularly for important and special occasions such as weddings and religious events. Crystalware was cherished for its beauty. The vase is also significant for its association with the renowned Violetta Crystal Glassworks established in 1864 by Franz Losky, which was at one time the greatest exporter of hand-cut crystal made in Poland.Vase; clear hand-cut glass, 24 per cent lead crystal. The vase is wide at the top with a scalloped edge. It tapers inwards to a round foot. A clear rectangular label with gold text is attached. It is branded Violetta hand-cut crystal, made in Poland. On the label: "MADE IN POLAND" "Violetta" "Hand cut 24 % lead crystal" "(R)" within a circleflagstaff hill maritime village, shipwreck coast, flagstaff hill, warrnambool, flagstaff hill museum and village, domestic object, decorative object, functional object, vase, crystal vase, cut glass vase, hand-cut glass, violetta, violetta glassworks, polish glassworks, made in poland, vase with scalloped edge, crystal glassworks, franz losky, oransko-nassawska glassworks, oranienhütte, stronie śląskie, hand-cut crystal, crystalware -
Bright & District Historical Society operating the Bright Museum
Handbag, 20th century
While the exact history of this item is not recorded, handworked items were an important feature of home and social life in rural districts in the 19th and 20th centuries. Of some local social significance.White cotton hand crocheted teardrop shape evening bag, mesh pattern with scallops radiating from rose motif in centre (front and back), scalloped edge, 3 small decorative baubles, lined with fine cotton,with drawcord. Condition and colour good. Age not determined but probably 20th century.Nonehome made, handcraft, handbag, evening bag, bridal wear, crotchet work, hand work, decorative work -
Flagstaff Hill Maritime Museum and Village
Baby Bonnet, c. 1912
In the Words of donor, Betty Stone , … “These crocheted and embroidered articles cover a period of three generations- ie. Sarah (nee Chamberlain) Lees, Ann (nee Lees) Dale, and Daisy Elvena (nee Dale) Welsh. All three were accomplished needlewomen; also, both Sarah Lees (born 1844) and her daughter, Ann (b 1865) crocheted a wide variety of articles for use in their homes. A few examples of these items have survived the years.” Baby's Crocheted Bonnet - This finely crocheted bonnet was made by Sarah (nee Chamberlain) Lees and is at least one hundred years old. Due to the condition of the original ribbon ties, they have been replaced with new ribbon. (NOTE: For additional information please refer to my book Pioneer and Places- A History of Three Warrnambool Pioneering Families ie. Chamberlain, Dale and Lees families) This item is associated with families of Chamberlain, Dale and Lees. These families are listed in the "Pioneers' Register" for Warrnambool Township and Shire, 1835-1900, published by A.I.G.S. Warrnambool Branch.Baby bonnet, white, fine crochet, white decorative piece over crown, ribbon ties are replacement for worn ties. Made c.1912 by Sarah Lees (nee Chamberlain), from the 'Chamberlain Dale Lees Collectionflagstaff hill, warrnambool, shipwrecked-coast, flagstaff-hill, flagstaff-hill-maritime-museum, maritime-museum, shipwreck-coast, flagstaff-hill-maritime-village, baby bonnet, c. 1912, sarah chamberlain, sarah lees, chamberlain, dale, lees, stone, betty stone, warrnambool pioneers, handmade, handcraft, crochet, baby clothes -
Flagstaff Hill Maritime Museum and Village
Textile - Tea Cosy, ca 1910
This decorative crocheted tea cosy or teapot cover is handmade and used to help keep the tea hot and ready to serve. In the Words of donor, Betty Stone, … “These crocheted and embroidered articles cover a period of three generations- ie. Sarah (nee Chamberlain) Lees, Ann (nee Lees) Dale, and Daisy Elvena (nee Dale) Welsh. All three were accomplished needlewomen; also, both Sarah Lees (born 1844) and her daughter, Ann (b 1865) crocheted a wide variety of articles for use in their homes. A few examples of these items have survived the years.” It was a tradition for brides to have a 'glory box' containing linen and embroidered articles to take to their new home. Many of the items were made by Daisy, a skilled dressmaker. Daisy began her apprenticeship at two shillings and sixpence per week at Miss A. E. Emery's dressmaking establishment at 150-152 Liebig Street, Warrnambool. Considered to be the leading house of fashion in Warrnambool, Miss Emery employed about eight young women who worked long hours to sew elaborate gowns for clients, including wives of graziers who would attend the race carnivals and social functions in Warrnambool. (NOTE: For additional information please refer to my book Pioneer and Places- A History of Three Warrnambool Pioneering Families ie. Chamberlain, Dale and Lees families)This item is associated with the Warrnambool pioneer families of Chamberlain, Dale and Lees. These families are listed in the Pioneers' Register for Warrnambool Township and Shire, 1835-1900, published by A.I.G.S. Warrnambool Branch. The item is significant for its association with a ‘glory box’ or hope chest’, a tradition of single ladies making and collecting a range of linen and other domestic items in preparation for their future marriage. The item is a fine example of early 20th-century needlework and handmade domestic items.Tea cosy, white, crocheted cover with an incorporated flower design. Half circle in shape. Part of the Chamberlain Dale Lees Collection.flagstaff hill, warrnambool, flagstaff hill maritime museum and village, great ocean road, chamberlain family, dale family, lees family, betty stone, warrnambool pioneer, warrnambool genealogy, wangoom, chamberlain dale lees collection, glory box, handmade, craft, manchester, linen, haberdashery, needlework, crochet, teapot cover, tea cosy, tea service -
Flagstaff Hill Maritime Museum and Village
Textile - Tray Cover, Sarah Lees or daughter Ann Dale (nee Lees), ca 1910
This decorative embroidered tray cover or tray cloth is beautifully handmade and includes eyelet or Broderie Anglaise embroidery. It was made by either Sarah Lees or her daughter Anne Dale (nee Lees). In the Words of donor, Betty Stone, … “These crocheted and embroidered articles cover a period of three generations- ie. Sarah (nee Chamberlain) Lees, Ann (nee Lees) Dale, and Daisy Elvena (nee Dale) Welsh. All three were accomplished needlewomen; also, both Sarah Lees (born 1844) and her daughter, Ann (b 1865) crocheted a wide variety of articles for use in their homes. A few examples of these items have survived the years.” It was a tradition for brides to have a 'glory box' containing linen and embroidered articles to take to their new home. Many of the items were made by Daisy, a skilled dressmaker. Daisy began her apprenticeship at two shillings and sixpence per week at Miss A. E. Emery's dressmaking establishment at 150-152 Liebig Street, Warrnambool. Considered to be the leading house of fashion in Warrnambool, Miss Emery employed about eight young women who worked long hours to sew elaborate gowns for clients, including wives of graziers who would attend the race carnivals and social functions in Warrnambool. (NOTE: For additional information please refer to my book Pioneer and Places- A History of Three Warrnambool Pioneering Families ie. Chamberlain, Dale and Lees families)This item is associated with the Warrnambool pioneer families of Chamberlain, Dale and Lees. These families are listed in the Pioneers' Register for Warrnambool Township and Shire, 1835-1900, published by A.I.G.S. Warrnambool Branch. The item is significant for its association with a ‘glory box’ or hope chest’, a tradition of single ladies making and collecting a range of linen and other domestic items in preparation for their future marriage. The item is a fine example of early 20th-century needlework and handmade domestic items.Tray cover, white fabric, elliptical in shape with a scalloped crochet edge, eyelet and white floral embroidery, Part of the Chamberlain Dale Lees Collection.flagstaff hill, warrnambool, flagstaff hill maritime museum and village, great ocean road, chamberlain family, dale family, lees family, betty stone, warrnambool pioneer, warrnambool genealogy, wangoom, chamberlain dale lees collection, glory box, handmade, craft, manchester, linen, haberdashery, needlework, crochet, tray cover, tray cloth, tea service, eyelet embroidery, sarah lees, ann dale (nee lees) -
Flagstaff Hill Maritime Museum and Village
Textile - Tray Cover, Sarah Lees or daughter Ann Dale (nee Lees), ca 1910
This decorative embroidered tray cover or tray cloth is beautifully handmade by either Sarah Lees or her daughter Ann Dale (nee Lees). In the Words of donor, Betty Stone, … “These crocheted and embroidered articles cover a period of three generations- ie. Sarah (nee Chamberlain) Lees, Ann (nee Lees) Dale, and Daisy Elvena (nee Dale) Welsh. All three were accomplished needlewomen; also, both Sarah Lees (born 1844) and her daughter, Ann (b 1865) crocheted a wide variety of articles for use in their homes. A few examples of these items have survived the years.” It was a tradition for brides to have a 'glory box' containing linen and embroidered articles to take to their new home. Many of the items were made by Daisy, a skilled dressmaker. Daisy began her apprenticeship at two shillings and sixpence per week at Miss A. E. Emery's dressmaking establishment at 150-152 Liebig Street, Warrnambool. Considered to be the leading house of fashion in Warrnambool, Miss Emery employed about eight young women who worked long hours to sew elaborate gowns for clients, including wives of graziers who would attend the race carnivals and social functions in Warrnambool. (NOTE: For additional information please refer to my book Pioneer and Places- A History of Three Warrnambool Pioneering Families ie. Chamberlain, Dale and Lees families)This item is associated with the Warrnambool pioneer families of Chamberlain, Dale and Lees. These families are listed in the Pioneers' Register for Warrnambool Township and Shire, 1835-1900, published by A.I.G.S. Warrnambool Branch. The item is significant for its association with a ‘glory box’ or hope chest’, a tradition of single ladies making and collecting a range of linen and other domestic items in preparation for their future marriage. The item is a fine example of early 20th-century needlework and handmade domestic items.Tray Cover, white embroidered cloth, elliptical shape with a scalloped, crocheted edge, Part of the Chamberlain Dale Lees Collection.flagstaff hill, warrnambool, flagstaff hill maritime museum and village, great ocean road, chamberlain family, dale family, lees family, betty stone, warrnambool pioneer, warrnambool genealogy, wangoom, chamberlain dale lees collection, glory box, handmade, craft, manchester, linen, haberdashery, needlework, crochet, tray cover, tray cloth, tea service, embroidered, sarah lees, ann dale (nee lees) -
Flagstaff Hill Maritime Museum and Village
Textile - Tray Cover, Sarah Lees or daughter Ann Dale (nee Lees), ca 1910
This decorative embroidered tray cover or tray cloth is beautifully handmade by either Sarah Lees or her daughter Ann Dale (nee Lees). In the Words of donor, Betty Stone, … “These crocheted and embroidered articles cover a period of three generations- ie. Sarah (nee Chamberlain) Lees, Ann (nee Lees) Dale, and Daisy Elvena (nee Dale) Welsh. All three were accomplished needlewomen; also, both Sarah Lees (born 1844) and her daughter, Ann (b 1865) crocheted a wide variety of articles for use in their homes. A few examples of these items have survived the years.” It was a tradition for brides to have a 'glory box' containing linen and embroidered articles to take to their new home. Many of the items were made by Daisy, a skilled dressmaker. Daisy began her apprenticeship at two shillings and sixpence per week at Miss A. E. Emery's dressmaking establishment at 150-152 Liebig Street, Warrnambool. Considered to be the leading house of fashion in Warrnambool, Miss Emery employed about eight young women who worked long hours to sew elaborate gowns for clients, including wives of graziers who would attend the race carnivals and social functions in Warrnambool. (NOTE: For additional information please refer to my book Pioneer and Places- A History of Three Warrnambool Pioneering Families ie. Chamberlain, Dale and Lees families) This item is associated with the Warrnambool pioneer families of Chamberlain, Dale and Lees. These families are listed in the Pioneers' Register for Warrnambool Township and Shire, 1835-1900, published by A.I.G.S. Warrnambool Branch. The item is significant for its association with a ‘glory box’ or hope chest’, a tradition of single ladies making and collecting a range of linen and other domestic items in preparation for their future marriage. The item is a fine example of early 20th-century needlework and handmade domestic items.Tray cover, rectangle in shape, white with white floral embroidery. Part of the Chamberlain Dale Lees Collection.flagstaff hill, warrnambool, flagstaff hill maritime museum and village, great ocean road, chamberlain family, dale family, lees family, betty stone, warrnambool pioneer, warrnambool genealogy, wangoom, chamberlain dale lees collection, glory box, handmade, craft, manchester, linen, haberdashery, needlework, tray cover, tray cloth, tea service, sarah lees, ann dale (nee lees) -
Flagstaff Hill Maritime Museum and Village
Textile - Tray Cover, Sarah Lees or daughter Ann Dale (nee Lees), ca 1910
This decorative embroidered tray cover or tray cloth is beautifully handmade by either Sarah Lees or her daughter Ann Dale (nee Lees). In the Words of donor, Betty Stone, … “These crocheted and embroidered articles cover a period of three generations- ie. Sarah (nee Chamberlain) Lees, Ann (nee Lees) Dale, and Daisy Elvena (nee Dale) Welsh. All three were accomplished needlewomen; also, both Sarah Lees (born 1844) and her daughter, Ann (b 1865) crocheted a wide variety of articles for use in their homes. A few examples of these items have survived the years.” It was a tradition for brides to have a 'glory box' containing linen and embroidered articles to take to their new home. Many of the items were made by Daisy, a skilled dressmaker. Daisy began her apprenticeship at two shillings and sixpence per week at Miss A. E. Emery's dressmaking establishment at 150-152 Liebig Street, Warrnambool. Considered to be the leading house of fashion in Warrnambool, Miss Emery employed about eight young women who worked long hours to sew elaborate gowns for clients, including wives of graziers who would attend the race carnivals and social functions in Warrnambool. (NOTE: For additional information please refer to my book Pioneer and Places- A History of Three Warrnambool Pioneering Families ie. Chamberlain, Dale and Lees families)This item is associated with the Warrnambool pioneer families of Chamberlain, Dale and Lees. These families are listed in the Pioneers' Register for Warrnambool Township and Shire, 1835-1900, published by A.I.G.S. Warrnambool Branch. The item is significant for its association with a ‘glory box’ or hope chest’, a tradition of single ladies making and collecting a range of linen and other domestic items in preparation for their future marriage. The item is a fine example of early 20th-century needlework and handmade domestic items.Tray Cover or tray cloth, rectangle in shape, white with white floral embroidery and wide hem. Part of the Chamberlain Dale Lees Collection.flagstaff hill, warrnambool, flagstaff hill maritime museum and village, great ocean road, chamberlain family, dale family, lees family, betty stone, warrnambool pioneer, warrnambool genealogy, wangoom, chamberlain dale lees collection, glory box, handmade, craft, manchester, linen, haberdashery, needlework, crochet, tray cover, tray cloth, tea service, sarah lees, ann dale (nee lees) -
Flagstaff Hill Maritime Museum and Village
Textile - Table Runner, Sarah Lees or daughter Ann Dale (nee Lees), ca 1910
This decorative table runner cloth is beautifully handmade by either Sarah Lees or her daughter Ann (nee Lees) Dale. In the Words of donor, Betty Stone, … “These crocheted and embroidered articles cover a period of three generations- ie. Sarah (nee Chamberlain) Lees, Ann (nee Lees) Dale, and Daisy Elvena (nee Dale) Welsh. All three were accomplished needlewomen; also, both Sarah Lees (born 1844) and her daughter, Ann (b 1865) crocheted a wide variety of articles for use in their homes. A few examples of these items have survived the years.” It was a tradition for brides to have a 'glory box' containing linen and embroidered articles to take to their new home. Many of the items were made by Daisy, a skilled dressmaker. Daisy began her apprenticeship at two shillings and sixpence per week at Miss A. E. Emery's dressmaking establishment at 150-152 Liebig Street, Warrnambool. Considered to be the leading house of fashion in Warrnambool, Miss Emery employed about eight young women who worked long hours to sew elaborate gowns for clients, including wives of graziers who would attend the race carnivals and social functions in Warrnambool. (NOTE: For additional information please refer to my book Pioneer and Places- A History of Three Warrnambool Pioneering Families ie. Chamberlain, Dale and Lees families)This item is associated with the Warrnambool pioneer families of Chamberlain, Dale and Lees. These families are listed in the Pioneers' Register for Warrnambool Township and Shire, 1835-1900, published by A.I.G.S. Warrnambool Branch. The item is significant for its association with a ‘glory box’ or hope chest’, a tradition of single ladies making and collecting a range of linen and other domestic items in preparation for their future marriage. The item is a fine example of early 20th-century needlework and handmade domestic items.Table runner, rectangular, white fabric with crocheted square insertions in corners and crochet border with pointed finish. Part of the Chamberlain Dale Lees Collection.flagstaff hill, warrnambool, flagstaff hill maritime museum and village, great ocean road, chamberlain family, dale family, lees family, betty stone, warrnambool pioneer, warrnambool genealogy, wangoom, chamberlain dale lees collection, glory box, handmade, craft, manchester, linen, haberdashery, needlework, crochet, table runner, tea service, sarah lees, ann dale (nee lees) -
Flagstaff Hill Maritime Museum and Village
Textile - Table Runner, Sarah Lees or daughter Ann Dale (nee Lees), ca 1910
This decorative table runner is beautifully handmade by Sarah Lees or her daughter Ann Dale (nee Lees). In the Words of donor, Betty Stone, … “These crocheted and embroidered articles cover a period of three generations- ie. Sarah (nee Chamberlain) Lees, Ann (nee Lees) Dale, and Daisy Elvena (nee Dale) Welsh. All three were accomplished needlewomen; also, both Sarah Lees (born 1844) and her daughter, Ann (b 1865) crocheted a wide variety of articles for use in their homes. A few examples of these items have survived the years.” It was a tradition for brides to have a 'glory box' containing linen and embroidered articles to take to their new home. Many of the items were made by Daisy, a skilled dressmaker. Daisy began her apprenticeship at two shillings and sixpence per week at Miss A. E. Emery's dressmaking establishment at 150-152 Liebig Street, Warrnambool. Considered to be the leading house of fashion in Warrnambool, Miss Emery employed about eight young women who worked long hours to sew elaborate gowns for clients, including wives of graziers who would attend the race carnivals and social functions in Warrnambool. (NOTE: For additional information please refer to my book Pioneer and Places- A History of Three Warrnambool Pioneering Families ie. Chamberlain, Dale and Lees families)This item is associated with the Warrnambool pioneer families of Chamberlain, Dale and Lees. These families are listed in the Pioneers' Register for Warrnambool Township and Shire, 1835-1900, published by A.I.G.S. Warrnambool Branch. The item is significant for its association with a ‘glory box’ or hope chest’, a tradition of single ladies making and collecting a range of linen and other domestic items in preparation for their future marriage. The item is a fine example of early 20th-century needlework and handmade domestic items.Table Runner, rectangle in shape, with rectangular crocheted insertion in centre and crocheted border on short ends. Long edges are scalloped and have eyelet embroidery. Part of the Chamberlain Dale Lees Collection.flagstaff hill, warrnambool, flagstaff hill maritime museum and village, great ocean road, chamberlain family, dale family, lees family, betty stone, warrnambool pioneer, warrnambool genealogy, wangoom, chamberlain dale lees collection, glory box, handmade, craft, manchester, linen, haberdashery, needlework, crochet, table runner, tea service, sarah lees, ann dale (nee lees) -
Flagstaff Hill Maritime Museum and Village
Functional object - Light Bracket, Before 1878
This pressed brass artefact is a highly decorative side bracket for distancing a gas lamp flame from the internal wall of a building. It is hollow and made of light gauge metal, with an innovative aesthetic design, but no internal piping to transport gas. It was recovered from the wreck of the LOCH ARD. There are similar artefacts in the Flagstaff Hill collection. The LOCH ARD left Gravesend (London) on 2 March 1878, bound for Melbourne, with a crew of 37, 17 passengers, and a diverse and valuable cargo of manufactured goods, luxury items, and refined metal. Some of the cargo was destined for display at Melbourne’s first International Exhibition in 1880. At 3 am, 1 June 1878, the ship was wrecked against the high limestone cliffs of Mutton Bird Island on Victoria’s south west coast near Port Campbell. Only two people survived the disaster — Tom Pearce, a male crew member, and Eva Carmichael, a female passenger. The cargo proved too difficult to salvage in the vessel’s exposed condition and was largely written off. The manifest of goods in the LOCH ARD’s holds included “Fittings gas (4 cases)”. The gas lighting of streets, public buildings, and the dwellings of wealthier private citizens was already well-advanced in the cities and major towns of the Australian colonies. In 1841 Sydney was the first to be gas-lit with 23 street lamps, 106 hotel lamps, and 200 private residences connected to the Darlinghurst “gasometer” by an underground network of metal pipes. “The dim days of oil and tallow are gone by!” pronounced one newspaper, flushed with civic pride. The 1850s Gold Rush promoted a similar attitude of confidence and affluence in the Colony of Victoria. In 1855 Melbourne was connected to its own system of subterranean gas pipes despite the same high rates of 25 shillings per 1000 cubic feet being charged, (reduced to 15 shillings in 1865 with cheaper sources of coal). By1858 Kyneton had its own gasworks to light the town (fuelled by eucalyptus leaves) and Geelong followed suit in 1860. Had the LOCH ARD reached its intended destination in 1878, it is probable that the 4 cases of brass gas light fittings on board would have found a ready market.The LOCH ARD shipwreck is of State significance — Victorian Heritage Register S417. The gas light bracket is an example of lamp fittings and plumbing from the late 19th century.A pressed brass lighting bracket recovered from the wreck of the LOCH ARD. It would be used for attaching, but simultaneously offsetting, a gas nozzle to a wall. Highly decorative in an unusually ‘modern’ or ‘art-deco’ style, with sweeping curves dissected by angular geometric pattern, and supporting a short, vertical bar with a gas nozzle on top. It is constructed of light gauge metal, with splitting along seams, and some delicate tracery is missing. Outer surface has been polished, removing sediment, but greenish oxidation remains in dents and joins. warrnambool, shipwreck coast, flagstaff hill, shipwrecked coast, flagstaff hill maritime village, flagstaff hill maritime museum, shipwreck artefact, maritime museum, gas lamps, gas lighting, gas works, brass fittings, gas pipes, loch ard, 1878 shipwreck, victorian affluence, colonial gas lighting -
Flagstaff Hill Maritime Museum and Village
Functional object - Receipt Paper Spike, 1910-1925
... Warrnambool great-ocean-road Item used in offices to secure receipts ...Item used in offices to secure receipts and other paper work by piecing the paper itemsSignificant as a decorative object used in offices from the early 20th centuryMetal spike for paper or receipts Item has a square ornate base decorated within its casting a floral design. flagstaff hill, warrnambool, shipwrecked-coast, flagstaff-hill, flagstaff-hill-maritime-museum, maritime-museum, shipwreck-coast, flagstaff-hill-maritime-village, spike, paper spike -
Flagstaff Hill Maritime Museum and Village
Accessory - Handkerchief
This ladies' dainty handkerchief has a handmade border of tatted craft work. Modern tatting is a craft that became popular in the 18th to mid-19th century. This handcrafted handkerchief is an example of the tatting craft, used to make decorative edges on a wide variety of domestic manchester and clothing items. It was common for household linen from the late 19th and early 20th century to be embellished with decorative trimsLadies' silk handkerchief with handmade tatted edges, square with rounded corners.flagstaff hill, warrnambool, shipwrecked-coast, flagstaff-hill, flagstaff-hill-maritime-museum, maritime-museum, shipwreck-coast, flagstaff-hill-maritime-village, handkerchief, tatting, silk handkerchief, clothing, handworked, craft, handcraft -
Flagstaff Hill Maritime Museum and Village
Decorative object - Container, 1910 to 1945
... A mass produced utilitarian item made for domestic... Warrnambool great-ocean-road A mass produced utilitarian item made ...A mass produced utilitarian item made for domestic decorative use. No history or manufacturing provenance currently available.The subject item at this time cannot be associated with an historical event, person or place, provenance is unknown. The item is assessed as a collection asset as it is believed to have been produced after 1910 and before 1950.Container of pressed metal. The container has a broad, thin lip, and its round body flares outwards towards base, then tapers inwards to a short heel. A loop holding a metal ring is attached to the side, near the top. A decorative geometrical transfer pattern in blue and cream covers the body and inside of the lip. In the centre of one side is a round frame with the portrait of an Egyptian woman within.warrnambool, flagstaff-hill, flagstaff-hill-maritime-museum, maritime-museum, shipwreck-coast, flagstaff-hill-maritime-village, flower vase, decorative object, tin vase -
Flagstaff Hill Maritime Museum and Village
Functional object - Razor and case, E.M. Dickinson, 1895-1930
E M Dickinson was a cutlery company in Sheffield that made all types of cutlery knives of all types and patterns, razors domestic electroplated cutlery etc. Edwin Murray Dickinson started recruiting workers for his new cutlery firm at 11 Cambridge Street Sheffield England in 1870. The original premises consisting of warehouse, offices, cutlers shops fitted with the latest steam-powered equipment however this premises was offered for let in November 1887, and new premises were secured at 51 Division Street and were occupied by Dickinson's in early 1888. By October 1890 Dickinson was advertising the Division Street premises to let and moved the company into other new works (still called Murray Works) at 122 Rockingham Street. On 12th October 1901, Dickinson gave notice that the firm was to be converted to a limited company and by March 1908 the Rockingham Street works had been advertised for sale. In 1909 the deeds for other new premises at 203 Arundel Street Sheffield were deposited to secure a £3,000 loan from the Sheffield Banking Company. Then on Christmas Eve 1926 several hundred pounds worth of damage was caused by a fire at the Arundel Street works. The founder, Edwin Dickinson died on 21st October 1930 aged 81 at his home at 449 Crookesmoor Road and on the 23rd May 1939 the firm went into voluntary liquidation.An item made by a company that made many different types and patterns of cutlery for domestic use and export.Straight razor with black celluloid handle and it’s boxBlade has marking, INVICTA" with decorative engraved design, on the other side engraved "E M DICKINSON SHEFFIELD ENGLAND"flagstaff hill, warrnambool, flagstaff-hill, flagstaff-hill-maritime-museum, shipwreck-coast, flagstaff-hill-maritime-village, razor, e m dickinson ltd, e m dickinson ltd sheffield england., cut throat razor, cutlery -
Flagstaff Hill Maritime Museum and Village
Tool - Wood moulding plane, Bewley Leeds, 1785 -1847
... a decorative finish. This item is a significant tool from the mid ...A moulding plane is a specialised plane used for making the complex shapes found in wooden mouldings that are used to decorate furniture or other wooden object. Traditionally, moulding planes were blocks of wear resistant hardwood, often beech or maple, which were worked to the shape of the intended moulding. The blade, or iron was likewise formed to the intended moulding profile and secured in the body of the plane with a wooden wedge. A traditional cabinetmakers shop might have many, perhaps hundreds, of moulding planes for the full range of work to be performed. Large crown mouldings required planes of six or more inches in width, which demanded great strength to push and often had additional peg handles on the sides, allowing the craftsman's apprentice or other worker to pull the plane ahead of the master who guided it. All we known about Robert Bewley and his successors is that they made planes in Leeds, England, from about 1785 to 1847. There are many of his tools including decorative moulding planes of all sizes and designs for sale around the world and that his moulding planes are well sought after by collectors of vintage tools.A vintage tool made by a known maker, this item was made commercially for firms and individuals who worked in wood and needed a tool that could produce a ornamental finish to timber. These profiled planes came in various shapes and sizes to achieve a decorative finish. This item is a significant tool from the mid to late 19th century that today is quite rare and sought after by collectors. It gives us a snapshot of how furniture and other decorative finishes were created on timber by the use of hand tools. Round Moulding plane number 8 Stamped Bewley Leeds (maker)flagstaff hill, warrnambool, shipwrecked-coast, flagstaff-hill, flagstaff-hill-maritime-museum, maritime-museum, shipwreck-coast, flagstaff-hill-maritime-village -
Flagstaff Hill Maritime Museum and Village
Ceramic - Hot water bottle, late 19th - early 20th century
This hot water bottle was designed to lay flat in a bed between the sheets. Its purpose was to warm the bed before use. The bottle was filled with hot water then a stopper was placed in the top to seal it, preventing the water from running out. The inscription on the attached label of this hot water bottle gives both the donor's details and the location of the bottle when it was first displayed at Flagstaff Hill Maritime Village. the "P.M.O." are the initials for the Port Medical Office. The donor's details are also written in pencil on the base of the bottle. In the 16th-century people warmed their beds with the 'bed warmer', which was a long-handled, metal pan filled with hot coals and embers and covered with a lid. The pan was placed between the bedsheets to warm the bed before the person retired to sleep for the night. In the early 19th-century earthenware bed warmers came began to be used for the same purpose. They would be filled with hot water and sealed then often wrapped in fabric. The ceramic material would hold the heat for quite some time, without being too hot for the person in bed to also warm their feet as they went off to sleep. Hot water bottles were later made from glass, copper, brass or tin. Some manufacturers made them into decorative pieces that still had practical use. In 1903 a patent was taken out for the first rubber hot water bottle, invented by Slavoljub Eduard Penkala, a Croatian engineer. This bottle is of historic significance, as an example of personal heating equipment used in the late 19th and early 20th centuries.Hot water bottle, earthenware, pale colour with brown glaze on top over the shoulder and mouth section and clear glaze on the remainder of the sides. The cylindrical bottle tapers to a slightly narrower base. One side of the bottle, about a sixth of the circumference, is flat. The base of the bottle has a handwritten inscription. An inscription was on the paper label originally attached to the bottle. Inscription hand written on base of bottle "Mrs K. Rob _ / Browns Rd / Offic / 3 _ _ 9" Inscription on paper label " "Mrs K Robinson Browns Rd Officer 3809 - Hot water bottle P.M.O." flagstaff hill, warrnambool, shipwrecked-coast, maritime-museum, shipwreck-coast, flagstaff-hill-maritime-village, domestic item, hot water bottle, heating equipment, ceramic bottle, stoneware bottle, potter, earthenware, personal item, bed warmer, foot warmer, flat-sided hot water bottle, household item, stoneware, clay, ceramic -
Flagstaff Hill Maritime Museum and Village
Decorative object - Bookends, ca. 1930s
... became useful and decorative items around the middle ...The pair of ornamental white resin owl bookends was likely made around the 1930s when epoxy resin became available. Bookends modelled on owls have been a popular ornament for many years, possibly because of the association between owls, books and wisdom. They are used and displayed in places where books are appreciated and valued, such as homes, libraries, educational buildings, business offices, legal institutions and banks. Bookends hold a row of upright books in place by supporting the beginning and end of the row. The books are more likely to keep their integrity when stored vertically. The first patent for a metal bookend was placed by William Stebbins Barnard in 1877. Bookends became useful and decorative items around the middle of the sixteenth century after printed books became available. At that time books were expensive and treasured possessions, treated with much respect. Even in the early nineteenth century, a Bible was often the only book in the home. It was included among the limited items brought by many immigrants to Australia. Books became more available and affordable to the public by the end of the nineteenth century and households and businesses were able to build their own libraries. Bookends were used then, and are still used now, to keep books organised, cared for, and readily accessible. Bookends, a pair of two (2) small white resin owls with clear bright red eyes standing on a stack of books, their bodies facing towards each other, chests on an upright book, heads turned towards the viewer. The ends are left and right-handed.flagstaff hill, flagstaff hill maritime museum and village, warrnambool, maritime museum, maritime village, great ocean road, shipwreck coast, ornament, bookend, bookends, pair of bookends, library, book storage, book display, room decoration, resin ornament, white bookends, owl bookends, owl ornament, white owls, resin owls, book support, bookend patent, william stebbins barnard -
Flagstaff Hill Maritime Museum and Village
Equipment - Book binding press
Item used to repair books after their dust jackets, covers, flyleaves or pages had been damaged. These damaged items on a book were replaced and glued. The press allowed the glue to set under pressure until the repair was complete a press is also used for the gilding of books. The first book press has been documented in India around 100 BCE with various types and designs being used though the ages and are still in use today by craftsman to repair antique books.Over the centuries many materials from ivory to glass, have been used to bind books. Gilding has also long been a popular decorative treatment for book bindings and a book press is used in this operation. Since the 1800s, rare book conservationists have worked to perfect the methods used by their predecessors, and modern book binders are true craftsman with this press as an example of the equipment used in their trade. This item is significant as it is an early example of items used in book gilding and binding.Book binding press metal with square pressing surface driven by worm wheel thread and turning handle in working order. Noneflagstaff hill, warrnambool, shipwrecked-coast, flagstaff-hill, flagstaff-hill-maritime-museum, maritime-museum, shipwreck-coast, flagstaff-hill-maritime-village -
Flagstaff Hill Maritime Museum and Village
Pen Rack
The origins of the pen rack probably began when quill pens were being replaced by steel nib pens that were held at oblique angles for writing this method of writing started to gain popularity around 1820-1860. To understand the development of display racks to hold pens on a desk we need to understand the development of the pen itself. Before the early 19th-century steel pens were almost universally all barrel pens affixed to a holder pretty permanently. Pens were also not disposable. There were even steel pen repair services, just like the same services around at the time to repair you're fine quills. Individual slip nib pens which fit into a holder were originally pieces of a quill which came in a box of nibs and fit into a holder. These were disposable and meant to obviate the need to mend your quills. By 1831 you start to see more what they called “slip nib pens” or “portable pens” (easier to carry than a long barrel pen), but the idea of holding the nib at an oblique angle in the holder was an idea new enough that it warranted a patent. In 1831, an enterprising and very successful stationer and inventor, Sampson Mordan (inventor of the silver mechanical pencil) combined with one William Brockedon to patent the first oblique pen and oblique holder. In the patent application, they mention as the benefits that this would allow the writer to hold the pen more comfortably as well as it should allow the pen to last longer since both tines will be moving across the paper evenly. It appears at the time the idea of holding a pen obliquely was new. As a result of the popularity of the oblique pen many different designs of pen desk holders were being made, to keep pens suspended on a rack alleviated the possibility that the expensive new steel nibs with their holder could be damaged if left in a desk draw with other items.Double sided Pen Rack, decorative metal with four metal legsflagstaff hill, warrnambool, shipwrecked-coast, flagstaff-hill, flagstaff-hill-maritime-museum, maritime-museum, shipwreck-coast, flagstaff-hill-maritime-village -
Flagstaff Hill Maritime Museum and Village
Tool - Archimedes Drill, 1900 to 1930s
The Archimedes drill, also known as a fretwork drill, is an old type of drill which works on the Archimedian principle; the drill rotates quickly as the barrel on the stem is worked up and down. This tool provides a quick and easy way to bore holes through ordinary fret wood and other substances, smaller versions are used in jewellery making where precision drilling is required. There were numerous different sized Archimedes drills made from various materials, usually a combination of wood and steel, some being all steel and some including brass parts. The fancier versions of these drills included parts made from Rosewood, Ebony, Ivory and decorative brass parts. Some of the later Archimedes drills had technological improvements such as a ratchet device and the inclusion of fly-weights. The ratchet device allows the drill to revolve continuously in the cutting direction. The fly-weights give momentum to maintain the speed of the drill during the upward stroke of the hand. Most old examples have no makers names.A vintage drilling tool that has been nickel plated with brass fitting and easier to sterilise. The item therefore could have been used in the medical profession as a bone drill during surgery. Weighted Archimedes drill all metal construction, nickel plated with brass handles centrifugal typeNoneflagstaff hill, warrnambool, flagstaff-hill, flagstaff-hill-maritime-museum, maritime-museum, shipwreck-coast, flagstaff-hill-maritime-village, archimedean drill, drill, tool, drilling tool -
Flagstaff Hill Maritime Museum and Village
Tool - Wood Plane, Late 19th to early 20th century
A moulding plane is a specialised plane used for making the complex shapes found in wooden mouldings that are used to decorate furniture or other wooden objects. Traditionally, moulding planes were blocks of wear-resistant hardwood, often beech or maple, which were worked to the shape of the intended moulding. The blade or iron was likewise formed to the intended moulding profile and secured in the body of the plane with a wooden wedge. A traditional cabinetmakers' shop might have many, perhaps hundreds, of moulding planes for the full range of work to be performed. Large crown mouldings required planes of six or more inches in width, which demanded great strength to push and often had additional peg handles on the sides, allowing the craftsman's apprentice or other workers to pull the plane ahead of the master who guided it. John Moseley & Son: Records indicate that before 1834, the firm is listed at number 16 New Street, London and according to an 1862 advertisement the shop had been established in New Street since 1730, The Sun insurance records from the time show that John Moseley was the possessor of a horse mill in the yard of his premises, which means that some kind of manufacturing was taking place, as the mill would have provided power to run a saw or perhaps a grinding wheel so the probability is that he did not just sell tools, he made them as well. John Moseley died in 1828 and his will named his four sons: John, Thomas, William and Richard. To complicate matters he also had brothers with the same first names; brothers Richard (of Piccadilly) and William (of Peckham Rye) are named as two of the executors. Brother Thomas is not mentioned in this will, but became a minister and was one of the executors of brother Richard's estate when he died in 1856. From John's will, we also learn that, although the shop was in New Street, he resided in Lympstone, Devon. The family must have had a house in that county for quite some time as both sons Richard and William are baptised in Devon, although John and Thomas were baptised in London. In the 1841 and 1851 census records, we just find William in New Street, but in 1861 both William and Richard are listed there as toolmakers. That Richard was staying overnight at New Street was probably just accidental as in 1851 and 1871, we find him with his wife Jane and children in Clapham and Lambeth respectively. In 1851 Richard is listed as “assistant clerk cutlery warehouse” and in 1871 as “retired plane maker and cutler”. Although the actual place of work is not stated, one may assume he worked in the family business. 1862 is a year full of changes for the firm. In that year, William had a new property built at 27 Bedford Street. In the catalogue for the 1862 International Exhibition, 54 Broad Street (later 54-55 Broad Street) is listed for the first time, which may very well coincide with the split of the business into a retail and a wholesale branch. Around the same time, they must have moved from New Street to 17 & 18 King Street because their manufacturing premises had been pulled down to form the New Street from Cranbourne Street to King Street. In January 1865, William died and Richard continued the business. In 1867, the partnership he had with his son Walker and Thomas Elis Hooker, is dissolved. Richard continued tool-making at King Street and Bedford Street. Richard retired somewhere between 1867 and 1871, but the business continued. The business is taken over by W M Marples & Sons and tools continued to be made in London until 1904 when manufacturing relocated to Sheffield.A vintage tool made by a well-known company, this item was made commercially for firms and individuals that worked in wood and needed a tool that could remove large amounts of timber. These jack or dressing planes came in various shapes and sizes to achieve a flat and even finish to timber surfaces and came in many sizes. A significant tool from the mid to late 19th century that is still in use today with early models sought after by collectors. It gives us a snapshot of how furniture and other finishes were created on timber by the use of cutting-edged hand tools. Tools that were themselves handmade show the craftsmanship used during this time not only to make a tool such as the subject item but also the craftsmanship needed to produce a decorative or even finish that was needed for the finishing of timber items.Jack Plane metal body with rose wood filler.Mosley & Sons London No 2flagstaff hill, warrnambool, flagstaff-hill, flagstaff-hill-maritime-museum, maritime-museum, shipwreck-coast, flagstaff-hill-maritime-village, john moseley & son, jack plane, woodworking tool, carpenders tools, cabinet makers tools -
Flagstaff Hill Maritime Museum and Village
Tool - Archimedean drill, Mid to late 1800s
The Archimedes drill, also known as a fretwork drill, is an old type of drill which works on the Archimedian principle; the drill rotates quickly as the barrel on the stem is worked up and down. This tool provides a quick and easy way to bore holes through ordinary fret wood and other substances, smaller versions are used in jewellery making where precision drilling is required. There were numerous different sized Archimedes drills made from various materials, usually a combination of wood and steel, some being all steel and some including brass parts. The fancier versions of these drills included parts made from Rosewood, Ebony, Ivory and decorative brass parts. Some of the later Archimedes drills had technological improvements such as a ratchet device and the inclusion of fly-weights. The ratchet device allows the drill to revolve continuously in the cutting direction. The fly-weights give momentum to maintain the speed of the drill during the upward stroke of the hand. Most old examples such as the subject item have no makers names.A vintage drilling tool that gives a snapshot into how holes were drilled by hand into small or delicate objects during the Victorian era. Tools from this time are today regarded as collectable items eagerly sought by collectors of antique tools.Archimedean drill with wooden grip and butterfly nut on chuck.Noneflagstaff hill, warrnambool, flagstaff-hill, flagstaff-hill-maritime-museum, maritime-museum, shipwreck-coast, flagstaff-hill-maritime-village, archimedean drill, drill, fretwork tools, wood working tools -
Flagstaff Hill Maritime Museum and Village
Tool - Archimedean drill, Late 19th Century
The Archimedes drill, also known as a fretwork drill, is an old type of drill which works on the Archimedian principle; the drill rotates quickly as the barrel on the stem is worked up and down. This tool provides a quick and easy way to bore holes through ordinary fret wood and other substances, smaller versions are used in jewellery making where precision drilling is required. There were numerous different sized Archimedes drills made from various materials, usually a combination of wood and steel, some being all steel and some including brass parts. The fancier versions of these drills included parts made from Rosewood, Ebony, Ivory and decorative brass parts. Some of the later Archimedes drills had technological improvements such as a ratchet device and the inclusion of fly-weights. The ratchet device allows the drill to revolve continuously in the cutting direction. The fly-weights give momentum to maintain the speed of the drill during the upward stroke of the hand. Most old examples have no makers names.A vintage drilling tool, the item therefore could have been used in various industries or professions where precise drilling is required. Archimedean drill with Rosewood hand, brass grip and fittings Noneflagstaff hill, warrnambool, shipwrecked-coast, flagstaff-hill, flagstaff-hill-maritime-museum, maritime-museum, shipwreck-coast, flagstaff-hill-maritime-village, archimedean drill -
Flagstaff Hill Maritime Museum and Village
Tool - Complex Wood Plane, Late 19th to Early 20th century
A moulding plane is a specialised plane used for making the complex shapes found in wooden mouldings that are used to decorate furniture or other wooden objects. Traditionally, moulding planes were blocks of wear-resistant hardwood, often beech or maple, which were worked to the shape of the intended moulding. The blade or iron was likewise formed to the intended moulding profile and secured in the body of the plane with a wooden wedge. A traditional cabinetmakers shop might have many, perhaps hundreds, of moulding planes for the full range of work to be performed. Large crown mouldings required planes of six or more inches in width, which demanded great strength to push and often had additional peg handles on the sides, allowing the craftsman's apprentice or other workers to pull the plane ahead of the master who guided it. Company History: The firm of Alexander Mathieson & Sons was one of the leading makers of hand tools in Scotland. Its success went hand in hand with the growth of the shipbuilding industries on the Firth of Clyde in the nineteenth century and the emergence of Glasgow regarded as the "second city of the Empire". It also reflected the firm's skill in responding to an unprecedented demand for quality tools by shipyards, cooperage's and other industries, both locally and far and wide. The year 1792 was deemed by the firm to be that of its foundation it was in all likelihood the year in which John Manners had set up his plane-making workshop on Saracen Lane off the Gallowgate in the heart of Glasgow, not far from the Saracen's Head Inn, where Dr Johnson and James Boswell had stayed on their tour of Scotland in 1773. Alexander Mathieson (1797–1851) is recorded in 1822 as a plane-maker at 25 Gallowgate, but in the following year at 14 Saracen's Lane, presumably having taken over the premises of John Manners. The 1841 national census described Alexander Mathieson as a master plane-maker at 38 Saracen Lane with his son Thomas Adam working as a journeyman plane-maker. In 1849 the firm of James & William Stewart at 65 Nicolson Street, Edinburgh was taken over and Thomas was put in charge of the business, trading under the name Thomas A. Mathieson & Co. as plane and edge-tool makers. Thomas's company acquired the Edinburgh edge-tool makers Charles & Hugh McPherson and took over their premises in Gilmore Street. The Edinburgh directory of 1856/7 the business is recorded as being Alexander Mathieson & Son, plane and edge-tool makers at 48 Nicolson Street and Paul's Work, Gilmore Street. The 1851 census records indicate that Alexander was working as a tool and plane-maker employing eight men. Later that year Alexander died and his son Thomas took over the business. Under the heading of an edge-tool maker in the 1852/3 (Post-Office Glasgow Annual Directory) the firm is now listed as Alexander Mathieson & Son. By the early 1850s, the business had moved to 24 Saracen Lane. The directory for 1857/8 records that the firm had moved again only a few years later to East Campbell Street, also off the Gallowgate, and that through further diversification was also manufacturing coopers' and tinmen's tools. The ten-yearly censuses log the firm's growth and in 1861 Thomas was a tool manufacturer employing 95 men and 30 boys; in 1871 he had 200 men working for him and in 1881 300 men. By 1899 the firm had been incorporated as Alexander Mathieson & Sons Ltd, even though only Alexander's son Thomas appears ever to have joined the firm. A vintage tool made by a well-known firm made for other firms and individuals that worked in wood. The tool was used before routers and spindle moulders came into use after World War ll, a time when to produce a decorative moulding for a piece of furniture or other items this had to be accomplished by hand using one of these types of planes. A significant item from the mid to late 19th century that today is quite rare and sought after by collectors. It gives us a snapshot of how furniture was made predominately by hand and with tools that were themselves hand made shows the craftsmanship used to make such a unique item. Ogee Complex Moulding Plane Alex Mathieson & Son. Stamped W Worrel, (owner) & No 2.flagstaff hill, warrnambool, flagstaff-hill, flagstaff-hill-maritime-museum, maritime-museum, shipwreck-coast, flagstaff-hill-maritime-village, alexander mathieson & sons, complex moulding plane, carpenders tools, cabinet makers tools, wood working tools, wood planes -
Flagstaff Hill Maritime Museum and Village
Tool - Joiner, Jack or Smoothing Plane, Akin & Son, 1900 to 1966
The subject item is a smoothing plane traditionally wood planes were blocks of wear resistant hardwood, often beech or maple, which were worked to the shape of the intended moulding or had a flat blade use for achieving a flat and smooth finish to timber. The blade, or iron was likewise formed to the intended moulding profile or for smoothing and secured in the body of the plane with a wooden wedge. A traditional cabinetmakers shop might have many, perhaps hundreds, of moulding and flat bladed planes for a full range of work to be performed. Large crown mouldings required planes of six or more inches in width, which demanded great strength to push and often had additional peg handles on the sides, allowing the craftsman's apprentice or other worker to pull the plane ahead of the master who guided it. The maker Atkin and Sons were a prolific Birmingham plane maker, active from 1863 to 1900 when they became Atkin and Sons Ltd and traded until 1966. Their trademark was actually "BENEFACTUM" which is Latin for "well made."A well-made tool from the early 20th century from a well-known company that ceased trading in Birmingham in 1966, today this tool from this company is quite rare and sought after by collectors. It gives us a snapshot of how furniture and other decorative finishes as well as smoothing timber projects were created by the use of hand tools. Tools that were themselves handmade shows the craftsmanship used during this time not only to make a tool such as the subject item but also the craftsmanship needed to finish timber.Jointer or Jack Plane with fishtail handle, Size of iron 2 1/2 inches wide, Stamped GN inside W made by Akins and Sons Birmingham UKflagstaff hill, warrnambool, shipwrecked-coast, flagstaff-hill, flagstaff-hill-maritime-museum, maritime-museum, shipwreck-coast, flagstaff-hill-maritime-village, jointer plane, plane