Showing 292 items
matching general electric
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Melbourne Tram Museum
Book, Melbourne & Metropolitan Tramways Board (MMTB), "MMTB Electric Tramways and Motor Omnibuses Sections and Fares", Aug. 1956
Light grey cloth covered bound book, 108 pages, plus printed end sheets used in covers, titled "MMTB Electric Tramways and Motor Omnibuses Sections and Fares", dated August 1966. Book consists of four sections, bound with sewn cloth binding on the outside with glued white paper end covers. Details the various section stages and fares for each tram and bus route, General instructions, concession fares and has photos or drawings of the various special tickets, eg passes or prepaid tickets. Copy 2 - added 14-12-2015 from donation of Norm Cross 11-10-2009.trams, tramways, tickets, fares, sections, passes -
Melbourne Tram Museum
Book, Melbourne & Metropolitan Tramways Board (MMTB), "MMTB Electric Tramways and Motor Omnibuses Sections and Fares", Mar. 1960
Book titled "MMTB Electric Tramways and Motor Omnibuses Sections and Fares", dated March 1960. Details the various section stages and fares for each tram and bus route, General instructions, concession fares and photos or drawings of the various special tickets, eg passes or prepaid tickets. See item 7352 for a version of the same date but different cover sheets. Not known which one proceeded - could have been a reprint.Yields information about the March 1960 Fares and Sections for the MMTB.Black cloth covered bound book, 124 pages, plus printed end sheets used in covers. Book consists of four sections, bound with sewn cloth binding on the outside with glued white paper end covers.Multiple ink markingstrams, tramways, tickets, fares, sections, passes -
Melbourne Tram Museum
Book, Melbourne & Metropolitan Tramways Board (MMTB), "MMTB Electric Tramways and Motor Omnibuses Sections and Fares", Aug. 1971
Red cloth covered bound book, 116 pages, plus printed end sheets used in covers, titled "MMTB Electric Tramways and Motor Omnibuses Sections and Fares", dated August 1971. Book consists of four sections, bound with sewn cloth binding on the outside with glued white paper end covers. Details the various section stages and fares for each tram and bus route, General instructions, concession fares and has photos or drawings of the various special tickets, eg passes or prepaid tickets. Second copy added 14-12-15 from Donation of Norm Cross - 11-10-2009.Pages 103 - 105 have been hand amended - re Limbless and Disabled Soldiers. Has number "4781058" in top left hand corner of the first page. Copy 2 - has "Planning Engineer 24/12/71" in ink on inside front cover.trams, tramways, tickets, fares, sections, passes -
Melbourne Tram Museum
Book, Melbourne & Metropolitan Tramways Board (MMTB), "MMTB Electric Tramways and Motor Omnibuses Sections and Fares", Aug. 1975
Orange cloth covered book, 116 pages + covers and end pages, "MMTB Electric Tramways and Motor Omnibuses Sections and Fares", dated August 1975. Details the various section stages and fares for each tram and bus route, General instructions, concession fares and has photos or drawings of the various special tickets, eg passes or prepaid tickets. Book consists of four sections, sewn with end papers part of the covers. Second copy added 15-6-2015 - from Ron Scholten donation of 11-4-2015. Third copy added 14-12-2015 from donation of Norm Cross 11-10-2009. Full pdf scan of book (with some difficulty) added 29-5-2019.trams, tramways, tickets, fares, sections, passes -
Melbourne Tram Museum
Book, Melbourne & Metropolitan Tramways Board (MMTB), "Melbourne and Metropolitan Tramways Board - Rules, Regulations", 1924
Book - dark grey Rexene covers, with title - "Melbourne and Metropolitan Tramways Board - Rules, Regulations". Two sections, stapled and bound within heavy card covers, 80 pages with a typed index pasted inside rear covers, printed by Sands & McDougall, Melbourne. Authorised by W. O. Strangward Secretary 1923 and printed 1924. On first page, has number "6246" stamped onto the page. Provides the Rules and Regulations of the Board concerning Accidents, fire, general instructions, signals, uniforms, staff working, special instructions to Motormen and Conductors, tickets, safety for both Cable and Electric tramways. By-Law No. 5 provided on pages 76 to 80. On page 80 has the Seal of the Board and those who signed the document - Alex Cameron Chairman, Thos. O'L Reynolds Member and W. O. Strangward Secretary. Inside rear cover is a 12 page typed index to the rules in broken into sections for each letter of the alphabet - pages for M to O missing. Extract re Staff and ticket rules added 19-12-16 - see image i7. 2nd copy added 18-01-2022 Images revised - scanned in two parts. Copy No. 18812nd copy has "Inspector J H Cowrie" written on the inside front cover, 1st page and inside rear cover. Stamped "Malvern" in two locationstrams, tramways, mmtb, melbourne, cable trams, rules, regulations, safeworking -
Melbourne Tram Museum
Book, Melbourne & Metropolitan Tramways Board (MMTB), "MMTB Electric Tramways and Motor Omnibuses Sections and Fares", 1976
Grey cardboard with light grey cloth end binding covered book, 124 pages "MMTB Electric Tramways and Motor Omnibuses Sections and Fares", dated July 1976. Inside the book - see image 80i4, was a heavy sheet of cardboard headed "Fares Charges from 4/7/76" giving the adult and child fares for each section of travel. Details the various section stages and fares for each tram and bus route, General instructions, concession fares and has photos or drawings of the various special tickets, eg passes or prepaid tickets. Book consists of eight sections, bound with cloth binding on the outside covering internal staples. Second copy added 27-12-2013 ex AETA. (This copy removed and replaced with a better condition one 15-1-2015 - Ex Lindsay Rickard) Third copy added 14-12-2015 from donation of Norm Cross 11-10-2009.Copy three - has "Executive Engineer 30-8-76" written on the inside of the front cover and "As at 4-7-76" on page 1 in ink.trams, tramways, tickets, fares, sections, passes -
Melbourne Tram Museum
Book, Melbourne & Metropolitan Tramways Board (MMTB), "MMTB Cable and Electric Tramways and Motor Omnibuses - Sections and Fares", Jul. 1937
Taupe coloured cloth covered book, 44 pages + covers and end pages, "MMTB Cable and Electric Tramways and Motor Omnibuses Sections and Fares" dated July 1937 and authorised by S. M Richardson. Details the various section stages and fares for each cable, electric trams and motor omnibuses, General instructions, concession fares. Has an index to routes. No photos of the various passes. Consists of one section, sewn with end papers part of the covers. 2nd copy added 5/5/2019 from donation of Barry Brooks ex Bob Prentice Collection. Images revised - jpgs retained and pdf added.trams, tramways, tickets, fares, sections, passes, cable trams, buses -
Melbourne Tram Museum
Document - Photocopy, "MMTB Proposals for General Scheme, c1970
Colour photocopy of a MMTB drawing titled "MMTB Proposals for General Scheme showing a detail plan of tramways proposed for Melbourne 1923. Signed by J. Strickland 27-8-1923. Shows cable trams, existing tramways, authorised tramways, proposed, VR tramways, rail lines and waterways. Not known when colour copy actually made - could have been an AETA or a TMSV reproduction. See Reg Item 2089 for an original of this document.trams, tramways, mmtb, melbourne, cable trams, electric trains, tramways, proposals, planning -
Melbourne Tram Museum
Poster, Yarra Trams, "A Century of Electric Trams", 2006
Set of four posters issued by Yarra Trams to celebrate A Century of Electric Trams" in 2006. Each have the 100 years logo on the top of the poster, the title "A Century of Electric Trams", with the byline - "A Melbourne Celebration - 1906 to 2006 and Beyond". On the bottom is the website name. "100yearstrams.com.au" and the Yarra Trams logo. A caption for each photo is under the photograph. .1 - General poster for the "100 years of electric trams in Melbourne" event, featuring the logo, details of the event and web site. - A4. .2 - ditto - A3 size. ,3 - Flinders St Station c1935 x A3 .4 - ditto - A4 size .5 - photo of the 1916 PMTT Recruitment tram - A4 size .6 - ditto - A3 size .7 - W2 244 travelling on the East Preston line with people hanging out - on the way to the Fitzroy Football Ground - A4 size. .8 - ditto - A3 size. two copies of each held.trams, tramways, mmtb, pmtt, 100 years of electric trams, fitzroy, decorated trams, football, flinders st station, world war 1 -
Melbourne Tram Museum
Book, Hawthorn Tramways Trust (HTT), "Instructions to Motormen in Electric Car Driving", 1918
Book - dark red Rexene covers, with 16 pages (four sheets) centre stapled inside, titled "Instructions to Motormen in Electric Car Driving", published by the Hawthorn Tramways trust giving 76 questions and answers Q&A to driving and operating electric tramcars. Published by HTT July 1918 and authorised by Struan Robertson Engineer and General Manger. 2nd copy - part of McComb collection, in the HTT file added 27-9-2016Has number "227" on inside of front cover in red ink.trams, tramways, hawthorn tramways trust, htt, instructions, motormen, controllers -
Melbourne Tram Museum
Book, Melbourne & Metropolitan Tramways Board (MMTB), "MMTB Electric Tramways and Motor Omnibuses Sections and Fares", 1969
Blue cloth covered book, 108 pages + covers and end pages, "MMTB Electric Tramways and Motor Omnibuses Sections and Fares", dated January 1969. Details the various section stages and fares for each tram and bus route, General instructions, concession fares and has photos or drawings of the various special tickets, eg passes or prepaid tickets. Book consists of four sections, sewn with end papers part of the covers. Second copy added 15-6-2015 - from Ron Scholten donation of 11-4-2015 - has an amendment sheet re Seeing Eye Dogs" pasted in over another sheet on the inside front cover. Third copy added 14-12-2015 from donation of Norm Cross 11-10-2009.Copy 1 - Has two numbers written in ink on the inside front cover. Copy 3 - "Lees 18/2/69" written in red pencil on inside of front cover.trams, tramways, tickets, fares, sections, passes -
Moorabbin Air Museum
Manual (item) - (SP) AAP RAAF Pub 721.84 Canberra Mk 20 General and Technical Information
English Electric Canberra -
Ballarat Tramway Museum
Document - Rule Book, "The Melbourne Electric Supply Co. Ltd. / Geelong Electric Tramways / Rules and Regulations / For Motormen and Conductors / And Bye-Laws 1912"
Document a re-typed version of the 1912 MESCo rule book. See item 3115 for the 1929 printed version. Details the General Rules for Motormen and Conductors in operating the tramways and Joint Bye-Laws for passengers and crews.Demonstrates MESCo's Geelong Rule book.Document - typed 6 foolscap ruled sheets, stapled in the top left hand corner.tramways, tramcars, operations, rules, regulations, by-laws -
Ballarat Tramway Museum
Document, Electric Supply Co. of Vic (ESCo), "General remarks - ..re estimates..", Oct. 1932
The document by ESCo, for Ballarat, titled "General Remarks to be read in conjunction with estimates attached hereto", in particular the Sebastopol line, option of closing Drummond St north, keeping only the Ripon St line, the introduction of a petrol bus service. Date of the document - 7 October 19??, possibly 1932, see the last line of the document.Yields information about ESCo estimates and the possibilities of reducing operating costs by closing lines.Document - single sheet, carbon copy typed.tramways, tramcars, esco, sebastopol, ripon st, drummond st nth, closure, finances -
Bendigo Military Museum
Print - AIRCRAFT, RAAF, Royal Australian Air Force, 1981
Part of the "William (Bill) THOMASON" Collection. Refer Cat. No. 4136P for more items.1. to 15. Prints - gloss white colour paper. Black colour print with illustrations in colour of RAAF Aircraft from 1921 to 1981. This is a RAAF DIAMOND JUBILEE Collection.Print numbers, Royal Australian Air Force. No. 1 to No. 16 with print No. 3 missing. 1. "1912 Deperdussin" No. 1. 2. 'AVRO AB' INITIO 1921" No. 2. 3. "Wirraway A20-653" No. 4. 4. "Lockheed Hudson" No. 5. 5. 'CAC Wackett Trainer 1939" No. 6. 6. "de Haviland DH82 Tiger Moth". No. 7. 7. "Douglas C-47 Dakota 1943" No. 8. 8. "English Electric Canberra". No. 9. 9. "CAC Sabre 1954" No. 10. 10. "CAC Winjeel or Young Eagle 1957". No. 11. 11. "Lockheed C-130 Hercules" No. 12. 12. "CAC-GAF Dassault Mirage 111.Os 1964" No. 13. 13. "Bell Iroquois" No. 14. 14. "Lockheed P-3B Orion" No. 15. 15. "General Dynamics F-111C 1963". No.16. prints, raaf, diamond jubilee, william (bill) thomason collection -
Moorabbin Air Museum
Booklet - Aircraft piston engines and propellers, The Curtiss Electric Propeller
Overview of design & operation of Curtiss electric propeller for aircraft maintainers, circa 1944Small bookletnon-fictionOverview of design & operation of Curtiss electric propeller for aircraft maintainers, circa 1944principles of operation, operating instructions, general description -
Ballarat Tramway Museum
Book, State Electricity Commission of Victoria (SECV), Instructions or Rules to Motormen, post 1945
... , tramcar emergency braking, automatic braking, automatic electric... emergency braking, automatic braking, automatic electric signals ...Handmade book with light green covers made from a cut file holder with brown paper glued on the inside, containing 39 typed (original) sheets of paper giving Instructions or Rules to Motormen. Has five page index, then 34 pages, with 104 rules or instructions, covering Tramcar Equipment (electrical), location of faults, tramcar braking, failure of the mechanical brakes, tramcar emergency braking, automatic braking, automatic electric signals and general instructions for Ballarat. The brown paper appears to have been placed on the outside, as it is cut and glued on the inside of the book. Individual sheets held into the book with a metal clip. On the rear of the book, a small piece of cardboard has been glued over the back of the metal strip. Notes mentions bogie trams, so therefore post 1945. Gives details of route electric signals, use of doors on the trams relevant to the central median strip. On page 4, has hand drawn diagram showing the motors in series and parallel. On page 8 has a hand drawn diagram showing the car lighting circuit arrangements. Has been folded in the middle so as to store in pockets of a coat. Images show .1 - book, .2 - inside front cover and index sheet, .3 - hand made drawing - car lighting circuit. See Destination Eaglehawktrams, tramways, secv rules, rules, motormen, conductors -
Kiewa Valley Historical Society
Iron - Steam or Dry, Model No
The Kiewa Hydro Electric Scheme (KHES) produced electricity for the people living in the Kiewa Valley and beyond to many parts of Victoria. The people and their families working on the Kiewa Hydro Electric Scheme were encouraged by their employer the State Electricity Commission of Victoria to purchase and use electrical appliances. The iron was popular as it was quick and easy compared to those used previously. This iron belonged to Ron White who was a senior member of staff during the construction and operation of the KHES.This iron was owned by Ron White. Ron was appointed Area Operations Engineer at Kiewa in June 1956. He was later appointed as General Superintendent and then in 1974 appointed to principal Hydro Engineer of the recently titled Hydro Division.Electric iron with long cord attached at the side toward the back. Iron shape is of an oblong with pointy front. When laid down, the black handle is at the top with a red button centre front (to choose between steam and dry). Under the handle is the 'turntable' (used to select type of material/heat). At the front of the black is an outlet for the steam. Beneath the black section is the metal shiny cover and solid base.Dial (turntable) - centre red with 'Hoover' and red section on outside with 'steam'. To the left of 'steam' is 'High, Linen, Cotton, Wool'. To the right of 'steam' is 'silk, rayon, nylon'. On the handle at the front "Hoover" in gold.electric appliances; steam iron; electric iron; laundry; ron white; kiewa hydro electric scheme; hoover industries. -
Whitehorse Historical Society Inc.
Functional object - Radiator
... with General Electric and expanded rapidly. The massive factory ...Early form of home heating and because of the copper dish was considered one of the better models|Manufacturing History Museum Victoria|Commentary: Australian manufacturing history Philip Wollen|Many years ago, when I was an ambition young man, I took over a company called Hecla.|This business was formed in 1872, long before Federation was even contemplated. The company established a rich tradition in the Australian manufacturing industry. The prodigious product range included kettles, mixers, toasters, hairdryers, urns, pie warmers, bain maries, and electric blankets for the domestic and commercial market. During the war it even manufactured parts for aircraft. It was one of Melbourne's largest employers.|Hecla was one of the pioneers in TV advertising, led by icons like Bert Newton, Bobby Limb, Evie Hayes and Graham Kennedy who ad Jibbed his way through irreverent and unscripted naughtiness about Hecla electric blankets and foot warmers. The slogan was 'By Hecla, its good.'. One can imagine the fun Bert and Graham had with their double entendres.|In the 60's Hecla entered into a partnership with General Electric and expanded rapidly. The massive factory, on the corner of Alexandra Parade and Chapel Street overlooking the Yarra River was a Melbourne landmark.|The business was formed by one of the scions of Melbourne industry. Mr Marriott was a metal worker of some repute, building the lights in front of Melbourne's Parliament House, the first steam car, the sideboard at the RACY Club, and the first factory to run on electricity.|By the time I acquired the company it was a shadow of its former self, incapable of competing with cheap Chinese imports. Wandering around the warehouse late one night I discovered a large, boarded up storeroom which appeared not to have been opened in decades.|Over several months I combed through the room, unearthing a treasure trove of products from a bygone era. Dusty files, engineering drawings, wooden prototypes, patent records, and correspondence from distributors on every continent.|I decided to track down an old man, Ray, long retired after 50 years with Hecla. He was not well off financially and welcomed the paid work. It turned out that he had done his apprenticeship with the company and there wasn't much he didn't know about it. He had been personally involved in the manufacture of almost every type of product on the Hecla smorgasbord's of products.|So for over 2 years he methodically assembled a mini museum of Hecla products, painstakingly polishing them and ensuring they were in working order. He attached the original brochure of each product and their respective warranty cards. For him it was ,a labour of love. For me it was a fascinating, if vicarious journey, into Australia's manufacturing past.|My colleagues complained that I was wasting money on his salary, our time and factory space on stuff that should have been dumped years ago. I tried to explain that I was merely a steward of the Hecla tradition, not merely an owner. Besides, the look on Ray's face convinced me that there was another dynamic at work. One I could see, but didn't really understand.|After he Passed away I faced a dilemma. What to do with this 'museum' of Hecla history. Nobody was interested.|So I kept the 'stuff' in private storage, hoping that same day someone would be interested in it. And the years passed.|Finally, I had a brainwave. Perhaps the Melbourne Museum would be interested. It was a long shot but I made the call. I had a nagging suspicion that they would think I was simply trying to get them to relieve me of paying for this huge collection to be taken to the tip.|To my surprise they said they would be willing to take a look, I secretly hoped that they would take the whole collection and not leave me with an incomplete jumble of appliances that I would indeed have to take to the tip.|On the appointed day, four serious looking young people showed up. Armed with digital cameras, note books and poker faces they spent four hours analysing the goods and the supporting materials. I asked them if they had any interest and their response was decidedly non-committal. It depends on the acquisitions committee, I was told. I was disheartened and packed up the exhibits to go back into storage.|Imagine my surprise when months later they telephoned to say that they had researched the history of the company, and yes, they would like to take the whole collection. And a truck with 'handlers' would arrive the following day to pick it up. Two years ago all Hecla's archives left me forever and went to the Museum's warehouse.|Well, to my delight I received a call yesterday inviting me to a private viewing of the exhibition at the Melbourne Museum. These young historians had meticulously assembled an impressive display of Melbourne's industry and technology going back to the 1800's. They thanked me like a significant benefactor when it is I who should have thanked them.|I saw the excitement in the eyes of these young people who had somehow managed to dig out and assemble memories from Australia's past. If this is the standard of care that the curators of the Melbourne Museum show all their exhibits, our history is in safe hands.|Their meticulous work took me back to those years long ago when I saw an old man lovingly assembling and cataloging a lifetime of his work.|It took me back to the day when Australians actually made things. Long before we became a nation of quarrymen. Before we became animal-factory 'farmers'. Of a time when products didn't break down, or dumped and replaced before the warranty expired. When men like Mr Marriott cared deeply about what their hands produced.|It reminded me of the call I received from an elderly lady in Tasmania asking for the electrical element for a Hecla K7 kettle. I searched the archives and called her back. The K7 was produced decades earlier and we no longer carried that spare part. She was quite disheartened and told me her kettle had finally 'given up the ghost' and she couldn't bear to part with it. It was a present from her husband on their wedding day 45 years ago. Her final words were 'they don't make them like that, do they? By Hecla they were good.'|I'm glad I followed my instinct and put Ray back on the payroll all those years ago..|I like to think Mr Marriott would have been pleased.Pedestal radiator. Base is cast iron with three feet with rose design on each. Pedestal supports a copper spherical reflector plate which has an electrical connection box at its base. The connection box is joined to the pedestal by a screw and nut to enable the reflector to be tilted. The element is cone shaped and is in the centre of the plate. The element is protected by a wire guard.Hecla Firedomestic items, heating -
Lakes Entrance Historical Society
Photograph - Whiter's Camp Park, 1928c
Also postcard size black and white same scene but larger view with two vehicles, with inscription-General view Lakes camping park showing homestead.|Larger copy has the inscription Beautiful view of park from Whiters Lookout Tower.Black and white photograph of Whiters Park, showing residence and office, gardens, tennis court, early model car by the petrol bowser, electric lights on tall poles. Opposite park entry is Aults Motor Engineer, scattered cottages. In distance is Cunninghame Arm, sand hummocks and ocean. Lakes Entrance Victoriaresort, township, transport, recreation -
Melbourne Tram Museum
Poster, Association of Railway Enthusiasts (ARE), "General Scheme for Future Tramways", 1998
Laminated A3 poster or sheet titled "General Scheme for Future Tramways", prepared by the Association of Railway Enthusiasts in 1998 extracted from the MMTB Annual Report for 1923. Has comments on the scheme, new lines, proposals and shows the lines proposed. Map shows cable lines, existing electric lines, tramways proposed to be abandoned (Rathdowne St), Domain Road, alternative routes, railways and railway tram routes. Includes a photo of tram 105. 2nd copy - not lamined - folded into three vertically. See also Reg Item 2089 for an original of this document.trams, tramways, mmtb, general scheme, new track, closure, construction, routes, tram 105 -
Whitehorse Historical Society Inc.
Functional object - Electric Foot Warmer
... with General Electric and expanded rapidly. The massive factory ...Used by Colin Sach during his employment as Manager of the Chemistry Dept. at the University of Melbourne over a period of forty years.Manufacturing History Museum Victoria Commentary: Australian manufacturing history Philip Wollen Many years ago, when I was an ambition young man, I took over a company called Hecla.|This business was formed in 1872, long before Federation was even contemplated. The company established a rich tradition in the Australian manufacturing industry. The prodigious product range included kettles, mixers, toasters, hairdryers, urns, pie warmers, bain maries, and electric blankets for the domestic and commercial market. During the war it even manufactured parts for aircraft. It was one of Melbourne's largest employers.|Hecla was one of the pioneers in TV advertising, led by icons like Bert Newton, Bobby Limb, Evie Hayes and Graham Kennedy who ad Jibbed his way through irreverent and unscripted naughtiness about Hecla electric blankets and foot warmers. The slogan was 'By Hecla, its good1'. One can imagine the fun Bert and Graham had with their double entendres.|In the 60's Hecla entered into a partnership with General Electric and expanded rapidly. The massive factory, on the corner of Alexandra Parade and Chapel Street overlooking the Yarra River was a Melbourne landmark.|The business was formed by one of the scions of Melbourne industry. Mr Marriott was a metal worker of some repute, building the lights in front of Melbourne's Parliament House, the first steam car, the sideboard at the RACY Club, and the first factory to run on electricity.|By the time I acquired the company it was a shadow of its former self, incapable of competing with cheap Chinese imports. Wandering around the warehouse late one night I discovered a large, boarded up storeroom which appeared not to have been opened in decades.|Over several months I combed through the room, unearthing a treasure trove of products from a bygone era. Dusty files, engineering drawings, wooden prototypes, patent records, and correspondence from distributors on every continent.|I decided to track down an old man, Ray, long retired after 50 years with Hecla. He was not well off financially and welcomed the paid work. It turned out that he had done his apprenticeship with the company and there wasn't much he didn't know about it. He had been personally involved in the manufacture of almost every type of product on the Hecla smorgasbord's of products.|So for over 2 years he methodically assembled a mini museum of Hecla products, painstakingly polishing them and ensuring they were in working order. He attached the original brochure of each product and their respective warranty cards. For him it was ,a labour of love. For me it was a fascinating, if vicarious journey, into Australia's manufacturing past.|My colleagues complained that I was wasting money on his salary, our time and factory space on stuff that should have been dumped years ago. I tried to explain that I was merely a steward of the Hecla tradition, not merely an owner. Besides, the look on Ray's face convinced me that there was another dynamic at work. One I could see, but didn't really understand.|After he Passed away I faced a dilemma. What to do with this 'museum' of Hecla history. Nobody was interested.|So I kept the 'stuff' in private storage, hoping that same day someone would be interested in it. And the years passed.|Finally, I had a brainwave. Perhaps the Melbourne Museum would be interested. It was a long shot but I made the call. I had a nagging suspicion that they would think I was simply trying to get them to relieve me of paying for this huge collection to be taken to the tip.|To my surprise they said they would be willing to take a look, I secretly hoped that they would take the whole collection and not leave me with an incomplete jumble of appliances that I would indeed have to take to the tip.|On the appointed day, four serious looking young people showed up. Armed with digital cameras, note books and poker faces they spent four hours analysing the goods and the supporting materials. I asked them if they had any interest and their response was decidedly non-committal. It depends on the acquisitions committee, I was told. I was disheartened and packed up the exhibits to go back into storage.|Imagine my surprise when months later they telephoned to say that they had researched the history of the company, and yes, they would like to take the whole collection. And a truck with 'handlers' would arrive the following day to pick it up. Two years ago all Hecla's archives left me forever and went to the Museum's warehouse.|Well, to my delight I received a call yesterday inviting me to a private viewing of the exhibition at the Melbourne Museum. These young historians had meticulously assembled an impressive display of Melbourne's industry and technology going back to the 1800's. They thanked me like a significant benefactor when it is I who should have thanked them.|I saw the excitement in the eyes of these young people who had somehow managed to dig out and assemble memories from Australia's past. If this is the standard of care that the curators of the Melbourne Museum show all their exhibits, our history is in safe hands.|Their meticulous work took me back to those years long ago when I saw an old man lovingly assembling and cataloging a lifetime of his work.|It took me back to the day when Australians actually made things. Long before we became a nation of quarrymen. Before we became animal-factory 'farmers'. Of a time when products didn't break down, or dumped and replaced before the warranty expired. When men like Mr Marriott cared deeply about what their hands produced.|It reminded me of the call I received from an elderly lady in Tasmania asking for the electrical element for a Hecla K7 kettle. I searched the archives and called her back. The K7 was produced decades earlier and we no longer carried that spare part. She was quite disheartened and told me her kettle had finally 'given up the ghost' and she couldn't bear to part with it. It was a present from her husband on their wedding day 45 years ago. Her final words were 'they don't make them like that, do they? By Hecla they were good1'|I'm glad I followed my instinct and put Ray back on the payroll all those years ago..|I like to think Mr Marriott would have been pleased.Square metal box with electrical elements inside. Used to stand on or to put feet on when sitting. Elaborate pattern in centre with inscription.Hecla Foot Warmerdomestic items, heating