Showing 3 items matching "alfred charles hobbs"

Flagstaff Hill Maritime Museum and Village
Furniture - Desk, Foy & Gibson, Circa 1880s

... ...alfred charles hobbs...HOBBS & CO., LONDON Alfred Charles Hobbs, 1812-1891, was American born. ...HOBBS & CO., LONDON Alfred Charles Hobbs, 1812-1891, was American born. ...

The design of this small disc is from the Australian Colonial period. The cedar wood desk was made in Australian by Foy & Gibson in the 1880s, most probably in the business’s works in Collingwood, Victoria. The heavy brass locks fitted into the desk drawers were made by the famous Hobbs & Co of London, mid-late 19th century. In 1860 the business changed hands but the locks were still branded Hobbs & Co. The desk is branded with the symbol of Victoria’s Public Works Department. There is currently no information on when, where and by whom this desk was used. However, a very similar desk with Hobbs & Co. locks is on site at the Point Hicks Lightstation in Victoria and was formerly used by the Point Hicks head light keeper there. Other light stations also have similar desks from the P.W.D. (see also ‘Desk, Parks Victoria – Point Hicks Lightstation, Victorian Collections’.) HOBBS & CO., LONDON Alfred Charles Hobbs, 1812-1891, was American born. He became an executive salesman in 1840 for renowned lock manufacturer Day & Newell. His technique of exposing the weaknesses of people’s current locks was very successful in generating sales. He represented Day & Newell at London’s Great Exhibition of 1851, competing with other lock makers. Through the Exhibition he became famous for picking the best trusted Bramah and Chubb locks. Hobbs’ fame led him to found his own company in 1851 then register it in 1852 as Hobbs & Co., London. Hobbs was awarded the Telford Medal by the British Institution of Civil Engineers in 1854 for his paper 'On the Principles and Construction of Locks'. In 1855 the very successful company added partners and became Hobbs, Ashley and Co. In 1860, it traded under the name of Hobbs, Hart & Co. and was based in Cheapside London, where the business remained. Hobbs then returned to America, having sold the complete company to John Mathias Hart. He briefly returned to attend the 21st anniversary celebrations of the successful business in 1872. Hobbs kept himself busy in America, inventing and manufacturing firearm ammunition, for which he held several patents. He passed away there in 1891, a month after his 70th birthday. FOY & GIBSON Mark Foy wan an Irish draper who migrated to Bendigo, Victoria in 1858, attracted by the gold rush. He lived and worked in the area, establishing a drapery business. In the 1870s he moved to Melbourne where there were better prospects for expansion. He chose a place in Smith Street, Collingwood, a suburb of Melbourne, and started his business at the rear. In 1883 Foy retired, bringing in William Gibson as a partner, and then transferred his own share of the company to his son Francis Foy. Not long afterwards Francis sold his half share to Gibson, and the business continued under the name of Foy & Gibson. Francis Foy and he and his brother Mark Foy (junior) moved to Sydney. They established a business there in 1885, named after their father, Mark Foy. Gibson added to his business by starting his own manufacturing works from 1887, producing clothing, millinery, furniture, bedding and hardware for his stores. The factories, warehouses and stores complex became one of Victoria’s largest employers. He set up branches of his stores in Perth, Brisbane and Adelaide and two more branches in Melbourne. Foy & Gibson (usually referred to as Foys) became one of Australia’s largest retail department stores. In 1931 Foy’s little house in Collingwood was still part of the entrance to Foy & Gibson Emporium. In 1955 the company was bought out by Cox Brothers. Later on the stores were sold to various businesses such as David Jones, Woolworths and Harris Scarfe. In 1968 Cox Brothers went into receivership, ending almost 100 years of the business known as Foy’s. The former Foy & Gibson Complex is registered by Heritage Council Victoria. “Designed by William Pitt, this magnificent 19th and early 20th century complex of factories, warehouses and showrooms saw the production of a remarkable range of goods for Foy & Gibson, Melbourne’s earliest department store chain”. (Quoted from the Plaque erected by the Collingwood Historical Society 2007) P.W.D. – Public Works Department, Victoria The desk is stamped “P.W.D,” signifying that it is from the Public Works Department in Victoria, which operated from 1855-1987. The department was responsible for, among other things, the design and supply of office furniture and equipment for public buildings and organisations. This desk is significant historically as it originated from Foy & Gibson, a colonial Australian company that had a positive and strong impact on employment, manufacturing and retailing in Melbourne, Victoria and Australia. The significance of Foy & Gibson to Victoria’s and Australia’s history is marked by the Collingwood Complex being registered in both Heritage Victoria Register (H0755, H0897 and H0896) and National Trust Register (B2668). This locks on this desk are significant for their connection with their manufacturer, Hobbs & Co, who invented a lock that surpassed the security of any other locks produced in the mid-19th century. Desk; Australian Colonial cedar desk, honey coloured. Desktop has a wooden border with a rolled edge and a fitted timber centrepiece. The four tapered legs are tulip turned. Two half-width drawers fit side by side and extend the full depth of the desk. The drawers have dovetail joints. Each drawer has two round wooden knob handles, a keyhole and a fitted, heavy brass lever lock. Inscriptions are on the desktop, drawers, desk leg and lock. Made in Australia circa 1880 by Foy & Gibson, lock made by Hobbs & Co, London.Impressed into timber frame of one drawer “FOY & GIBSON” Impressed into lock “HOBBS & CO / LONDON”, “MACHINE MADE”, “LEVER” Impressed along the front edge of the desktop [indecipherable] text. Impressed into the timber of right front leg “P. W. D.” below a ‘crown’ symbol Handwritten in white chalk under a drawer “206” flagstaff hill, warrnambool, shipwrecked coast, flagstaff hill maritime museum, maritime museum, shipwreck coast, flagstaff hill maritime village, great ocean road, desk, cedar desk, colonial desk, 1880s desk, australian colonial furniture, furniture, office furniture, office equipment, australian made furniture, colonial furniture, colonial hardware, foy & gibson, alfred charles hobbs, hobbs & co london, hobs & co lever lock, cabinetry lock, machine made lever lock, p.w.d., public works department victoria, day & newell, great exhibition of 1851, bramah lock, chubb lock, telford medal 1854, cheapside london, mark foy, mark foy – bendigo draper, smith street collingwood, william gibson, foy & gibson emporium, foy & gibson complex, cox brothers
Puffing Billy Railway
1920's Station Cash Box Tin - Hobbs & Co London, 1920's

... 1920's Station Cash Box Tin Made by Hobbs & Co London Lever Machine Made Alfred Charles Hobbs (October 7, 1812 – November 6, 1891) was an American locksmith and inventor. ...Puffing Billy Railway 1 old monbulk road Belgrave yarra-valley-and-the-dandenong-ranges 1920's Station Cash Box Tin Made by Hobbs & Co London Lever Machine Made Alfred Charles Hobbs (October 7, 1812 – November 6, 1891) was an American locksmith and inventor. ...

1920's Station Cash Box Tin Made by Hobbs & Co London Lever Machine Made Alfred Charles Hobbs (October 7, 1812 – November 6, 1891) was an American locksmith and inventor. Hobbs went to London as a representative of the New York company of Day & Newell, which was exhibiting at the Great Exhibition of 1851. Hobbs had brought with him his boss's (Robert Newell) Parautoptic lock, designed to compete with, and surpass, the locks available at the time in Britain. He was the first one to pick Bramah's lock and the Chubb detector lock at the Great Exhibition of 1851 and forced the lock manufacturers to improve their designs. The lock controversy continues a subject of great interest at the Crystal Palace, and, indeed, is now become of general importance. We believed before the Exhibition opened that we had the best locks in the world, and among us Bramah and Chubb were reckoned quite as impregnable as Gibraltar— more so, indeed, for the key to the Mediterranean was taken by us, but none among us could penetrate into the locks and shoot the bolts of these masters. The mechanical spirit, however, is never at rest, and if it is lulled into a false state of listlessness in one branch of industry, and in one part of the world, elsewhere it springs up suddenly to admonish and reproach us with our supineness. Our descendents on the other side of the water are every now and then administering to the mother country a wholesome filial lesson upon this very text, and recently they have been "rubbing us up" with a severity which perhaps we merited for sneering at their shortcomings in the Exhibition. In 1854 he was awarded a Telford Medal by the Institution of Civil Engineers for his paper 'On the Principles and Construction of Locks'. Sign on a strong room door. Hobbs became one of the founders of the lock making firm of Hobbs Hart & Co. Ltd. The company started in 1851 and was formally registered as Hobbs and Co. in 1852. But by 1855 it had become Hobbs, Ashley and Company. The name then changed to Hobbs, Ashley and Fortescue, with an address at 97 Cheapside in London. Then for the next ninety years the address was 76 Cheapside in London. In 1860 Hobbs returned to America and lived in Bridgeport, Connecticut, and went on to hold a dozen patents for firearm ammunition manufacturing. In 1880 he listed himself as a "Superintendent Of Cartridge Factory" Info from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alfred_Charles_HobbsHistoric - Railways - Station Cash Box Tin 1920's Station Cash Box Tin - Hobbs & Co London Metal Tin - painted Black, Gold and Red with Brass Lock and HandleHobbs & Co London Lever Machine Made1920's station cash box tin, puffing billy
Sunshine and District Historical Society Incorporated
Document - H.V. McKays Employees 1920's

... Ainsworth, William Abraham Aitken, John Albert Andrewartha, Frederick Gordon Angus, Edward Lyall Anstee, Frederick Ashley, James Alfred Ayton, Allan Reginald Barnard, Robert Hayden Barnes, Clifford Albert Barnes, Ralph Hauser Beardmore, Keith John Bendell, Leonard Ernest Bennett, Frederick Henry Berryman, Leslie Royce Beswick, Arnold Edward Beynon, John Osborn Thomas Bishop, Christopher Thomas Boyer, Herbert Gavin Bradbury, Peter Charles Bennetts, Lindsay Thomas Britton, Ronald Henry *** Britton, Samuel Thomas John Brown, Herbert Roy Tibballs Brown, Leonard Roy Bullen, Raymond Thomas Burge, Harold Raymond Casemore, Eric Chambers, John Elliott Christie, Leslie George Clemson, William Henry Lancell Condie, David Russell Cooper, Wilton Cornish, George Harry Cox, Robert William Craddock, William John Ernest Crockford, John Patrick Dale, Hubert Arthur Day, Leslie James Dedrick, Arthur Evandale De Laroy, James John Dixon, Raymond Dodds, Robert Elisha Ellens, Raymond Sylvestor Victor Elliot, Walter Edward Enever, Ronald Evans, Ivor John Horace Fields, Edward Ernest Fields, James Findlay, Lindsay Gordon Foster, Henry James Fotheringham, Robert Gardiner, Keil Laurence Goldsworthy, William Leggo Grattidge, William Patrick Green, Charles Frederick Greig, Ronald Alexander Hall, Herbert Henry Hamilton, Colin Hew Hauser, Frederick Ronald Heaviside, Ronald Joseph Herrick, John Stanley Carl Hillman, John Laurance Hiscock, John Charles Hobbs, Francis Eric Charles Holbery, Daniel John Holmes, William Harold Hollings, Harry Hollings, Robert Hollingshead, Alvyn Eric Horner, Gordon, Neal Hughes, George Alfred Hummel, John Kenneth Humphrey, Thomas Albert Johnson, Eric Xavier Kerdel, Rupert Malcolm Laffan, Thomas Michael Laming, Gordon Stanley Lamont, Arthur James Lane, Norman Larter, Thomas Franklyn Lawry, William Henry Lee, Alan William Leonard, Ernest Joseph John Lowman, George Alfred *** McIntyre, Thomas William McKay, Colin William McKay, William John McKinnon, Leslie Eric Magor, Thomas Matthew Merritt, John Miller, Leslie, McDonald Mills, Gilbert Robert Mitchell, Stanley Valentine Moebus, Earl, Leon, Charles, D Morris, Ronald Neal Clifford Mortlock, Herbert Thomas Nash, William Thomas Trevor Neale, Carl Bryson Neale, Noel Robert Nicholls, Edgar Alderson Norman, Carl Victor *** Norrish, Edgar Michael O'Loughlin, Patrick James Peter O'Toole, Kevin Hillery Patten, John Edward Peach, Victor Albert William Perram, Francis Reginald Perry, Daniel Talbot Phelan, Thomas Henry Pitcher, Gordon Alexander Prewett, Allan Thomas Quick, John Vincent Quinton, Arthur William Stanley Rawlins, Cyril James Reeves, Herbert Reeves, Walter John Richards, Alan George Richards, Frederick William Richer, John Lewis Roberts, Ernest Edward Russell, Andrew Sayers, Ernest Frank Sheahan, John Francis Simpson, Douglas Shews, John Wallace Smithwick, Verner Sidney Eric Southall, William Thomas Stark, David Clark Stein, Alfred Charles Stephenson, Roy Alexander Summers, Stephen Taylor, Donald Owen Thom, William Waddell Thompson, George Arthur Thompson, William George Thompson, Wallace Gordon Tomholt, Keith Herbert Desmond Turner, Forest Noel Ustick, (Neil) Albert Ustick, Arthur Veal, John Roland Warden, Stanley George Warren, George Ernest Edward Warhurst, John Walter Whight, Stanley Gordon Wills, Edmund Thomas Wilson, Reginald Roy Withington, Alfred Not in above book Andrew, John William Burge, Harold Raymond Dedrick, Herman Arthur Evandale Quick, Samuel Southern, Peter David Ustick, Gwenda Gladys Ustick, William Henry...McKays Sunshine Harvester Works Employee Ainsworth, William Abraham Aitken, John Albert Andrewartha, Frederick Gordon Angus, Edward Lyall Anstee, Frederick Ashley, James Alfred Ayton, Allan Reginald Barnard, Robert Hayden Barnes, Clifford Albert Barnes, Ralph Hauser Beardmore, Keith John Bendell, Leonard Ernest Bennett, Frederick Henry Berryman, Leslie Royce Beswick, Arnold Edward Beynon, John Osborn Thomas Bishop, Christopher Thomas Boyer, Herbert Gavin Bradbury, Peter Charles Bennetts, Lindsay Thomas Britton, Ronald Henry *** Britton, Samuel Thomas John Brown, Herbert Roy Tibballs Brown, Leonard Roy Bullen, Raymond Thomas Burge, Harold Raymond Casemore, Eric Chambers, John Elliott Christie, Leslie George Clemson, William Henry Lancell Condie, David Russell Cooper, Wilton Cornish, George Harry Cox, Robert William Craddock, William John Ernest Crockford, John Patrick Dale, Hubert Arthur Day, Leslie James Dedrick, Arthur Evandale De Laroy, James John Dixon, Raymond Dodds, Robert Elisha Ellens, Raymond Sylvestor Victor Elliot, Walter Edward Enever, Ronald Evans, Ivor John Horace Fields, Edward Ernest Fields, James Findlay, Lindsay Gordon Foster, Henry James Fotheringham, Robert Gardiner, Keil Laurence Goldsworthy, William Leggo Grattidge, William Patrick Green, Charles Frederick Greig, Ronald Alexander Hall, Herbert Henry Hamilton, Colin Hew Hauser, Frederick Ronald Heaviside, Ronald Joseph Herrick, John Stanley Carl Hillman, John Laurance Hiscock, John Charles Hobbs, Francis Eric Charles Holbery, Daniel John Holmes, William Harold Hollings, Harry Hollings, Robert Hollingshead, Alvyn Eric Horner, Gordon, Neal Hughes, George Alfred Hummel, John Kenneth Humphrey, Thomas Albert Johnson, Eric Xavier Kerdel, Rupert Malcolm Laffan, Thomas Michael Laming, Gordon Stanley Lamont, Arthur James Lane, Norman Larter, Thomas Franklyn Lawry, William Henry Lee, Alan William Leonard, Ernest Joseph John Lowman, George Alfred *** McIntyre, Thomas William McKay, Colin William McKay, William John McKinnon, Leslie Eric Magor, Thomas Matthew Merritt, John Miller, Leslie, McDonald Mills, Gilbert Robert Mitchell, Stanley Valentine Moebus, Earl, Leon, Charles, D Morris, Ronald Neal Clifford Mortlock, Herbert Thomas Nash, William Thomas Trevor Neale, Carl Bryson Neale, Noel Robert Nicholls, Edgar Alderson Norman, Carl Victor *** Norrish, Edgar Michael O'Loughlin, Patrick James Peter O'Toole, Kevin Hillery Patten, John Edward Peach, Victor Albert William Perram, Francis Reginald Perry, Daniel Talbot Phelan, Thomas Henry Pitcher, Gordon Alexander Prewett, Allan Thomas Quick, John Vincent Quinton, Arthur William Stanley Rawlins, Cyril James Reeves, Herbert Reeves, Walter John Richards, Alan George Richards, Frederick William Richer, John Lewis Roberts, Ernest Edward Russell, Andrew Sayers, Ernest Frank Sheahan, John Francis Simpson, Douglas Shews, John Wallace Smithwick, Verner Sidney Eric Southall, William Thomas Stark, David Clark Stein, Alfred Charles Stephenson, Roy Alexander Summers, Stephen Taylor, Donald Owen Thom, William Waddell Thompson, George Arthur Thompson, William George Thompson, Wallace Gordon Tomholt, Keith Herbert Desmond Turner, Forest Noel Ustick, (Neil) Albert Ustick, Arthur Veal, John Roland Warden, Stanley George Warren, George Ernest Edward Warhurst, John Walter Whight, Stanley Gordon Wills, Edmund Thomas Wilson, Reginald Roy Withington, Alfred Not in above book Andrew, John William Burge, Harold Raymond Dedrick, Herman Arthur Evandale Quick, Samuel Southern, Peter David Ustick, Gwenda Gladys Ustick, William Henry A typed list some of H.V. ...

Ainsworth, William Abraham Aitken, John Albert Andrewartha, Frederick Gordon Angus, Edward Lyall Anstee, Frederick Ashley, James Alfred Ayton, Allan Reginald Barnard, Robert Hayden Barnes, Clifford Albert Barnes, Ralph Hauser Beardmore, Keith John Bendell, Leonard Ernest Bennett, Frederick Henry Berryman, Leslie Royce Beswick, Arnold Edward Beynon, John Osborn Thomas Bishop, Christopher Thomas Boyer, Herbert Gavin Bradbury, Peter Charles Bennetts, Lindsay Thomas Britton, Ronald Henry *** Britton, Samuel Thomas John Brown, Herbert Roy Tibballs Brown, Leonard Roy Bullen, Raymond Thomas Burge, Harold Raymond Casemore, Eric Chambers, John Elliott Christie, Leslie George Clemson, William Henry Lancell Condie, David Russell Cooper, Wilton Cornish, George Harry Cox, Robert William Craddock, William John Ernest Crockford, John Patrick Dale, Hubert Arthur Day, Leslie James Dedrick, Arthur Evandale De Laroy, James John Dixon, Raymond Dodds, Robert Elisha Ellens, Raymond Sylvestor Victor Elliot, Walter Edward Enever, Ronald Evans, Ivor John Horace Fields, Edward Ernest Fields, James Findlay, Lindsay Gordon Foster, Henry James Fotheringham, Robert Gardiner, Keil Laurence Goldsworthy, William Leggo Grattidge, William Patrick Green, Charles Frederick Greig, Ronald Alexander Hall, Herbert Henry Hamilton, Colin Hew Hauser, Frederick Ronald Heaviside, Ronald Joseph Herrick, John Stanley Carl Hillman, John Laurance Hiscock, John Charles Hobbs, Francis Eric Charles Holbery, Daniel John Holmes, William Harold Hollings, Harry Hollings, Robert Hollingshead, Alvyn Eric Horner, Gordon, Neal Hughes, George Alfred Hummel, John Kenneth Humphrey, Thomas Albert Johnson, Eric Xavier Kerdel, Rupert Malcolm Laffan, Thomas Michael Laming, Gordon Stanley Lamont, Arthur James Lane, Norman Larter, Thomas Franklyn Lawry, William Henry Lee, Alan William Leonard, Ernest Joseph John Lowman, George Alfred *** McIntyre, Thomas William McKay, Colin William McKay, William John McKinnon, Leslie Eric Magor, Thomas Matthew Merritt, John Miller, Leslie, McDonald Mills, Gilbert Robert Mitchell, Stanley Valentine Moebus, Earl, Leon, Charles, D Morris, Ronald Neal Clifford Mortlock, Herbert Thomas Nash, William Thomas Trevor Neale, Carl Bryson Neale, Noel Robert Nicholls, Edgar Alderson Norman, Carl Victor *** Norrish, Edgar Michael O'Loughlin, Patrick James Peter O'Toole, Kevin Hillery Patten, John Edward Peach, Victor Albert William Perram, Francis Reginald Perry, Daniel Talbot Phelan, Thomas Henry Pitcher, Gordon Alexander Prewett, Allan Thomas Quick, John Vincent Quinton, Arthur William Stanley Rawlins, Cyril James Reeves, Herbert Reeves, Walter John Richards, Alan George Richards, Frederick William Richer, John Lewis Roberts, Ernest Edward Russell, Andrew Sayers, Ernest Frank Sheahan, John Francis Simpson, Douglas Shews, John Wallace Smithwick, Verner Sidney Eric Southall, William Thomas Stark, David Clark Stein, Alfred Charles Stephenson, Roy Alexander Summers, Stephen Taylor, Donald Owen Thom, William Waddell Thompson, George Arthur Thompson, William George Thompson, Wallace Gordon Tomholt, Keith Herbert Desmond Turner, Forest Noel Ustick, (Neil) Albert Ustick, Arthur Veal, John Roland Warden, Stanley George Warren, George Ernest Edward Warhurst, John Walter Whight, Stanley Gordon Wills, Edmund Thomas Wilson, Reginald Roy Withington, Alfred Not in above book Andrew, John William Burge, Harold Raymond Dedrick, Herman Arthur Evandale Quick, Samuel Southern, Peter David Ustick, Gwenda Gladys Ustick, William Henryh.v. mckays, sunshine harvester works, employee