These slides have been made by Alex Gunn and Sons, a 20th century lantern and slide maker based in Melbourne. The slides were produced for Val Morgan and Sons, a cinema advertising slide maker. Val (Valentine) Morgan (1867-1952) established a business in 1894 and by 1914 was making slides for cinemas. By 1921 the business was a company producing slides for movie houses and by the 1930s was the largest business of its type in Victoria. The company also produced the Morgans Street Directory for over 50 years in the 20th century. The company was sold in 1987. It is believed that these slides were shown in the Capitol Theatre in Warrnambool as the advertisements feature a local business, Fletts Plumbing. Most of the slides advertise Metters and Everhot bathroom and kitchen appliances, obtainable from the Warrnambool firm, going under the various trade names of Flett Brothers, F. Flett and Co and Fletts of 147 Lava Street (with ‘Lava’ spelt as ‘Laver’ in one ad). John Flett, boat and bridge builder, settled in Warrnamool in 1868 and it was his son William who first established a tinsmith and plumbing business in Warrnambool in the 1880s in a shop in Timor Street. His sons, Frederick and Charles, continued on the business after the father’s death in a Lava Street site until its demise in the 1950s. These items are of great interest as examples of cinema advertising slides used in cinemas in the mid 20th century and perhaps in the 1930s. The items have local significance as the slides feature advertisements for the business of the Flett family who were local plumbers and fitters. The slides are also of local interest as they are believed to have been used in the Capitol Theatre in Kepler Street, still operating today. These are eleven glass slides produced for cinema advertising in the mid 20th century. Three of the slides are blank and eight contain coloured images and printing advertising the products of kitchen and bathroom items and the local Warrnambool supplier. Four of the slides have thicker glass and four have paper labelling on the top and bottom edges. The slides are held in a cardboard box without a lid.Val Morgan & Sons Pty Ltd Reg. Office 64 Elizabeth Street Melbourne Please screen at least 12 SECONDS Gunn Slide flett family, plumbers, warrnambool, val morgan & sons cinema slides