A mortise axe is a specialist axe designed for hewing sills and notches in joints. The axe has a long, narrow head, making it easier to work on large logs. The shape enables the user to hew a long way down into the notch, where otherwise a chisel would be used. This tool has one blade, which may be pushed, swung or struck with a mallet. Others, have two, one of which is used for separating the fibres, and the other for levering out the waste.This is an example of a common woodworking tool used by the early settlers in the Orbost district.A long wooden handled axe used to cut mortises in posts for post and rail fences. The blade is made of iron and is quite long.axe mortise-axe fencing timber farm-tool

The sickle was used to cut crops and grass and vegetable matter. It has been in use for a very long time but has probably been superceded by electric tools in developed countries.This sickle was used by a resident of the Kiewa Valley.A curved steel edged blade fixed to a short wooden handle. It is used for harvesting the crops, grass and cutting other vegetative matters. The previous KVHS committee referred to it as a '"Hand Craft Cutter".sickle, farm tool, garden tool

During early farming in Australia (before motorised whipper snippers) the hand held sickle was used to cut long grass, in this case in or around railway tracks. The inside of the blade's curve was sharp, so that the user can either draw or swing it against the base of the grass, catching the stems in the curve and slicing them at the same time. Historic - Railway Permanent Way and Works - track equipment - Grass SlasherWrought iron sickle with extended with wooden handle.puffing billy, extended sickle, farm tool, reaping hook, curved blade, grass cutting

An antique machine made forged steel pulley block with a hook at the top which moves sideways. It has a slot on the cylindrical section for the rope or chain. It is an old farm tool from the 19th or 20th century.MAKERS PATENT SNATCHpulleys, tools, lifting equipment, pulley blocks, steel

Old farm kitchen tool used for mincing meat manually.Used at Tawonga, in the Kiewa Valley, by resident Des WartonCast iron with dull smooth surface consisting of a tap to screw it onto a table, a barrel enclosing the auger that turns when the handle is wound around and forces the meat to spill out of a circular grinder. The hand crank is curved with a wooden knob . The outlet is oval shaped.Embossed on barrel: "Universal" Embossed on outlet "2" Embossed on handle "L.F. & c - New Britain Conn U.S.A."household tool, kitchen, meat mincer, grinder, universal no. 2

James Reid was born in Scotland near Glasgow and came to Victoria as a young man in 1854. Shortly after arriving he came to Bacchus Marsh where he lived until his death in 1902 at the age of 74 years. For most of these years he conducted a wheelwrights and coach builders business in Bacchus Marsh. In the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries, wheelwrights and blacksmiths played an essential role in the functioning of the whole community. Before the industrialisation of manufacturing, wheels and other components of vehicles for transport, all metal objects, including farm implements, building requirements and domestic utensils were made by hand. As mechanisation of industry increased, the smith commonly performed the role of farrier in the times when horse power was pivotal to all aspects of society. Complementing this work, the forge was often allied with a wheelwright's shop. These premises also acted as a meeting place for the men of the town, where news was shared and friendships forged.Small sepia 'carte de viste' style unframed photograph on card with gold border framing photograph. Housed in the album, 'Photographs of Bacchus Marsh and District in 1883 by Stevenson and McNicoll'. An image depicting a wheelwright and blacksmith's shop, with a group of men, boys and a woman shown in front. Two men are wearing the work clothes of the blacksmith, including the split leather apron worn by farriers to enable them to work on the hooves of the horses needing shoeing. Two young boys are standing by the door. A portly gentleman in formal clothes stands before the shop. The house shown at the rear was James Reid's residence. Two people, an elderly gentleman and a younger woman, are seated in a jinker on the road to the side of the shop. A collection of wheels and farm tools leans on the walls. A triple-tiered sign above the shop reads: JAMES REID WHEELWRIGHT BLACKSMITH. TIMBER - YARD PAINTS, OILS & GLASS.Printed On the front: Stevenson & McNicoll. Photo. 108 Elizabeth St. Melbourne. COPIES CAN BE OBTAINED AT ANY TIME. On the back: LIGHT & TRUTH inscribed on a banner surmounted by a representation of the rising sun. Copies of this Portrait can be had at any time by sending the Name and Post Office Money Order or Stamps for the amount of order to STEVENSON & McNICOLL LATE BENSON & STEVENSON, Photographers. 108 Elizabeth Street, MELBOURNE.wheelwrights, james reid 1828?-1902, stevenson and mcnicoll 1883 photographs of bacchus marsh and district

In 1992 Shire of Eltham Historical Society member and Kangaroo Ground resident, Bruce Ness became aware that the old school teacher residence at Kangaroo Ground School was no longer being used. Over the years Bruce had been storing a growing collection of the Society's artifacts and objects including various machinery and farm tools. He proposed that this might present an opportunity to set up a museum with the Society's objects. It was proposed that a board be appointed containing representatives of the Society, the School Council, Shire of Eltham and "Friends of the Andrew Ross Museum." As a consequence, most of the Society's objects were transferred to the museum and the Society became more focused on documents, maps and photographs, etc.Roll of 35mm colour negative film, 3 stripsFuji 100shire of eltham historical society

In 1992 Shire of Eltham Historical Society member and Kangaroo Ground resident, Bruce Ness became aware that the old school teacher residence at Kangaroo Ground School was no longer being used. Over the years Bruce had been storing a growing collection of the Society's artifacts and objects including various machinery and farm tools. He proposed that this might present an opportunity to set up a museum with the Society's objects. It was proposed that a board be appointed containing representatives of the Society, the School Council, Shire of Eltham and "Friends of the Andrew Ross Museum." As a consequence, most of the Society's objects were transferred to the museum and the Society became more focused on documents, maps and photographs, etc.Roll of 35mm colour negative film, 3 stripsFuji 100shire of eltham historical society

In 1992 Shire of Eltham Historical Society member and Kangaroo Ground resident, Bruce Ness became aware that the old school teacher residence at Kangaroo Ground School was no longer being used. Over the years Bruce had been storing a growing collection of the Society's artifacts and objects including various machinery and farm tools. He proposed that this might present an opportunity to set up a museum with the Society's objects. It was proposed that a board be appointed containing representatives of the Society, the School Council, Shire of Eltham and "Friends of the Andrew Ross Museum." As a consequence, most of the Society's objects were transferred to the museum and the Society became more focused on documents, maps and photographs, etc.Roll of 35mm colour negative film, 3 stripsFuji 100shire of eltham historical society

In 1992 Shire of Eltham Historical Society member and Kangaroo Ground resident, Bruce Ness became aware that the old school teacher residence at Kangaroo Ground School was no longer being used. Over the years Bruce had been storing a growing collection of the Society's artifacts and objects including various machinery and farm tools. He proposed that this might present an opportunity to set up a museum with the Society's objects. It was proposed that a board be appointed containing representatives of the Society, the School Council, Shire of Eltham and "Friends of the Andrew Ross Museum." As a consequence, most of the Society's objects were transferred to the museum and the Society became more focused on documents, maps and photographs, etc.Roll of 35mm colour negative film, 3 stripsFuji 100shire of eltham historical society

In 1992 Shire of Eltham Historical Society member and Kangaroo Ground resident, Bruce Ness became aware that the old school teacher residence at Kangaroo Ground School was no longer being used. Over the years Bruce had been storing a growing collection of the Society's artifacts and objects including various machinery and farm tools. He proposed that this might present an opportunity to set up a museum with the Society's objects. It was proposed that a board be appointed containing representatives of the Society, the School Council, Shire of Eltham and "Friends of the Andrew Ross Museum." As a consequence, most of the Society's objects were transferred to the museum and the Society became more focused on documents, maps and photographs, etc.Roll of 35mm colour negative film, 3 stripsFuji 100shire of eltham historical society

In 1992 Shire of Eltham Historical Society member and Kangaroo Ground resident, Bruce Ness became aware that the old school teacher residence at Kangaroo Ground School was no longer being used. Over the years Bruce had been storing a growing collection of the Society's artifacts and objects including various machinery and farm tools. He proposed that this might present an opportunity to set up a museum with the Society's objects. It was proposed that a board be appointed containing representatives of the Society, the School Council, Shire of Eltham and "Friends of the Andrew Ross Museum." As a consequence, most of the Society's objects were transferred to the museum and the Society became more focused on documents, maps and photographs, etc.Roll of 35mm colour negative film, 3 stripsFuji 100shire of eltham historical society

In 1992 Shire of Eltham Historical Society member and Kangaroo Ground resident, Bruce Ness became aware that the old school teacher residence at Kangaroo Ground School was no longer being used. Over the years Bruce had been storing a growing collection of the Society's artifacts and objects including various machinery and farm tools. He proposed that this might present an opportunity to set up a museum with the Society's objects. It was proposed that a board be appointed containing representatives of the Society, the School Council, Shire of Eltham and "Friends of the Andrew Ross Museum." As a consequence, most of the Society's objects were transferred to the museum and the Society became more focused on documents, maps and photographs, etc.Roll of 35mm colour negative film, 3 stripsFuji 100shire of eltham historical society

In 1992 Shire of Eltham Historical Society member and Kangaroo Ground resident, Bruce Ness became aware that the old school teacher residence at Kangaroo Ground School was no longer being used. Over the years Bruce had been storing a growing collection of the Society's artifacts and objects including various machinery and farm tools. He proposed that this might present an opportunity to set up a museum with the Society's objects. It was proposed that a board be appointed containing representatives of the Society, the School Council, Shire of Eltham and "Friends of the Andrew Ross Museum." As a consequence, most of the Society's objects were transferred to the museum and the Society became more focused on documents, maps and photographs, etc.Roll of 35mm colour negative film, 3 stripsFuji 100shire of eltham historical society

In 1992 Shire of Eltham Historical Society member and Kangaroo Ground resident, Bruce Ness became aware that the old school teacher residence at Kangaroo Ground School was no longer being used. Over the years Bruce had been storing a growing collection of the Society's artifacts and objects including various machinery and farm tools. He proposed that this might present an opportunity to set up a museum with the Society's objects. It was proposed that a board be appointed containing representatives of the Society, the School Council, Shire of Eltham and "Friends of the Andrew Ross Museum." As a consequence, most of the Society's objects were transferred to the museum and the Society became more focused on documents, maps and photographs, etc.Roll of 35mm colour negative film, 3 stripsFuji 100shire of eltham historical society

In 1992 Shire of Eltham Historical Society member and Kangaroo Ground resident, Bruce Ness became aware that the old school teacher residence at Kangaroo Ground School was no longer being used. Over the years Bruce had been storing a growing collection of the Society's artifacts and objects including various machinery and farm tools. He proposed that this might present an opportunity to set up a museum with the Society's objects. It was proposed that a board be appointed containing representatives of the Society, the School Council, Shire of Eltham and "Friends of the Andrew Ross Museum." As a consequence, most of the Society's objects were transferred to the museum and the Society became more focused on documents, maps and photographs, etc.Roll of 35mm colour negative film, 3 stripsFuji 100shire of eltham historical society

In 1992 Shire of Eltham Historical Society member and Kangaroo Ground resident, Bruce Ness became aware that the old school teacher residence at Kangaroo Ground School was no longer being used. Over the years Bruce had been storing a growing collection of the Society's artifacts and objects including various machinery and farm tools. He proposed that this might present an opportunity to set up a museum with the Society's objects. It was proposed that a board be appointed containing representatives of the Society, the School Council, Shire of Eltham and "Friends of the Andrew Ross Museum." As a consequence, most of the Society's objects were transferred to the museum and the Society became more focused on documents, maps and photographs, etc.Roll of 35mm colour negative film, 3 stripsFuji 100shire of eltham historical society

In 1992 Shire of Eltham Historical Society member and Kangaroo Ground resident, Bruce Ness became aware that the old school teacher residence at Kangaroo Ground School was no longer being used. Over the years Bruce had been storing a growing collection of the Society's artifacts and objects including various machinery and farm tools. He proposed that this might present an opportunity to set up a museum with the Society's objects. It was proposed that a board be appointed containing representatives of the Society, the School Council, Shire of Eltham and "Friends of the Andrew Ross Museum." As a consequence, most of the Society's objects were transferred to the museum and the Society became more focused on documents, maps and photographs, etc.Roll of 35mm colour negative film, 3 stripsFuji 100shire of eltham historical society

This anvil is typical of the type used by Blacksmiths in Moorabbin Shire c1850 - 20thC Blacksmith were needed to make machinery, tools, farm and household equipment, wheels and wagons, horseshoes and saddle irons.This anvil is an example of the type used by blacksmiths in Moorabbin Shire 1840- 20thC as early settlers developed the land. built homes, shops and schoolsSolid steel single horn shaped block used by a Blacksmith to make tools, horseshoes, kitchenware, farm equipment, wagon wheelsmarket gardeners, early settlers, moorabbin shire, dendy special survey 1841, bentleigh, moorabbin, cheltenham, tools, anvils, steel, horses, wagons, washing pots, cooking pots, blacksmiths, county of bourke

The Blacksmith used these tongs to make repairs at his forge. He could mend wheel bands, tools, farm equipment and also fine tune generic sized horseshoes on site. He needed tongs to work on any heated metal as required at his forge A Blacksmith was an essential person for the maintenance and making of farm and household equipment, and shoeing horses, in the pioneer settlements of Brighton, Moorabbin, Cheltenham c1900 A pair of forged steel blacksmith tongsmarket gardeners, pioneers, early settlers, moorabbin, brighton, cheltenham, blacksmith, tools, metalwork, forges, ploughs, horse-drawn carts

The Blacksmith could take this portable 'leg vice' and make repairs away from his forge.He could mend wheel bands, tools, farm equipment and also fine tune generic sized horseshoes on site. He would build a fire and secure his leg vice to a stable point thus allowing him to work on any heated metal as required. A Blacksmith was an essential person for the maintenance and making of farm and household equipment, and shoeing horses, in the pioneer settlements of Brighton, Moorabbin, Cheltenham c1900Blacksmith's 'leg' vice. Sturdy blacksmith leg, post (vice). 15cm jawsblacksmith, vise, moorabbin, bentleigh, brighton, market gardeners, forges, tools, early settlers, pioneers, ploughs, carts horse-drawn, anvils

William Ridgway and Sons company of Sheffield, manufacturers of augers, bits, wood-boring, and motorising tools, was founded in 1878 and became a Private company in 1909, their factory was founded in the 1930s. William Ridgway Tools merged first with Record Tools in 1974 to form Record Ridgway Tools Ltd. Record was another Sheffield company that was renowned for the quality of their vices and industrial clamps. Following the merger Record, Ridgway Tools Ltd was made up of fourteen UK Companies and five overseas companies. A later merger with a woodwork tools company called Marple (which was part-owned by Record and Ridgway respectively before their original merger) led to the company becoming known as Record Marples Tools. Record Marples was taken over by the Swedish hardware manufacturer AB Bahco in 1982. Despite a management buyout leading to the company reverting to British ownership in 1985 the company struggled financially and the following administration was acquired by U.S.-based Irwin Tools in 1998 who has since moved production to China in recent years. A vintage tool made in the 1930s when Ridgway began mass producing augers and other tools for export and sale. This item would have probably been used in Australia on a farm for drilling fence posts for wire to pass through or other tasks where a hole was required to be bored in timber. Scotch eye beam auger, with double twist and Lead screw. Ridgway Sheffield flagstaff hill, warrnambool, shipwrecked-coast, flagstaff-hill, flagstaff-hill-maritime-museum, maritime-museum, shipwreck-coast, flagstaff-hill-maritime-village

The Syracuse Chilled Plough Company was created in 1876 and specialised in the manufacture of agricultural ploughs. Harry Wiard invented the chilling process in plough manufacture. The company was originally founded as the Robinson Chilled Plough Company in 1876 and changed its name 3 years later. At its peak, in the early 20th century. The company made more than 100,000 horse-drawn ploughs and road scrapers of various designs that were sold from the Syracuse plant each year and exported around the world. The company slogan of the day was, “The sun never sets on a Syracuse plough." Eventually, other farming implements were added to the line. The company employed more than 300 people in its local plant, which covered a square block on the cities Near West Side. In 1910-11, Deere and Company began expanding its holdings, and with the success of the Syracuse Chilled Plough Company, Deere sought to acquire the company. The management of the Syracuse operation after John Deere took over remained in the hands of Wiard and Chase, and the manufacturing operations were left in Syracuse. The only change from previous Syracuse operations was the selling of the companies products through Deere retail outlets instead of directly to the trade. The factory in Syracuse continued to produce ploughs until 1955. The subject item in the Flagstaff collection is an early model Syracuse Chilled plough with a wooden beam frame it is very much lighter in weight and was adapted to work sandy or light loamy soil. This plough has a sloping landside, which tends to keep the clods and dirt from falling into the furrow, making the ploughman's work much more comfortable and easy. This design was made in eight sizes for both right and left-handed ploughing and became very popular in the far West and South of the USA. Note: The definition of a chill plough means : a plough having the share and mould-board of chilled semi steel or cast iron.The subject item is believed to be a very early plough given its wooden beam frame and was made before 1900 probably around 1880. This makes it a significant example of the types of plough that early settlers were using in Victoria. There would not be very many of this type of vintage plough left with a wooden beam and frame, making it today a desirable collector's item. Syracuse Wood Beam Chilled single furrow plough metal wheel in front. Syracuse Chiller Co Syracuse & 50 L stamped on ploughshare.flagstaff hill, warrnambool, shipwrecked-coast, flagstaff-hill, flagstaff-hill-maritime-museum, maritime-museum, shipwreck-coast, flagstaff-hill-maritime-village, plough, syracuse chiller co, chiller plourh, farm equipment, furrow

This book contains information relating to daily work conducted by Charles Edwards, Blacksmith, during period 20th January 1920 to 27 April 1921. It lists customer names, types of work done and costs involved. The written X indicates whether work was paid in full.This books contains historical information relating to peoples names and industries in the Bacchus Marsh district and the work performed for them by the blacksmith during the period mentioned. Most of work relates to shoeing horses, repairs to horse drawn vehicles, repairs to farm machinery/tools and some work on cars.Cardboard covers - green marbled design with black spine. Account type book with red ruled columns. Hand written names, jobs, charges and dates.On the inner cover - Mrs C Edwards, Main Street, Bacchus Marshbook, blacksmith, day, customers, clients, charles edwards

Green hard covered book. Plate 1 is a signed image of Claus Gronn. Another plate depicts Claus Smed, and Dr Preshaw's tent in Castlemaine. With the book is some cutting, including 'Cuttings from various journals about Claus Gronn and HIs Memoirs by Jens Lyng, as well as hair samples from Margaret Billyeald, Gladstone Procter's second wife. There is also a family tree, and a copy of the details on the Horsfall family from the family bible. non-fictionFrom the age of 23, Claus Gronn kept a diary/account book to record his daily events and expenditures. In his old age, he used his diary to compile a book, all written in Danish, for his family detailing his many adventurers as a sailor and a gold-digger and his visits to his home-town of Mels as an old man. Eleven copies were printed, one for each of his surviving children. The book was later translated and published by Claus' grand-daughter, Cora McDougall, in the book "Gold, Gold! Diary of Claus Gronn, A Dane on the Diggings". Claus Grönn (1832-1909) was born in Mels, Oksbol Sogn, Schleswig (then still a part of Denmark), the son of blacksmith Claus Mathiesen Gronn. He married Mary Ann Priestley Horsfall at Newstead, Victoria, in 1856. Claus was sent to sea at the age of 14, returning two years later when he took part in the first Schleswig war between Prussia and Denmark as a cadet in the Danish Marine Service. He spent the next four years at sea sailing to Iceland, Russia, Spain and British Guinea. Adopting an anglicised name, Charles Edward Sinclair (which he used until his marriage in 1856 when he resumed his own names), Claus' last voyage was destined for Australia. On June 10, 1854, on board the Koh-i-noor, Claus arrived in Sandridge (now known as Port Melbourne), Victoria. Deciding to try his luck in the goldfields Claus Gronn hoped to earn enough money to be able to return to Denmark with a certain wealth. He purchased some basic tools, he walked 100 km to the Mount Alexander goldfields, trying his luck at Campbell's Creek. He went into partneship with another Dane, Peter Hansen. On 30 September 1909 Claus Gronn died aged 77, at his farm "Leavoldston" located north of Oakleigh, and is buried in the Burwood Cemetery.claus grönn 1832-1909, leavoldston, claus gronn, peter hansen, campbell's creek, peter skjellerup, mary ann horsfal, sandon, dr preshaw, claus smed, ship, immigraion, family history, danish, biography

This horse-drawn, two-wheeled cart with a tank, is known as a Furphy Farm Water Cart that was made in Shepparton, northern Victoria, c. 1942. John Furphy (1842-1920) was born in Moonee Ponds, in 1842 to Irish immigrant parents and subsequently raised in the Yarra Valley before the family moved to Kyneton in central Victoria, where he completed an apprenticeship with the firm Hutcheson and Walker. Murphy began operations of his own at a site on Piper Street in Kyneton in 1864. He relocated for a business opportunity and founded the first blacksmiths and wheelwrights shop in the newly surveyed town of Shepparton in 1873. Furphy invented many farming tools and machines including a patented grain-stripper, and won awards at the 1888-89 Melbourne International Exhibition. His most famous invention is the Furphy Farm Water Cart, designed in the 1880s, at a time when water for most households and farms was carted on wagons in wooden barrels. The Furphy’s water cart is a single item that combines a water metal tank and a cart. The design of the cart was simple yet effective, and became popular very quickly and established itself as a vital piece of farming equipment. The water cart has had a number of words cast into its ends over many years. References to the foundry’s location in Shepparton, as well as advertising of other products also manufactured by J. Furphy & Sons were present on the ends. However, the most significant set of words to feature on the tank, was a poem encouraging continual improvement: ‘Good Better Best, Never Let it Rest, Until your Good is Better, And your Better Best’. During The Great War (1914-1918), the water cart was used by the Australian militarily at a large AIF (Australian Imperial Force) camp in Broadmeadows (Melbourne) where thousands of men were camped for months, before being transported aboard. Furphy Water Carts provided water to the troops, and were usually placed near the camp latrines, which was one of the few places the troops could share gossip and tall tales away from the prying eyes and ears of their officers. The water cart drivers were also notorious sources of information, despite most of their news being hearsay, or totally unreliable. By the time the men of the AIF were in engaged in combat on the Gallipoli Peninsula and the Western Front, the carts used for water supply had no markings and became simply referred to as Furphys. This owed as much to the coining of the term ‘Furphy’, Australian slang for suspect information or rumour. After a number of decades as principally a soldier’s word, 'Furphy' entered the broader Australian vernacular and was used mainly by the political class until recently when the term was taken up by a Australian brewer as a beer brand. This Furphy Water Cart was purchased by Friends of Flagstaff Hill in 2014. The support of local individuals, organisations and businesses enabled its restoration and later its installation alongside the existing late-19th century water pipe stand and 1940s hand pump The Furphy Farm Water Cart is of historical significance as it represents a famous Australian time-saving and energy-saving invention of the 1880s, replacing the labour intensive activity of collecting and dispensing water from barrels and casks on the back of carts. The water cart’s connection with manufacturing companies J. Furphy & Sons and Furphy Foundry are significant for being early Australian businesses that are still in operation today. Furphy carts are of military significance for the role they played during The Great War (1914-1918) in Australian army camps, and theatres of war in Europe and the Middle East, to supply the AIF troops with fresh water. A wooden framed, two-wheeled, horse-drawn cart, fitted with a horizontally mounted, cylindrical metal tank. The tank is made of rolled, sheet steel with a riveted seam, and cast iron ends with cast iron ends. The spoked metal wheels have fitted flat iron tyres and metal hubs. A metal pipe is joined to the outlet. The tank is silver coloured, the ends, wheels and trims are crimson, and the script lettering on tank sides is black. There are inscriptions on the tank, ends, and hubs. The water tank was made in 1942 in Shepparton, Australia, by J. Furphy & Sons and has a capacity of 180 gallons (848 litres). Hub perimeter, embossed “J. FURPHY & SONS” “KEEP THE / BOLTS TIGHT” Hub centre embossed [indecipherable] Tank, each side, painted “J. FURPHY & SONS / Makers / SHEPPARTON” Tank ends, embossed – “FURPHY’S FARM WATER CART” “BORN ABOUT 1880 – STILL ‘GOING STRONG’ 1942” “j. FURPHY & SONS / MAKERS / SHEPPARTON - VIC “ “S - - - - - L MANUFACTURERS” [SPECIAL] “SPIKE ROLLERS” “SINGLE TREES” “PLOUGH WHEELS” “IRON CASTINGS” “LAND GRADERS” “STEEL DELVERS” “CAST IRON PIG” “CHAIN YOKES” “GOOD – BETTER – BEST / NEVER LET IT REST / TILL YOUR GOOD IS BETTER / AND YOUR BETTER – BEST” Image [Stork carrying a baby] above shorthand, transcribed "Produce and populate or perish" Image [Furphy Pig Feeder] beside ‘Cast Iron Pig’ Shorthand, transcribed “"Water is the gift of God but beer and whiskey are concoctions of the Devil, come and have a drink of water"warrnambool, flagstaff hill maritime museum, water cart, furphy cart, furphy tank, furphy farm water cart, furphy, john furphy, john furphy & sons, furphy foundry, kyneton, shepparton, mobile water tank, jinker, hutchinson & walker, blacksmith, farm equipment, implement maker, tool maker, horse drawn, stork and baby, good, better, best, barrel, tank, first world war, wwi, eastern front, gallipoli, j furphy & sons

William Ridgway and Sons company of Sheffield, manufacturers of augers, bits, wood-boring, and motorising tools, was founded in 1878 and became a Private company in 1909, their factory was founded in the 1930s. William Ridgway Tools merged first with Record Tools in 1974 to form Record Ridgway Tools Ltd. Record was another Sheffield company that was renowned for the quality of their vices and industrial clamps. Following the merger Record, Ridgway Tools Ltd was made up of fourteen UK Companies and five overseas companies. A later merger with a woodwork tools company called Marple (which was part-owned by Record and Ridgway respectively before their original merger) led to the company becoming known as Record Marples Tools. Record Marples was taken over by the Swedish hardware manufacturer AB Bahco in 1982. Despite a management buyout leading to the company reverting to British ownership in 1985 the company struggled financially and the following administration was acquired by U.S.-based Irwin Tools in 1998 who has since moved production to China in recent years. A vintage tool made in the 1930s when Ridgway began mass producing augers and other tools for export and sale. This item would have probably been used in Australia on a farm for drilling fence posts for wire to pass through or other tasks where a hole was required to be bored in timber. Scotch eye beam auger, with double twist and Lead screw. Ridgway Sheffield warrnambool, flagstaff-hill, flagstaff-hill-maritime-museum, maritime-museum, shipwreck-coast, flagstaff-hill-maritime-village, wood boring tool, scotch auger, carpenters tools, shipwrights tools, coopers tools, ridgway & sons, auger bits