Velvet Soap was a widely used laundry bar soap launched in 1906, produced by J. Kitchen & Sons, owned by John Ambrose Kitchen (1835 - 1922). Kitchen was born in Britain and emigrated to Victoria in 1854. After a less than successful period at the Caledonian and Blackwood diggings, Kitchen returned to Melbourne and joined his father and brothers in establishing a tallow candle making works. Through merger and expansion the company became the pre-eminent manufacturer of soap and candles in the eastern colonies in the mid to late 19th century. Kitchen also speculated in a number of enterprises but suffered financial setbacks as a result of the 1890s bank crashes. Despite this, the company continued to grow in the early twentieth century with the introduction of products such as Velvet Soap and Solvol. The company merged with the British company Lever Bros in 1914 who eventually took full control of the company in 1924, becoming Lever and Kitchen. Advertising for Velvet Soap in Australia was extensive and pervasive. All manner of surfaces were used to advertise the product such as building walls, roofs, and most commonly, enamelled sheet metal signs which were fastened to any available surface internally and externally. The most common form of sign that Velvet Soap used was the words 'PURE VELVET SOAP' in white lettering within a vivid dark blue, elongated Maltese cross. On the enamelled metal signs the Maltese cross sat on a red background with a yellow border. While this was the dominant form for Velvet Soap signs, there were variations from the standard. The Velvet Soap sign is of historical significance as a representative of painted signs that were once a common form of advertising during the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. - : http://vhd.heritagecouncil.vic.gov.au/places/14447#sthash.Vb6KAUWl.dpufHistoric - Advertising Sign - Velvet SoapTin sign with white, yellow, red and blue enamel. Pure velvet soap.puffing billy, enamel sign, pure velvet soap

Hudson's Soap Powder, was the first satisfactory and commercially successful soap powder and was made in Liverpool by Robert Spear Hudson. He was also an innovator in using advertising, commissioning striking images from professional artists and paid for publicity , something which few other businesses did, and as such Hudson's soap became a household name. Horse, steam and electric tramcars, print periodicals and chemist shops carried his advertisements. This sign was manufactured by Patent Enamel Co Ltd was a company built in 1889 at Selly Oak, Borough of Birmingham, West Midlands, England, United Kingdom. The business was the first factory specifically devoted to enameled iron sign making. It had twelve furnaces for fusing the enamel, two scaling furnaces, and a large printing room, plus a huge area for steampipe drying. The company also smelted its own enamels and colour oxides. It is believed that the factory was decommissioned and demolished in the 1960's.the first factory specifically devoted to enameled iron sign making. It had twelve furnaces for fusing the enamel, two scaling furnaces, and a large printing room, plus a huge area for steampipe drying. The company also smelted its own enamels and colour oxides.The factory was decommissioned and demolished in the 1960s.The signage demonstrates the increasing demand for domestic soap products and new forms of advertising. The soap business was apart of the flourishing export trade between Australia and Britain during the height of the British Empire.Enamel advertising sign for Hudson's soapflagstaff hill, warrnambool, maritime museum, hudson's soap, advertising signage, patent enamel co ltd, selly oak, borough of birmingham, robert spear hudson

The sign is shown in photo P , taken on the western platform in 1967. Just prior to demolition of the station, the sign was taken by Ian Smith of Buninyong, and kept by him until its donation to the YHG.Sign from Yendon station platform. Metal, black underneath, front white with black lettering. Top and bottom edges rolled over to the back. Three holes along the top and bottom edges, fitted with metal eyelets.YENDONyendon railway station, station sign

Demonstrates how the SEC used enameled signs to convey instructions to passengers and confirm the advice of the conductor.,An enameled sign with black lettering and border on an off-white background. Lettering reads, "Passengers are requested to provide themselves with correct amount of Fare." Rust markings show on the face where the enamel has chipped. Two holes have been drilled in the sides to attach sign to the tram cab. The reverse is a mixture of black and white enamel, marked with patches of rust where the enamel has worn away.tram signs, tramway enamel signage

Demonstrates how the SEC used enameled signs to convey instructions to passengers and confirm the advice of the conductor.An enameled sign, with black letters and border lines on an off-white background. Sign reads "Passengers are requested to present the correct amount of Fare." Two holes on the left and right hand sides have been made to attach the sign to the tram cab. There are rust marks permeating the enamel on the front. And paint has been used on the RH side to cover chipped enamel. The reverse has been coated in black enamel, with rust marks showing where the enamel was placed on a frame prior to firing, and where the enamel has chipped away from the outer edge.tramways sign, enameled tramway signage

Guards Van Sign - Ticket Office In the Preservation Society days of Puffing Billy, not all stations were manned for the sale of tickets, and tickets were sold from the Guards Van. To advise the public where they could obtain tickets this sign was placed above one of the windows on the guards van. Tickets could be issued from here for passengers to travel on the line.Historic - Puffing Billy Railways Guards Van Sign - Ticket Office sign Guards Van Sign - Ticket Office White enamel sign with black letteringTicket Office puffing billy, station sign, ticket box

Sign advising passengers that they must not stand in gangways on the left side of cars and a penalty if refused to leave by the Conductor. The penalty appears to start with a 2. May not be relevant to SEC tramcars.Demonstrates signs used on tramcars to advise passengers of their behaviour.Enamel sign - black letters on a white base with screw holes at either end.signs, passengers, tramways, tramcars, btm, ballarat tramways

Sign - red band top and larger or deeper bottom red band, with words "CARS STOP Here" in black paint on a white background. Has a black back. Used to indicate a compulsory tram stop, that is, trams had to stop every time before they passed it. Possibly ex Melbourne as Ballarat did not use steel poles. The design allowed them to be placed back to back.Yields information about Tramway stops signs and their layout.Semi-circular enamel sign on heavy metal sheet with mounting holes on the side returns.trams, tramways, street furniture, tram stops, mmtb

Sign - equal red band top and bottom red band, with words "HAIL CARS HERE" in black paint on a white background. Has a black back. Possibly ex Melbourne as Ballarat did not use steel poles. The design allowed them to be placed back to back.Yields information about Tramway stops signs and their layout.Semi-circular enamel sign on heavy metal sheet with mounting holes on the side returns. trams, tramways, street furniture, tram stops, mmtb

Used on tramcars to advise passengers of the duty of the Conductor to collect their fares. Has the words "NOTICE It is the Conductor's duty to issues a Check for every fare received. This Check denotes the destination to which the Passenger is entitled to travel, and must produced on demand, or another fare paid.". Sign has a black enamel backing, with marks from the enamelling process and holes in each corner. On the second copy, the words "NOTICE" and "produced on" and "another fare" have been chipped off. Two copies held. On rear is a manufacturer's notice (A. Simpson and Son Limited Enamellers of Pirie St Adelaide) regarding fixing the sign and possible damage to surface. In bottom left hand of rear is words "No. 3 O?? No. 3"Demonstrates how the SEC used enamel signs to convey instructions to passengers or to confirm the advice of the conductor and how enamel signs were made.Enamel sign, black capital letters and lines on white background. Two copies held.trams, tramways, signs, sec, conductors, fares

Victorian Railways - Terminal stop Board - End of electrification sign This ‘star’ sign signified that beyond this object there was no further powered overhead to operate on the Melbourne suburban rail network.Historic - Victorian Railways - Terminal stop Board - End of electrification signRailway Sign - Victorian Railways - Terminal stop Board - End of electrification sign metal star shaped enamel sign with Black dot in centreBlack Dotpuffing billy, victorian railways, terminal stop board, end of electrification sign

Sign used at Foster Valley Mill.Metal enamel toilet sign with black lettering on a white background.NOTICE. / "CLEANLINESS IS NEXT TO / GODLINESS." LEAVE / THIS LAVATORY / AS YOU WOULD WISH TO FIND IT / VIC. ENL. WORKS GEELONG.valley worsted mill, foster valley mill pty ltd, sign, toilets, notice, manufacturing, factories, textile industry, workplace

Demonstrates how the SEC used enamel signs to convey instructions to passengers or to confirm the advice of the conductor and how enamel signs were made.Enamel sign, black capital letters and lines on an off-white background, titled "Passengers are requested to tender the correct amount of fare". Marks on rear from the enamelling process. The front of the sign has been covered with varnish. trams, tramways, tramcars, signs, conductors, passengers

Demonstrates how the SEC used enamel signs to convey instructions to passengers or to confirm the advice of the conductor and how enamel signs were made.Enamel sign, black capital letters and lines on white background, titled "Entering or leaving this tram on the wrong side is prohibited". Sign has a black enamel backing, with marks from the enamelling process and screw holes sides. Has not been used. trams, tramways, signs, sec, passengers, btm, ballarat tramways

Enamel sign - steel back, black enamel with white letters, slightly impressed = "WARNING TO NOT LEAN AGAINST DOOR". Has the marks from the sign being supported during the enamelling process on the rear. May have been fitted to a Victorian Railway's tram.trams, tramways, signs, tramcars, victorian railways, passengers, behaviour

Enamel sign, black capital letters and lines on white background, with words in capital letters "Weather Blinds must not be operated by Passengers". Sign has a black enamel backing, with marks from the enamelling process and two holes centrally at either end. Two copies held.trams, tramways, signs, sec

Demonstrates how the SEC used enamel signs to convey instructions to passengers or to confirm the advice of the conductor and how enamel signs were made.Enamel sign, black capital letters and lines on white background, titled "Passengers must travel only on the inside of the tram. Travelling on Running Boards is Prohibited Penalty up to L20". Sign has a black enamel backing, with marks from the enamelling process and screw holes in each corner. Has not been used. trams, tramways, signs, sec, passengers, btm, ballarat tramways

Blue Enamelled Telegraph Office Sign for Wal Wal Post Officestawell

Used by the Victorian Railways in their tramcars to advise passengers re payment of fares, standing in gangways, alighting and not leaving the tramcar on the wrong side.Demonstrates the method of advising passengers re their behaviour or duties.Sign - enamel white letters on a black background with screw holes in each corner.signs, trams, tramcars, victorian railways, behaviour

Demonstrates how the SEC used enamel signs to convey instructions to passengers or to confirm the advice of the conductor and how enamel signs were made. Enamel sign, black capital letters and lines on white background, titled "Passengers Must Not Obstruct the Entrances". Sign has a black enamel backing, with marks from the enamelling process. Four screw holes in each corner to secure the sign. 4563i1 - Similar sign but different layout and smaller in length "Passengers Must Not Obstruct tram Entrance." Two screw holes in sides.trams, tramways, signs, sec, tramcars

Demonstrates how the SEC used enamel signs to convey instructions to passengers or to confirm the advice of the conductor and how enamel signs were made.Enamel sign, black capital letters and lines on white background, titled "Passengers must travel only on the inside of the tram. Travelling on Running Boards is Prohibited Penalty up to L20"". Sign has a black enamel backing, with marks from the enamelling process and screw holes in each corner. 2nd copy added 4/7/2017 from donation of Wendy Hunt.trams, tramways, signs, sec, passengers, btm, ballarat tramways

This metal and enamel sign is believed to have hung outside the Myrtleford Forest District Office. It includes directions to the Ovens Nursery, Office and Residence Phone numbers, radio call signs (VL30V) and office hours are included It also makes reference to hardwood and softwoods In 1956, the new Chairman of the Forests Commission, Alf Lawrence, introduced a major restructure of the organisation to create 56 Forest Districts. The process included amalgamating the plantations and hardwood divisions, which had been separate and rival entities up to that time. Things remained largely unchanged for the next three decades until the early 1980s.Myrtleford Forest District office signforest signs, forests commission victoria (fcv)

Demonstrates how the SEC used enamel signs to convey instructions to passengers or to confirm the advice of the conductor and how enamel signs were made.Enamel sign, black capital letters and lines on an off-white background, titled "Entering or leaving this tram on the wrong side is prohibited". Marks on rear from the enamelling process. The front of the sign has been covered with varnish. See also Reg Item 7118 for a later sign. Of the type that could have been fitted by the MMTB to its trams. 2nd copy added 25/11/2019 trams, tramways, tramcars, signs, passengers, btm, ballarat tramways

One of a group of signs that were fitted into tramcars in Ballarat, giving instructions to passengers about prams, behaviour, smoking, fare payment, talking to the motorman, instructions or information to drivers etc. Yields information about the sign manufacture, demonstrates the type of signs provided in tramcars.Set of seven enamel signs, black capital letters and lines on white background, titled " No Smoking". One of a number similar signs donated to the Ballarat Tramway Preservation Society by the SEC following closure of the Ballarat Tramways system in 1971. Sign has a black enamel backing, with marks from the enamelling process. Seven Number. See Reg item 2476 for the "Smoking......" sign. 4477.1 - as above, added 31/12/2010trams, tramways, signs, smoking, tramcars

An example of elaborate enamel signage acquired as a result of the long standing close links of Naval forces with the Mission to Seafarers from 19th C onwards. A rectangular black enamel sign on metal ground featuring polychrome insignia of Naval Ordnance Inspection and Design. The insignia shows circular border of ropework encircling a red ground depicting a black and white cannon with a large lynx type feline. The ropework border is surmounted by a stylised crown like structure comprised of: a split focsle?, two sails with red pennants or burgees and stern of a galleon and around the band of the crown a red 'jewel' flanked by two blue green 'jewels'Insignia wording in yellow on black ground in upper case letters: " NAVAL ORDNANCE INSPECTION / AND DESIGN / SAFETY AND QUALITY " Below insignia in white paint in upper case letters: "INSPECTOR NAVAL ORDNANCE / MELBOURNE" ordnance, naval, design, safety, inspections, insignia, badge, sails, cannon, lynx

In 1879, James Griffiths established one of Australia’s first tea and coffee distribution companies at 30 Flinders St, Melbourne, which is now, occupied by the boutique Lindrum Hotel. Established with his brother John, recent immigrants from England, Griffiths occupied the highest position in the commercial world during their many years as distributors of tea, coffee, cocoa and other products throughout Victoria and Australia. The Griffiths brand was a guarantee for quality of product and service as it still is today. This extensive service was provided to customers via horse drawn carts serviced by rail from Melbourne. As a spirited entrepreneur, Griffiths made his company a household name through his pioneering use of outdoor advertising by installing the infamous blue and white enamel “Griffiths Tea” promotional signs affixed to the railway boundary fences highlighting to travellers the distance to or from Melbourne, indicating so many “— miles to Griffiths Tea”. These signs, much sought after today, were well known through out the eastern states. Photographs have been published of a sign erected by a Digger in France during the First World War with the words “1100 miles to Griffiths Bros”. Tragically, James and his wife Emily with friends died in a level rail crossing accident at Bayswater in 1925. Despite this unfortunate accident, Griffiths and its culture of innovation has survived as one of the few 100% Australian owned coffee roasters, with only three owners in 128 years. http://www.griffithscoffee.com.au/about-us/back-to-1879/ Sign - Advertising - Griffiths Tea Sign - 30 MilesHistoric - Sign - Advertising - Griffiths Tea Sign - used along side of Victorian Railway lines and at StationsSign - Advertising - Griffiths Tea Sign - 30 Miles Griffiths Tea sign made of Enamel paint on metal sign30 Miles to Griffiths Tea Sign puffing billy, sign - advertising - griffiths tea sign - 30 miles

One of a group of signs that were fitted into tramcars in Ballarat, giving instructions to passengers about prams, behaviour, smoking, fare payment, talking to the motorman, instructions or information to drivers etc. Yields information about the sign manufacture, demonstrates the type of signs provided in tramcars.Enamel sign, black capital letters and lines on white background, titled "Children's Carriages which fold compactly may be permitted on cars at conductors discretion and owner's risk". One of a number similar signs donated to the Ballarat Tramway Preservation Society by the SEC following closure of the Ballarat Tramways system in 1971. Sign has a black enamel backing, with marks from the enamelling process. .1 - as above, rear of sign has many white paint brush marks enamelled into it - added 31/12/2010.trams, tramways, signs, prams, baby carriages, tramcars

Most likely purchased by former curator Melissa Campbell from a market or antique store.Advertising sign, enamel paint on metal, "AUSTRALIA'S/ FOSTER MOTHER/ NESTLE'S MILK". H 45..0.x w 75.4cminfant feeding