Mercury thermometers are rarely used in homes nowadays. This item reflects changes in medical practice and research.A glass pocket mercury thermometer in stainless steel cover. Kept in cardboard cover with lid. Has a hook on top to hold in pocket.thermometer medicine nursing

Two very small china plates from a doll's tea set. Large orange and white star in centre with blue flowers and green leaves around edge.plates toys dolls tea-set

Women wore frames characterized by an upsweep on the top rim, a style that was very popular until the end of the 1950s, while men tended to sport gold wire frames. These glasses are probably men's glasses. By the latter half of the 20th century, spectacles were considered part of a person's wardrobe. Similar to clothes, eyeglasses needed to be continually updated or a person could be perceived as old-fashioned. More and more celebrities were influencing spectacle fashion.These items reflect how glasses styles have changed over time and are becoming a fashion accessory as well as a prosthesis and support for lenses, Six pairs of assorted glasses and 4 cases. spectacles

About 5000 of these projectors were produced. They were the first type of home projector and were very popular. Ref. Nick Richardson ACMI.A 9.5mm movie projector. Similar to Pathescope model. No maker's name. An early home projector.None on projector. Large spool - pathescope. Small spool - BABY FILM, MADE IN FRANCE, BRIT. PATS.film projector movie-projector

A wax matches' box in the shape of an egg on a mall pedestal. It is made of carved wood and painted red, green and black in a tartan design. It has gold dots down the side and on the base.vestra matchbox smoking personal-effects container

A pearl-handled pen with the end in the shape of a feather. It has metal pieces along its length. There is a copper nib and a silver nib holder.pen writing-equipment

A small compass in a square-shaped hinged wooden box with a metal latch.compass instrument

Collar boxes were used for the storage of the stiff, starched collars that were sold as a separate item to collarless shirts. These were fastened by collar studs, on the front and back. These collarswere in vogue from the late 1800's to around the 1920'sA round black collar box containing 2 collars. Collars are of a stiff white material and have pointed ends.On lid in gold writing "Collars Made in England"costume collars container

A small glass paper weight consisting of a round glass dome with a scooped out centre which has a long coiled wire prong.paperweight commerce-equipment stationery

Worn by Mrs Jack Mundy while in New Hebrides. The Mundy family were farmers / settlers in the Snowy River area since c. 1880s. The original Mundy family moved to a land "selection" at Bete Bolong in the early 1880's from Buchan. Mundy familyHandmade grass skirt made of native plant fibres and held together with knotting along the top. Natural colour.nonegrass-skirt new-hebrides mundy costume-female native-materials

Gem Albums date from the 1860s in the USA, made for small ferotype images.A small photo album with grey-brown fabric cover and the words Gem Album written in gold lettering on the front.inside cover - G Munro, Clifton Hill, 1881album gem-album book photos

Music boxes have been around at least since the end of the 18th century. The finest artisans in Europe created them and brought music into family homes when there were really no other types of music entertainment for homes. Music boxes performed the popular music of their day; songs from the opera, traditional songs, and hymns.The Nicole Freres were regarded as the best maker of cylinder music boxes during the mid 1800s. This is a fine example of a 19th century music box.Small wooden music box operated by winding a key which moves a studded cylinder against a comb of tuned teeth. A green paper label has been tacked to the underside of the lid. Cylinder music box, made by Nicole Freres, Geneva, Switzerland, c.1830-1840 Music box with an outside key wind . The cylinder length is 20cm and it plays 4 different airs. single comb, 112 teeth with exposed control levers. on label underneath the lid is "Music de Geneve" and the names of the tunes and the number 5929music-box musical-instrument nicole-freres

Handmade running spikes worn by Pen Gilbert, winner of the open event at the Exhibition Oval c. 1922. She was not allowed to wear them in the final event because it was unknown for women to wear spikes.Associated with an Orbost identity and well-known local family.A pair of leather running shoes with spikes on the soles, with leather lacing and white stitching through metal eyelets.running-shoes running-spikes athletics sport women-sport

Used as a dripping jar.Small ceramic container with a wider top than bottom and with lines running down the outside. Cream colour with staining inside.container ceramic dripping-jar household-uses

The first recorded use of meerschaum for making pipes was around 1723 and quickly became prized as the perfect material for providing a cool, dry, flavorful smoke. The porous nature of meerschaum draws moisture and tobacco tar into the stone. Meerschaum became a premium substitute for the clay pipes of the day and remains prized to this day, though briar pipes have become the most common pipes starting in the mid-1800s.A pipe made in the shape of a ram's head, coloured white or bone. It fits snugly into a shaped leather case which is hinged and closes to protect the pipe.pipe smoking tobacco

Used for writing with ink prior to metal nibs and fountain pens.A black feather with hollowed out end for a nib or to be shaped for writing with ink.feather quill writing

Could have been used at home or business. An ink wellwas made of glass or ceramic and typically sat on a desk. The writer would dip the pen (or quill) into the bottle to put more ink on the pen. Because they sat on a desk, ink wells were often decorativeWe have mostly dispensed with ink bottles and quills. This item is an example of early stationery equipment commonly used in schools, households and commercial enterprises.A clear glass inkwell which is quite heavy and not easily upset. It has a concave hole in the top. ink-well writing penmanship

A pocket magnifying glass was a versatile scientific tool. It was ideal for situations in which the specimen was too small to be observed under a magnifying glass and access to a larger microscope would have been impossible.It could be taken on field expeditions and used to examine botanical, zoological and mineralogical specimens. This small magnifying glass could be used for examining specimens of plants or rocks or jewellery.Simple,pocket microscopes had a significant impact on the the general public’s appreciation of both science and the natural world by making the microscopic world accessible and exciting.A small brass pocket magnifying glass with resting arm. The cardboard box is blue / black in colour.magnifying-glass scientific-instrument

Used for shaving before safety razors became popular in the 1950s. Made in Sheffield, England. Sharpened with a leather strop.Two cut-throat razors and their cases. One razor has a black handle, and the other has a white handle. The cases are made of cardboard.One razor has the words HAND FORGED BENGALL RAZOR MADE IN SHEFFIELD ENGLAND marked on the box. cut-throat-razor shaving-razor

Used as a bed warmer, or foot warmer. A stoneware hot water bottle, generally a round shape with an opening at the top and a round knob on one end which presumably functions as a holder. The stopper is missing. The main part of the body is cream, with the knob end brown.hot-water-bottle ceramic

A handmade fine cotton undergarment of fine white cotton. A handmade white or cream fine cotton camisole with lace insertions and embroidery. Has a pink ribbon threaded through the lace around the neck. A square neck line, short sleeves with lace cuffs. Midrif length camisole which opens at the front with four white buttons.camisole hand-made lace

Presumed to have been made by the family of Mrs. Jean Snow who donated this item. This is a classic example of the tradition of "making do" , of creating new uses for older items or bits of scrap. A pillow case made from four porridge bags which have been opened out and stitched together. The name of the porridge manufacturer is evident on the pillow case, Robert J Terry.Robert J Terry N D M B A N (Eng)pillow- case making-do depression-creativity

Used to cut tobacco leaf or plugs into finer and more useable samples which could then be put into a pipe or made into a cigar or cigarette.Tobacco cutters were important tools for pipe smokers until self-made or manufactured cigarettes began to dominate the tobacco sales market from the 1920s. This item is a link to a previously common means of consuming tobacco.A metal blade cutter set onto a wooden base. The blade is rusty. tobacco-cutter tobacco-smoking

Used by women and girls to wave or crimp their hair, for styling their hair, hairdressing. The irons are heated and then applied to the hair and wound to form curls. Pre-dates electrically heated curlers.One set of curling tongs made of iron/steel, rusted. The tongs are two shaped metal pieces which clamp together over a tress of hair. One set of crimping tongs. These have two wavy iron shaped metal pieces which clamp over a tress of hair to produce crimpy waves.hair-crimpers-curlers hairdressing heated-curlers

Female children played with tea sets such as this and learned the arts of hospitality. This one has been well-used. A 13 piece dolls tea set. Consists of a tea pot, sugar bowl, milk jug, 4 cups & saucers. General colours are yellow and blue with red, black and green flowers.childs-tea-set crockery

This is a doll's set for girls to play "house" with their dolls or with other children. A set of 9 small metal cannisters with blue willow pattern. This is a doll's set, or child's play set. All have blue lids.cannisters dolls-cannisters metal-cannisters

This is a scene of Cape Conran, in Far East East Gippsland .Orbost locals have been camping and picnicking at Cape Conran since at least the early 20th century. This photograph was taken at a time before Cape Conran Coastal Park a 11,700 hectare area was declared a coastal park under the National Parks Act in 1997. A black / white photograph photograph showing the rocks and ocean at Cape Conran in Far East Gippsland. There are three people on a rock with their backs to the camera.Two women are sitting and a man is reclining.cape-conran beach-east-gippsland

This is a scene of Cape Conran, East Gippsland.This is a scene of Cape Conran, East Gippsland. Cape Conran has always been a popular visiting site for Orbost locals.A black / white photograph of rocks and sea at Cape Conran in Far East Gippsland.cape-conran beach-east-gippsland

This is a scene of Cape Conran, East Gippsland This is a scene of Cape Conran, East Gippsland. Cape Conran has always been a popular destination for Orbost locals.A black / white photograph of rocks and ocean at Cape Conran in Far East Gippsland.cape-conran beach-east-gippsland

This is a scene of Cape Conran in Far East Gippsland.This is a scene of Cape Conran in Far East Gippsland. Cape Conran has always been a popular destination for Orbost locals.A black / white photograph of rocks at low tide with the ocean in the background at Cape Conran in Far East Gippsland.cape-conran beach-east-gippsland