This cast iron kitchen appliance was made in England in the early 1900's and shipped to the "colony" Australia. This was before World War II and the "growing up" of a colony to an independent member of "the British Commonwealth". It was a period when most appliances (be they household) where manufactured in England and shipped to Australian ports. It was not until the late 1960's that the Asian manufacturing giant woke up and started to dominate the market palce.This domestic kitchen appliance is very significant to the Kiewa Valley because it highlights the "made at home" period when food processing was made "in house" due to inability to source food from specialised shops e.g. the butcher or slaughter houses. It was a period before mass food processing factories were established and roads constructed up to the standard for distribution to semi remote regions such as Kiewa Valley was in the beginning of the 1900's.This cast iron (malleable iron) mincer for meat products has a large "funnel" to direct "chunks" of meat to the grinding "wheels". These "star" shaped wheels with "teeth" of three different cutting surfaces (fine, medium and coarse) provide for texture types of the final meat product. The meat is placed into the "loading" funnel and push downwards(gravity feed) through the mincing chamber and out through the front side. There is a long "screw worm" which is rotated by turning the handle. The appliance is table mounted by a vice "G" screw on clamp (hand operated). "BEATRICE No. 3" and "MADE IN ENGLAND", "P 3181"household cast iron appliances, food processors

Commercial tin openers first appeared in the mid 19th century and this model dates from the early 20th century. An improved version when a second serrated wheel was added came into operation about the mid 1920s. Tins (now cans) of food with sealed tops became popular in the 20th century and all households needed a tin opener. Today the can opener is still used but increasingly the can lids have an inbuilt clip that is pulled out to open the can.This tin opener has been retained as an early model of a tin opener from the past. It was used locally in Wodonga and donated by a Wodonga resident. It is also in relatively good condition.This is a cast iron tin opener with a cutting blade attached to a piece of metal with a screw. The metal handle curves out from the metal piece holding the blade. The opener is a little rusty in parts. The name ‘Guard ’ is on both sides of the handle in raised metal letters. "GUARD" in raised letters on both sides of the handle.household items, cast iron appliances, can openers

Used in the Orbost district prior to electicity being connected. Was heated on the top of a wood-fired stove. This is an example of a common domestic appliance used before electricity was widely connected to households.A small triangular shaped cast iron clothes iron on a metal stand. The stand has small legs and holes in its base. The iron has a Salter brand.A symbol on the top of the iron in the shape of a bow.iron clothes-iron household-item

The 1950's saw a revolution in small appliances for use in the average household. This hand held wrench was provided exclusively for the Coleman self heating kerosene (KVHS 0347A) iron and used for the regular changing the kerosene used in it. The iron was used before and during the electricity supplies available from the Kiewa Hydro Electricity Scheme. These irons remained in use within regional rural areas that had limited or unreliable electrical reticulation. Kerosene supplies were cheaper than electricity but also more inconvenient than electric. Electrical appliances become cheaper to buy and maintain in the later part of the 1900's and the now older kerosene iron was faded out.This wrench was required to open the fuel container which stored kerosene in the Coleman hand iron(see KVHS 0347A). This item was part of the maintenance requirement of this particular hand iron. In the 1950s and later the Kiewa Valley was still a relatively isolated region which was home to rural properties and small settlements. The availability of electricity and or the financial means to afford new types of electric hand irons ensured that older and sometimes less efficient ironing remained for an extended period covering the 1960s to 1970s. Kerosene products, such as this kerosene iron was a cheaper method for farm based domestic and other rural activities requiring a heat source. The use of kerosene as a heat/light source was able to be supplied in bulk and able to be used when floods severed vital roads into this region. The supply of electricity was in summer time subject to interruption from bush fire damaged wooden poles carrying the electrical cables. Self sufficiency by rural populations was the backbone of survival(use of this wrench was a part of rural life). The ability to store energy sources "on the farm" was a prerequisite of isolated regions, such as the Kiewa Valley, circa 1950s.This item is a flat cast iron wrench, which has been specifically made for KVHS 0347A (kerosene iron). The wrench has four specific forms cut into the steel which fit firmly around their targeted nut and other fixtures. Also see See KVHS 0347B- Instruction sheet; and KVHS 0347D Fuel can.ironing, iron maintenance tool, domestic appliances, household

This iron was used by women to press the clothes from the mid 19th century. Coal embers were put inside, heating the base of the iron. Small bellows could be used to fire up the embers in order to keep the iron hot. This item is significant as it represents the appliances used by women from the mid 19th century until the advent of electricity.This charcoal iron is made of cast iron. It has a hinged lid so that embers can be put inside as the source of heat. The lid has a curved funnel and a wooden handle. The funnel kept the smoke away from the clothing. Bellows would be used to blow air into the iron and keep the coals burning. It has a wooden handle and the lever used to open the lid is also made from wood. There is a hole with a swivel cover at the back of the iron to check the coals. "S" on the swivel cover.domestic appliances, household items, women's work