This was owned and used by J.G. Ralston of Orbost. John Gavin Ralston was born 26 July 1914 at Eden, N.S.W. and came to Orbost in the early 1920's, with his parents and siblings. They lived at the corner of Tennyson and Salisbury Streets. Jack was educated at Orbost Higher Elementary School before being apprenticed to William Ross at the Snowy River Mail as a lino-type operator. He married Jean Cameron. After WW11 when he served overseas in the islands) He resumed his trade at the Snowy River Mail until 1949 when began J.G.& J.M. Ralston, Seed & Produce Merchants. Jack Ralston was very involved in the Orbost sporting community, the Presbyterian Church and the Orbost Municipal Band. He also served in the Orbost sub-branch of the R.S.L. He died on April 15 1967. (ref. Margaret Smith O.D.H.S. Newsletter) Collecting match box holders / grips was a popular hobby. They were made to fit over a box of matches for protection. Some were especially produced for significant occasions. This item is an example of a very common personal item rarely used today.A painted metal matchbox cover with a thin wooden matchbox inside. It is cream coloured with a picture of a cricketer being bowled out. In the top right hand corner is "OWZAT". The matches are Bryant & May's Crown Safety Matches. it is a rectangular cardboard box with a sliding cardboard drawer. The box has a paper label with text reading, "BRYANT & MAY'S CROWN SAFETY MATCHES" and an image of a crown. The top and bottom side has a purple striking paper, to light match. Bottom and sides of sliding drawer are a green color.J.G.Ralstonmatchbox-holder smoking-accessories ralston-j.g.

rectangular metal wrap around covers for safety match boxes. Each has advertising or promotional printing on them. cover a contains an original box of Bryant and May crown safety matches.a. advertising E. Bourke's Koroit Hotel with a photo of the Australian Eleven 1930 on reverse. b. Photo of the Dog on the Tucker Box with a poem "Bill the Bullocky" on reverse. c. Souvenir of the coronation of Queen Elizabeth II

Bryant and May was a United Kingdom (UK) company created in the mid-nineteenth century specifically to make matches. Their original Bryant and May Factory was located in Bow, London. They later opened other match factories in the United Kingdom and Australia, such as the Bryant and May Factory, Melbourne; and owned match factories in other parts of the world.Bryant and May survived as an independent company for over seventy years, but went through a series of mergers with other match companies and later with consumer products companies. To protect its position Bryant and May merged with or took over its rivals. In 1971 the Northern Ireland factory, Maguire & Patterson closed down following a terrorist attack.. In the 1980s, factories in Gloucester and Glasgow closed too leaving Liverpool as the last match factory in the UK, until December 1994. The former Australian match factory, in Melbourne, closed in the mid-1980s. The registered trade name Bryant and May still exists and it is owned by Swedish Match, as are many of the other registered trade names of the other, formerly independent, companies within the Bryant and May group. The British match brands continue to survive, as brands of Swedish Match, and are made outside the UK. Matches were first produced by Bryant & May in Australia in 1909. The Redhead name applies to the red striking heads of the matches which were introduced to Australia in 1946. The logo on the matchbox depicted the head and shoulder of a redheaded woman and has had four major updates since that time with a number of special issues depicting animals, birds and notable persons also producedThe Bryant & May Ltd factory in Church St Richmond is a listed building and has been converted to apartments following the closure of the Company 1980. Bryant & May's Ltd were influential in fighting against the dreadful disease known as Phossy jaw which was caused by white phosphorus used in the manufacture of the early matches. They were also the object of the 'Match Girls Strike' in London 1888, which won important improvements in working conditions and pay for the mostly female workforce working with the dangerous white phosphorus. The public were slow to purchase these safety matches because of the higher price .A box of safety matches with unused matches made by Bryant & May Pty Ltd , Richmond Victoria Australia. The tray containing the matches slides inside the open ended cover.. The striking patch is on both sides of the cover.PREVENT FIRES/ BRYANT & MAY'S / a crown in an oval shape / SAFETY MATCHES/ MOTORISTS USE ASHTRAY/ AV. CONTENTS 60 / Made in Australiasafety matches, bryant & may's pty ltd, phosy jaw disease, early settlers, moorabbin, bentleigh, richmond, cheltenham, lights, lamps, tobacco

This box of matches was up until the 1980's the major source of lighting "small" fires, mainly for cigarettes, pipes (smoking), BBQs, gas/ kerosene heaters and "clearing" rural shrub by small fires. It was not until flint based battery and lighter fluid (hand held lighters) were introduced did the need for "matches" (a more dangerous application of instant fire starters) become relegated to a lower level "demand" item. The limited quality supplied in a box could also not compete with hand held gas and "lighter fluid" lighters. Box of matches belonged to the "yesteryear" fashion accessory's most important list. Matches had become obsolete for the major stream of users as cheaper, easier to use and longer lasting "cigarette" lighters were produced.This match box of Australian make and vintage in origin, was originally manufactured by a British Match Box Company (Bryant and May in Bow London), which expanded to the Australian "Colonies". The Australian subsidiary was at Cremorne, Melbourne. It was typical of goods, which had their "founding fathers" based in "the Mother Country" (England). The early settlers in the Kiewa Valley found these matches an important necessity for not only rural life but also for the recreational "smoko".This small box of "safety" matches has an inner "drawer" which can be slid open to reveal the "match" sticks. The small bowl shaped phosphorous at one end of a "match" is the fire starter(phosphorus) which when lit would "flare" up and provide a small flame. This typical box of matches held an average of sixty matches. The top of the match box has a "glued on" signage with manufacturer's details. In brown script and on a blue background "BRYANT & MAY'S and below this "CROWN" below this and on a red background with faded and worn letters "SAFETY MATCHES" On either side of the top side and in smaller print "MADE IN AUSTRALIA" and opposite "AVERAGE CONTENTS SIXTY"fire starters, cigarette lighters, bbq lighters, domestic fire starters

These pocket-sized cases for carrying matches took their name from 'Vesta', the deity that presided over the domestic focus (hearth) in Ancient Rome. Vesta cases were in great use between the 1860's and 1940', but the invention of the pocket petrol lighter initiated a decline in the use of these items.Silver match box with crown hinged lid. Front is engraved.match-safe silver smoking-accessories vesta-case

The Bryant and May Factory is located in the suburb of Cremorne in Melbourne, Australia. It was constructed in 1909 as the Empire Works to a design by prolific Melbourne architect William Pitt. It was purchased soon after by British safety match manufacturer Bryant and May who significantly expanded the building adding an additional level and the landmark clock tower. Bryant and May were unique in that they operated as a model factory providing workers with conditions and amenities which even today seem generous. These included a dining hall and sports facilities such as a tennis court and bowling green which were constructed in the 1920s. Bryant and May ceased Australian match manufacture in the early 1980s as a result of import competition. Their iconic Redheads matches are now imported from Sweden. The complex has since been converted for use as offices and showrooms but is extremely well preserved. It is listed on the Victorian Heritage Register. Source: www.wikipedia.org Local social history of Bacchus MarshMetal matchbox holder for a matchbox-one side has a photo of a local cricket team, the other side has a caricature of a man's face when held one way up is smiling and when turned up the other way the face is looking unhappy. The cover is blue with yellow. The matchbox cover is made of a thin veneer wood. The makers inscription is in blue and red.Cover/spine: Strike The Border Inn Bacchus Marsh for a good spot Phone 16 Cyril Jones, Proprietor. Cover/side: This man always calls in at the Border Inn. This Man wishes he did Matchbox:Bryant & May's "Crown" Safety Matchesbox, souvenir, sport, item, cricket, match, team, cyril, jones, border, inn, cover, novelty

Standard matchbox with green top embossed with crossed swords, kangaroo & royal crown.Australian Made Brymay Matchesmatchbox

Early matches. Brown paper package containing eleven boxes of safety matches. Made in Australia. Product information printed on red and blue and label attached to brown paper.Bryant & May's Crown Made in Australia Safety Matchesbryant & may, matches, crown matches

Made in Camp 1 by AW (Initials on back) for Mr. FJ Haslinger in 1940. Given to Helmut Ruff as a momento when released from Camp 1 in 1947Beaten copper holder for matchbox, patterned. Holds box of "Crown" Safety matchesholder - matchbox, haslinger fj, ruff h, camp 1, tatura, ww2 camp 1, personal, effects, smoking, accessory, copperwork

From Box Hill Historical SocietyEmpty Bryant and May match box. Red and dark blue cover with a red crown in the middle. 'Bryant and Mays' Crown Safety matches, Made in Australia. Average contents 60as abovepersonal effects, smoking accessories