This container is a pre-Decimal, Imperial Standard Half Bushel, part of a three-piece set of Standard measures used in Victoria from around 1900 to 1940. The measures were made in Melbourne by J. McEwan & Co. These three measures were likely used by the local Melbourne authority that monitored weights and measures in the mid to late 19th century. . An Imperial Bushel was equal to 8 gallons, or 36.36872 litres . An Imperial Peck equals a quarter of a Bushel, or 9.09 litres Standards for weights and measures began in Victoria when the Melbourne Observatory received primary sets of Imperial Standard Weights and Measures from Britain. These were tested against the then British Imperial Standards to measure length, weight and currency. Administrative bodies in the Colony of Australia could then compare their weights and measures against these British Primary Standards and adjust their Measures accordingly, to maintain the Standards. The Weights and Measures Act of 1862 was passed in Victoria, and local inspectors were established throughout the colony. By the 1870s, local councils and shires in Victoria held a set of Standards used to test scales, weights, and measures used by manufacturers, wholesalers, and retailers. Every ten years, the councils’ Standards needed to be rechecked against the Victorian Standards. In the 19th Century, the Victorian Customs Department inspected and maintained the Standards. In 1901, the Customs Department was transferred to the Federal Government, but the Weights and Measures authority remained with the Victorian Government and relocated to the Melbourne Observatory. In 1904, the Standard weights and measures, and testing equipment, were installed in the room of a new building erected at the south end of the Great Melbourne Telescope House. The room became known as the Whirling Room, due to its large whirling apparatus that tested air meters. When the Melbourne Observatory closed in 1944, the Weights and Measures Branch was formed to continue maintaining the Standards. On February 14th, 1966, Australia began its conversion to metric measures and currency, and a new set of Standard Measures was introduced; the conversion took place in stages. The Weights and Measures Branch remained at the Observatory site until 1995. James McEwan & Co.: - The maker of this set of Standard Measures was James McEwan. His Melbourne business was established in 1852 and sold retail furniture and wholesale ironmongery. The firm’s warehouses were situated at the intersection of 81-83 Elizabeth and Little Collins Streets. Shortly afterwards, the firm partnered with William Kerr Thomson and Samuel Renwick. When McEwan died in 1868, his partners carried on and expanded the business under his name, J McEwan. The business was expanded to provide a retail shop, counting-house and private offices. Wholesale warehouses adjoined these premises at 4, 6 and 10 Little Collins Street, West. This company provided and sold a large and varied amount of imported goods into the colony; agricultural equipment, building materials, mining items, steam engines, tools of all types and marble fireplaces. The company grew to employ over 150 people in Melbourne and opened offices at 27 Lombard St, London, as well as in New Zealand and Fiji. It also serviced the Mauritius islands and the Pacific area with its steamship, the Suva, and a brig, the Shannon.The set of Imperial Standard Measures is an example of a bronze measure container made specifically for J. McEwan & Co. Today, it helps us to understand how imperial weights and measures were used, and how a standard of measurement for merchants was developed in the Australian colonies based on the Imperial British measurement system. The container has social significance as an item retailed by J McEwan, and used by Victoria’s authorities legally responsible for ensuring that dry goods sold in Victoria by wholesalers and retailers are correct.Imperial Standard Measure: a container to measure the volume of a Half Bushel. It is part of a set of three precision measures - a Peck, a Half Bushel and a Bushel – used by government authorities in Victoria. The cast brass cylinder has straight sides and a flat base, and two handles are attached near the base by two posts on each handle. The wall inside is straight, and outside has grooves and horizontal bands. Inscriptions are engraved on the outside. The Measures were made for the retailer, J. McEwan & Co., London and Melbourne. Engraved test: "IMPERIAL STANDARD HALF BUSHEL. / VICTORIA / J. MCEWAN & O. LONDON AND MELBOURNE."flagstaff hill, flagstaff hill maritime museum and village, warrnambool, maritime museum, maritime village, great ocean road, shipwreck coast, weights and measurements, science, james mcewan & co., precision instrument, technology, melbourne observatory, british imperial standards, standard weights & measures, volume measure, dry measure, customs, commerce, victorian standard measure, pre-decimal measure, imperial standard, imperial half bushel, bronze container, brass container, cast container

This container is a pre-Decimal, Imperial Standard Bushel, part of a three-piece set of Standard measures used in Victoria from around 1900 to 1940. The measures were made in Melbourne by J. McEwan & Co. These three measures were likely used by the local Melbourne authority that monitored weights and measures in the mid to late 19th century. . An Imperial Bushel was equal to 8 gallons, or 36.36872 litres . An Imperial Peck equals a quarter of a Bushel, or 9.09 litres Standards for weights and measures began in Victoria when the Melbourne Observatory received primary sets of Imperial Standard Weights and Measures from Britain. These were tested against the then British Imperial Standards to measure length, weight and currency. Administrative bodies in the Colony of Australia could then compare their weights and measures against these British Primary Standards and adjust their Measures accordingly, to maintain the Standards. The Weights and Measures Act of 1862 was passed in Victoria, and local inspectors were established throughout the colony. By the 1870s, local councils and shires in Victoria held a set of Standards used to test scales, weights, and measures used by manufacturers, wholesalers, and retailers. Every ten years, the councils’ Standards needed to be rechecked against the Victorian Standards. In the 19th Century, the Victorian Customs Department inspected and maintained the Standards. In 1901, the Customs Department was transferred to the Federal Government, but the Weights and Measures authority remained with the Victorian Government and relocated to the Melbourne Observatory. In 1904, the Standard weights and measures, and testing equipment, were installed in the room of a new building erected at the south end of the Great Melbourne Telescope House. The room became known as the Whirling Room, due to its large whirling apparatus that tested air meters. When the Melbourne Observatory closed in 1944, the Weights and Measures Branch was formed to continue maintaining the Standards. On February 14th, 1966, Australia began its conversion to metric measures and currency, and a new set of Standard Measures was introduced; the conversion took place in stages. The Weights and Measures Branch remained at the Observatory site until 1995. James McEwan & Co.: - The maker of this set of Standard Measures was James McEwan. His Melbourne business was established in 1852 and sold retail furniture and wholesale ironmongery. The firm’s warehouses were situated at the intersection of 81-83 Elizabeth and Little Collins Streets. Shortly afterwards, the firm partnered with William Kerr Thomson and Samuel Renwick. When McEwan died in 1868, his partners carried on and expanded the business under his name, J McEwan. The business was expanded to provide a retail shop, counting-house and private offices. Wholesale warehouses adjoined these premises at 4, 6 and 10 Little Collins Street, West. This company provided and sold a large and varied amount of imported goods into the colony; agricultural equipment, building materials, mining items, steam engines, tools of all types and marble fireplaces. The company grew to employ over 150 people in Melbourne and opened offices at 27 Lombard St, London, as well as in New Zealand and Fiji. It also serviced the Mauritius islands and the Pacific area with its steamship, the Suva, and a brig, the ShannonThe set of Imperial Standard Measures is an example of a bronze measure container made specifically for J. McEwan & Co. Today, it helps us to understand how imperial weights and measures were used, and how a standard of measurement for merchants was developed in the Australian colonies based on the Imperial British measurement system. The container has social significance as an item retailed by J McEwan, and used by Victoria’s authorities legally responsible for ensuring that dry goods sold in Victoria by wholesalers and retailers are correct.Imperial Standard Measure: a container to measure the volume of a Busel. It is part of a set of three precision measures - a Peck, a Half Bushel and a Bushel – used by government authorities in Victoria. The cast brass cylinder has straight sides and a flat base, and two handles are attached near the base by two posts on each handle. The wall inside is straight, and outside has grooves and horizontal bands. Inscriptions are engraved on the outside. The Measures were made for the retailer, J. McEwan & Co., London and Melbourne.Engraved on side: "IMPERIAL STANDARD BUSHEL. / VICTORIA ./ J. MCEWAN & CO. LONDON AND MELBOURNE."flagstaff hill, flagstaff hill maritime museum and village, warrnambool, maritime museum, maritime village, great ocean road, shipwreck coast, weights and measurements, science, james mcewan & co., precision instrument, technology, melbourne observatory, british imperial standards, standard weights & measures, volume measure, dry measure, customs, commerce, victorian standard measure, pre-decimal measure, imperial standard, imperial bushel, peck measure, bronze container, brass container, cast container

This container is a pre-Decimal, Imperial Standard Peck, part of a three-piece set of Standard measures used in Victoria from around 1900 to 1940. The measures were made in Melbourne by J. McEwan & Co. These three measures were likely used by the local Melbourne authority that monitored weights and measures in the mid to late 19th century. . An Imperial Bushel was equal to 8 gallons, or 36.36872 litres . An Imperial Peck equals a quarter of a Bushel, or 9.09 litres Standards for weights and measures began in Victoria when the Melbourne Observatory received primary sets of Imperial Standard Weights and Measures from Britain. These were tested against the then British Imperial Standards to measure length, weight and currency. Administrative bodies in the Colony of Australia could then compare their weights and measures against these British Primary Standards and adjust their Measures accordingly, to maintain the Standards. The Weights and Measures Act of 1862 was passed in Victoria, and local inspectors were established throughout the colony. By the 1870s, local councils and shires in Victoria held a set of Standards used to test scales, weights, and measures used by manufacturers, wholesalers, and retailers. Every ten years, the councils’ Standards needed to be rechecked against the Victorian Standards. In the 19th Century, the Victorian Customs Department inspected and maintained the Standards. In 1901, the Customs Department was transferred to the Federal Government, but the Weights and Measures authority remained with the Victorian Government and relocated to the Melbourne Observatory. In 1904, the Standard weights and measures, and testing equipment, were installed in the room of a new building erected at the south end of the Great Melbourne Telescope House. The room became known as the Whirling Room, due to its large whirling apparatus that tested air meters. When the Melbourne Observatory closed in 1944, the Weights and Measures Branch was formed to continue maintaining the Standards. On February 14th, 1966, Australia began its conversion to metric measures and currency, and a new set of Standard Measures was introduced; the conversion took place in stages. The Weights and Measures Branch remained at the Observatory site until 1995. James McEwan & Co.: - The maker of this set of Standard Measures was James McEwan. His Melbourne business was established in 1852 and sold retail furniture and wholesale ironmongery. The firm’s warehouses were situated at the intersection of 81-83 Elizabeth and Little Collins Streets. Shortly afterwards, the firm partnered with William Kerr Thomson and Samuel Renwick. When McEwan died in 1868, his partners carried on and expanded the business under his name, J McEwan. The business was expanded to provide a retail shop, counting-house and private offices. Wholesale warehouses adjoined these premises at 4, 6 and 10 Little Collins Street, West. This company provided and sold a large and varied amount of imported goods into the colony; agricultural equipment, building materials, mining items, steam engines, tools of all types and marble fireplaces. The company grew to employ over 150 people in Melbourne and opened offices at 27 Lombard St, London, as well as in New Zealand and Fiji. It also serviced the Mauritius islands and the Pacific area with its steamship, the Suva, and a brig, the Shannon. The set of Imperial Standard Measures is an example of a bronze measure container made specifically for J. McEwan & Co. Today, it helps us to understand how imperial weights and measures were used, and how a standard of measurement for merchants was developed in the Australian colonies based on the Imperial British measurement system. The container has social significance as an item retailed by J McEwan, and used by Victoria’s authorities legally responsible for ensuring that dry goods sold in Victoria by wholesalers and retailers are correct. Imperial Standard Measure: a container to measure the volume of a Peck. It is part of a set of three precision measures - a Peck, a Half Bushel and a Bushel – used by government authorities in Victoria. The cast brass cylinder has straight sides and a flat base, and two handles are attached near the base by two posts on each handle. The wall inside is straight, and outside has grooves and horizontal bands. Inscriptions are engraved on the outside. The Measures were made for the retailer, J. McEwan & Co., London and Melbourne. Engraved on side: "IMPERIAL STANDARD PECK. / VICTORIA."flagstaff hill, flagstaff hill maritime museum and village, warrnambool, maritime museum, maritime village, great ocean road, shipwreck coast, weights and measurements, science, james mcewan & co., precision instrument, technology, melbourne observatory, british imperial standards, standard weights & measures, volume measure, dry measure, customs, commerce, victorian standard measure, pre-decimal measure, imperial standard, imperial bushel, imperial half bushel, imperial peck, peck measure, bronze container, brass container, cast container

The beginning of standardised weights and measures began In Victoria when the Melbourne Observatory received sets of standard weights and measures, which had been tested in Britain against the then British Imperial standards. These included the primary standard yard and pound for the Colony of Victoria. Other standards of weights and measure held by shires and the administrative body's within the colony could then be compared to these primary standards. A Weights and Measures Act was passed in Victoria in 1862, establishing local inspectors throughout the colony. By the 1870s each local council and shire in Victoria held a set of standards that were used to test scales, weights and dry measures used by wholesalers, factories and shops. Every ten years the councils’ standards would themselves need to be rechecked against the Victorian Standards. The checking was done by the Victorian Customs Department in the 19th century, but with the transfer of responsibility for customs to the Federal Government in 1901, weights and measures function was retained by the Victorian Government and was shifted to the Melbourne Observatory. In 1904, a new building was erected at the south end of the Great Melbourne Telescope House, where the standard weights and measures and testing equipment was installed. This room had a large whirling apparatus for testing air meters and became known as the Whirling Room. When the Melbourne Observatory closed in 1944, the Weights and Measures Branch was formed to continue and this branch remained at the Observatory site unit until 1995.An example of a brass measuring jug made specifically to maintain government standard liquid measurements that were sold to the public. The probability is that this artefact was made sometime between George V reign (1910-1936) and gives us today a snapshot of how imperial weights and measures were checked by Government departments prior to decimalisation and how a standard for the various types of measurement was developed in Australian based on the Imperial British measurement system. The container has social significance as an item used in Victoria as a legal standard measure to ensure that goods sold in Victoria were correct. Jug brass haystack form with a deep lip and pouring spout, small neck and broad base. It displays a curved pistol handle. Inscription at base of handle top of jug stamped 61 GVR SM. These marks signify that the measure complied with the Victorian Government capacity liquid standard measurement. Item made during the reign of George V (1910-1936 (GVR).Other marks indicate model number (61) & SM possible could be either small measure, the maker, or Standards Melbourne.flagstaff hill, warrnambool, shipwrecked-coast, flagstaff-hill, flagstaff-hill-maritime-museum, maritime-museum, shipwreck-coast, flagstaff-hill-maritime-village

The beginning of standardised weights and measures began In Victoria when the Melbourne Observatory received sets of standard weights and measures, which had been tested in Britain against the then British Imperial standards. These included the primary standard yard and pound for the Colony of Victoria. Other standards of weights and measure held by shires and the administrative body's within the colony could then be compared to these primary standards. A Weights and Measures Act was passed in Victoria in 1862, establishing local inspectors throughout the colony. By the 1870s each local council and shire in Victoria held a set of standards that were used to test scales, weights and dry measures used by wholesalers, factories and shops. Every ten years the councils’ standards would themselves need to be rechecked against the Victorian Standards. The checking was done by the Victorian Customs Department in the 19th century, but with the transfer of responsibility for customs to the Federal Government in 1901, weights and measures function was retained by the Victorian Government and was shifted to the Melbourne Observatory. In 1904, a new building was erected at the south end of the Great Melbourne Telescope House, where the standard weights and measures and testing equipment was installed. This room had a large whirling apparatus for testing air meters and became known as the Whirling Room. When the Melbourne Observatory closed in 1944, the Weights and Measures Branch was formed to continue and this branch remained at the Observatory site unit until 1995.An example of a galvanised measuring jug made specifically to maintain government standard liquid measurements that were sold to the public. The probability is that this artifact was made around the first quarter of the 20th century and gives us today a snapshot of how imperial weights and measures were used before decimalisation and how a standard of measurement for merchants was developed in Australian based on the Imperial British measurement system. The container has social significance as an item used in Victoria as a legal standard measure to ensure that goods sold in Victoria were correct given the item is galvanised it was probability used for kerosene or petrol etc not for liquids used for human consumption. Jug conical shaped with rounded top coming to a very slight point wide handle at back. VIB.L.66 1/2 Gall capacity unsure of the markings 66 could mean the model number capacity is 1/2 an imperial gallon VIB.L markings not known possibly a company or Victorian Department that the jug was made for and no longer active.flagstaff hill, warrnambool, shipwrecked-coast, flagstaff-hill, flagstaff-hill-maritime-museum, maritime-museum, shipwreck-coast, flagstaff-hill-maritime-village

The beginning of standardised weights and measures began In Victoria when the Melbourne Observatory received sets of standard weights and measures, which had been tested in Britain against the then British Imperial standards. These included the primary standard yard and pound for the Colony of Victoria. Other standards of weights and measure held by shires and the administrative body's within the colony could then be compared to these primary standards. A Weights and Measures Act was passed in Victoria in 1862, establishing local inspectors throughout the colony. By the 1870s each local council and shire in Victoria held a set of standards that were used to test scales, weights and dry measures used by wholesalers, factories and shops. Every ten years the councils’ standards would themselves need to be rechecked against the Victorian Standards. The checking was done by the Victorian Customs Department in the 19th century, but with the transfer of responsibility for customs to the Federal Government in 1901, weights and measures function was retained by the Victorian Government and was shifted to the Melbourne Observatory. In 1904, a new building was erected at the south end of the Great Melbourne Telescope House, where the standard weights and measures and testing equipment was installed. This room had a large whirling apparatus for testing air meters and became known as the Whirling Room. When the Melbourne Observatory closed in 1944, the Weights and Measures Branch was formed to continue and this branch remained at the Observatory site unit until 1995. An example of a galvanised measuring jug made specifically to maintain government standard liquid measurements that were sold to the public. The probability is that this artifact was made around the first quarter of the 20th century and gives us today a snapshot of how imperial weights and measures were used before decimalisation and how a standard of measurement for merchants was developed in Australian based on the Imperial British measurement system. The container has social significance as an item used in Victoria as a legal standard measure to ensure that goods sold in Victoria were correct given the item is galvanised it was probability used for kerosene or petrol etc not for liquids used for human consumption. Galvanised Iron jug with rounded top, Inscription on handle at back. 2 gallon GV.35flagstaff hill, warrnambool, shipwrecked-coast, flagstaff-hill, flagstaff-hill-maritime-museum, maritime-museum, shipwreck-coast, flagstaff-hill-maritime-village

The beginning of standardised weights and measures began In Victoria when the Melbourne Observatory received sets of standard weights and measures, which had been tested in Britain against the then British Imperial standards. These included the primary standard yard and pound for the Colony of Victoria. Other standards of weights and measure held by shires and the administrative body's within the colony could then be compared to these primary standards. A Weights and Measures Act was passed in Victoria in 1862, establishing local inspectors throughout the colony. By the 1870s each local council and shire in Victoria held a set of standards that were used to test scales, weights and dry measures used by wholesalers, factories and shops. Every ten years the councils’ standards would themselves need to be rechecked against the Victorian Standards. The checking was done by the Victorian Customs Department in the 19th century, but with the transfer of responsibility for customs to the Federal Government in 1901, weights and measures function was retained by the Victorian Government and was shifted to the Melbourne Observatory. In 1904, a new building was erected at the south end of the Great Melbourne Telescope House, where the standard weights and measures and testing equipment was installed. This room had a large whirling apparatus for testing air meters and became known as the Whirling Room. When the Melbourne Observatory closed in 1944, the Weights and Measures Branch was formed to continue and this branch remained at the Observatory site unit until 1995.An example of a galvanised measuring jug made specifically to maintain government standard liquid measurements that were sold to the public. The probability is that this artifact was made around the first quarter of the 20th century and gives us today a snapshot of how imperial weights and measures were used before decimalisation and how a standard of measurement for merchants was developed in Australian based on the Imperial British measurement system. The container has social significance as an item used in Victoria as a legal standard measure to ensure that goods sold in Victoria were correct given the item is galvanised it was probability used for kerosene or petrol etc not for liquids used for human consumption. Jug galvanised conical shaped with rounded top, handle at back. 3 gallon GV.27flagstaff hill, warrnambool, shipwrecked-coast, flagstaff-hill, flagstaff-hill-maritime-museum, maritime-museum, shipwreck-coast, flagstaff-hill-maritime-village

The beginning of standardised weights and measures began In Victoria when the Melbourne Observatory received sets of standard weights and measures, which had been tested in Britain against the then British Imperial standards. These included the primary standard yard and pound for the Colony of Victoria. Other standards of weights and measure held by shires and the administrative body's within the colony could then be compared to these primary standards. A Weights and Measures Act was passed in Victoria in 1862, establishing local inspectors throughout the colony. By the 1870s each local council and shire in Victoria held a set of standards that were used to test scales, weights and dry measures used by wholesalers, factories and shops. Every ten years the councils’ standards would themselves need to be rechecked against the Victorian Standards. The checking was done by the Victorian Customs Department in the 19th century, but with the transfer of responsibility for customs to the Federal Government in 1901, weights and measures function was retained by the Victorian Government and was shifted to the Melbourne Observatory. In 1904, a new building was erected at the south end of the Great Melbourne Telescope House, where the standard weights and measures and testing equipment was installed. This room had a large whirling apparatus for testing air meters and became known as the Whirling Room. When the Melbourne Observatory closed in 1944, the Weights and Measures Branch was formed to continue and this branch remained at the Observatory site unit until 1995.An example of a galvanised measuring jug made specifically to maintain government standard liquid measurements that were sold to the public. The probability is that this artifact was made around the first quarter of the 20th century and gives us today a snapshot of how imperial weights and measures were used before decimalisation and how a standard of measurement for merchants was developed in Australian based on the Imperial British measurement system. The container has social significance as an item used in Victoria as a legal standard measure to ensure that goods sold in Victoria were correct. Jug conical shaped with rounded top coming to a very slight point wide handle at back. VIB.L.66 1/2 Gall capacityflagstaff hill, warrnambool, shipwrecked-coast, flagstaff-hill, flagstaff-hill-maritime-museum, maritime-museum, shipwreck-coast, flagstaff-hill-maritime-village

The disc-shaped design of these 1LB and 2 LB metal weights enables them to be stacked one on top of the other. The weights are used with a balance scale to accurately weigh the mass of items such as grain, sugar, meat or potatoes. They could have been used in retail or wholesale businesses like a general store or a grain merchant’s premises. The user would place either one or both of these weights on one side of a balance scale. Goods would then be placed onto the other side of the scale until the beam between both sides of the scale was level, showing that the weight of the goods was as heavy as the weight or weights on the other side. These two weights are marked in Imperial units. An Imperial Standard 1LB is equal to 453.592grams. The British Weights and Measures Act of 1824 defined official standards for weights and measurements. This ensured that uniform measurements would be used for trade throughout the Empire. Towns and districts would have an official set of Imperial Standard Weights and Measures. Inspectors periodically used this official set to check the accuracy of traders’ own weights and measures. There would be penalties such as fines or imprisonment for people who broke these laws. The State of Victoria had its own Weight and Measures Act in 1862 and a decade later the inspectors in local councils used their local set of weights and measures to test the local businesses measuring equipment. In the nineteenth century the Victorian Customs Department carried out this role but this was handed over to the Melbourne Observatory at the beginning of the twentieth century. The Measures Branch then followed on with this task from the 1940s until 1995. Australia began converting to the metric system in the 1960s, beginning with its money. The conversion from imperial to metric units of measurement in Australia took place from 1970 and was completed in 1988 when metric units became the only legal unit of measurement. Imperial Standard weights; set of two disc-shaped weights designed to stack one upon the other. Inscriptions are marked in relief. "IMPERIAL STANDARD 1LB" [weight 1], "IMPERIAL STANDARD 2LB" [weight 2]warrnambool, shipwrecked-coast, flagstaff-hill, flagstaff-hill-maritime-museum, maritime-museum, shipwreck-coast, flagstaff-hill-maritime-village, shipwrecked-artefact, wieght, weights and measures, imperial standard weight

The disc-shaped design of this 2 LB metal weight enables it to be stacked on top of another similarly shaped weight. The weight is used with a balance scale to accurately weigh the mass of items such as grain, sugar, meat or potatoes. It could have been used in retail or wholesale businesses like a general store or a grain merchant’s premises. The user would place the weight on one side of a balance scale. Goods would then be placed onto the other side of the scale until the beam between both sides of the scale was level, showing that the weight of the goods was as heavy as the weight on the other side. This weight is marked in Imperial units. An Imperial Standard 1LB, or one pound, is equal to 453.592grams. The British Weights and Measures Act of 1824 defined official standards for weights and measurements. This ensured that uniform measurements would be used for trade throughout the Empire. Towns and districts would have an official set of Imperial Standard Weights and Measures. Inspectors periodically used this official set to check the accuracy of traders’ own weights and measures. There would be penalties such as fines or imprisonment for people who broke these laws. The State of Victoria had its own Weight and Measures Act in 1862 and a decade later the inspectors in local councils used their local set of weights and measures to test the local businesses measuring equipment. In the nineteenth century the Victorian Customs Department carried out this role but this was handed over to the Melbourne Observatory at the beginning of the twentieth century. The Measures Branch then followed on with this task from the 1940s until 1995. Australia began converting to the metric system in the 1960s, beginning with its money. The conversion from imperial to metric units of measurement in Australia took place from 1970 and was completed in 1988 when metric units became the only legal unit of measurement.Weight; 2 lbs. Metal disc designed for stacking. Inscription marked in relief. Imperial Standard weight, 2 pounds weight."IMPERIAL STANDARD", "2lbs"flagstaff hill, warrnambool, shipwrecked coast, flagstaff hill maritime museum, maritime museum, shipwreck coast, flagstaff hill maritime village, great ocean road, standard measure, imperial standard, weight, 2lb weight, imperial standard weight

The peck has been in use since the early 14th century when it was introduced as a measure for flour. The term referred to varying quantities until the modern units of measurement were defined in the 19th century. Cities in England used to have official standard weights and measures for that city or area. These containers were marked with the city's name and emblem, merchant’s weights and measures would then be checked against this to make sure they weren't trying to cheat their customers. The item in the collection is a standard measure approved by Bristol City and used by that City’s grocers to measure dry goods such as peas, beans, sugar, flour, meal etc., and its metal banding ensures that the measure cannot be reduced in size to cheat customers. Additional Information: The British Imperial System evolved from the thousands of Roman, Celtic, Anglo-Saxon, and customary local units employed in the middle Ages. Traditional names such as pound, foot, and gallon were widely used, but the values so designated varied with time, place, trade, product specifications, and dozens of other requirements. Early royal standards were established to enforce uniformity took the name Winchester, after the ancient tenth century capital of Britain. King Henry VII reaffirmed the customary Winchester standards for capacity and length and distributed royal standards throughout the realm. This process was repeated about a century later in the reign of Queen Elizabeth I. In the 16th century, the rod (5.5 yards, or 16.5 feet) was defined (once again as a learning device and not as a standard) defined by the length of the left feet of 16 men lined up heel to toe as they emerged from the church. By the 17th century usage and legal statute had established the acre, rod, and furlong at their present values together with other historic units such as the peck. Establishment of the System: The Weights and Measures Act of 1824 and the Act of 1878 established the British Imperial System based on precise definitions of selected existing units. The 1824 act sanctioned a single imperial gallon to replace the wine, ale, and corn (wheat) gallons that were in general use. The new gallon was defined as equal in volume to 10 pounds avoirdupois of distilled water weighed at 62°F with the barometer at 30 inches, or 277.274 cubic inches (later corrected to 277.421 cubic inches). The two new basic standard units were the imperial standard yard and the troy pound, which was later restricted to weighing drugs, precious metals, and jewels. In 1963 an act of parliament abolished archaic measures as the rod and chaldron and a metric system was adopted. An early example of a dry measuring container giving a snapshot of how imperial weights and measures developed in England to evolve the British measurement system into the metric arrangement that most countries have adopted today including Australia. It has social significance as an item that was in everyday use by grocers and other merchants to measure dry goods in the late 18th to early 19th centuries and used specifically in the Bristol region of England as an officially recognised measurement.Wooden measurement container with iron banding and hand made rivets container is a Quarter Peck official measurement container. Inscriptions are impressed into the sides of the wooden body. The container has the official crown and emblem of the City of Bristol, indicating this item was the Bristol City standard quarter peck measurement.Impressed into the timber on the front, a crown emblem over "C B G / CITY OF BRISTOL / QUARTER", on one side "HALF" , another side "PECK". Handwritten in white chalk on the base is "1458"flagstaff hill, warrnambool, shipwrecked-coast, flagstaff-hill-maritime-museum, flagstaff-hill-maritime-village, weights and measures, quarter peck, measurement container, dry grocery measure, bristol city measurement standard, city of bristol, british weights and measures, 18th and 19th centure standard measures

Newspaper clipping, Bendigo Advertiser Tuesday June 24 1947. Photo shows a load of 'Barblock' wire being unloaded in Bendigo for distribution by the Abbott Supply Company. Advice has also been received 'Barblock' has been adopted as standard wire for the Australian Military forces and the British Imperial Forces, and efforts are being made to produce it in England.rural industry, fencing, barbed wire, h. a abbott

This cylinder was constructed for the postage of two documents (0060.2 and 0060.3), to notify the family of Pte James Thomas Newton (945215) 3rd Battalion, Australian Imperial Force, of his passing. The documents appear to be addressed to M A Newton, though James Thomas Newton's next of kin is listed as David Newton, his father. James Thomas enlisted on 18 July 1916, joining the 3rd battalion, first in "B" Company and . James Thomas' service records indicate that he died on 9 October 1916 in a field hospital, Liverpool, NSW. He was ailed by bronchial pneumonia for 13 days before succumbing to the illness. A telegram suggests that the family were notified on the day of his death and received the cylinder and documents in the post 6 years later. Cream coloured card paper rolled into scroll for transport inside card cylinder (0060.1). Certificate is printed with standard text and British crest above which is a "G V R" indicating the certificate was issued by King George V. Certificate features handwritten calligraphy notation of the recipient's name at the bottom of the text block.Handwritten notation reads "Pte. James Thomas Newton/3rd Bn A.I.F."post, postal, postage, death notice, certificate, private james thomas newton, 3rd battalion, australian imperial force, first world war, world was i, world war 1