Domestic item, well used. Heated on the stove top and used to iron clothes.Interesting domestic item that shows how ironing was done prior to electricity.Black, heavy, triangular shaped with handle attached. Handle rounded smoothed metal.domestic, iron, cast iron, iron flat

"Small box iron heated by inserting a red hot metal slug - late 19th Century."Metal "box" iron iron, laundry irons

Coastal Barometer No. 5 was installed on the Queenscliff pier in 1866. The purpose was to provide weather data to the Professional Fisherman. It was later installed in the slipway winch shed. Instrument is housed in a cast iron case.Only one left in existanceCoastal Barometer No. 5 was installed on the Queenscliff pier in 1866. The purpose was to provide weather data to the Professional Fisherman. It was later installed in the slipway winch shed. Instrument is housed in a cast iron case.Instrument: J Grimaldi, Case: Langlands Bros

The artillery piece of the cannon was cast at the Low Moor foundry in England in 1861. It is a 68 pound muzzle loading cannon, capable of firing a 68 pound weight projectile. The arrow on the top of the barrel is the symbol of government ownership. It is probably one of the artillery pieces purchased by the Victorian government in response to the 1863 report by Captain Scratchley, which recommended 19 such artillery pieces be bought for the defence of Hobsons Bay, (Williamstown, Melbourne) (Billets p.12). It was possibly brought to Warrnambool in the late 1860s or the 1870s, to be used for training purposes by volunteers and local militia. The wrought iron runners were probably added to the slides at a later date. This model of carriage had been manufactured since 1855, and the traversing slide since 1860. The traversing slide of the wooden carriage absorbs the recoil when the gun is then returns to the gun to its original position for loading and re-firing. The properties of the timber (regarded as being Burmese teak) have helped to preserve these carriages in Australia. This particular carriage and traversing slide would have been manufactured about the same time as the gun (in 1861) in the Royal Carriage Department of the Royal Gun Factory in Woolwich, England. The gun would then have been assembled on the traversing slide of the carriage, then despatched as a unit. The wooden slide compressor mechanism that belongs to the cannon was used to limit the recoil when the cannon was fired. It is now stored separately for purposes of preservation. It is extremely rare, as it is the only one surviving in this group of South Western Victorian cannons. (Item No. W/F/02, Victorian Guns and Cannons, South Western Victoria, assessment May 2008) This 68 pdr cannon, mounted with its original wooden carriage, is part of the South Western Victoria collection of surviving 19th Century artillery pieces, item number W/F/02. It is rated as EXTREMELY RARE on a State, National and World level. The 68 pound smooth bore cannon of this period are not particularly rare either in Australia or overseas; its significance lies in its Victorian provenance and as an element in a major collection of 19th century cannon. The number of surviving carriages with traversing slides in this group in South Western Victoria is unique in Australia and probably in the World. Out of 10 such platforms surviving in Australia, the South Western Victorian group has half. Several survive around the world but probably not in such a large group. The wooden sliding compressor mechanism belonging to this cannon is extremely rare, and the only one in this South Western Victorian group of Guns and Cannons. As a whole, this cannon has undergone very little restoration or modification, giving it a high level of integrity. (Reference; Victorian Guns and Cannons, South Western Victoria Assessment, May 2008). Warrnambool Garrison Cannon. 68pdr smooth bore, muzzle loading, cast iron cannon. Manufactured in Low Moor, 1861, No. 10310. Mounted on wooden carriage with wrought iron traversing slide and wrougt iron runners and fittings. The cannon's Cascabel is cast with a loop. The Wooden Slide Compressor Mechanism, or recoil mechanism, is extremely rare. This mechanism comprises four equal sized sections of wood, two on top of two, joined in between the layers by metal rods. In the centre of this wooden platform, with openings top and bottom is a 15cm diameter metal cylinder with two cusps on the edge of the top. Two parallel sides each have two 1cm thick metal "L' plates attached 15cm long and 8.5cm wide. With the unit is ‘ L’ bracket, curved bracket and bolt head.Cannon trunnion "LOW MOOR / 10310 / 1861" Top of barrel "7045, (symbol of arrow pointing up), 95 – 3 – 14, 1861, 209" Cascabel "CV / N / C" Rear of left hand slide "“OD” “JW” “No 33” Side chock – “JW” twice. flagstaff hill, warrnambool, shipwrecked-coast, flagstaff-hill, flagstaff-hill-maritime-museum, maritime-museum, shipwreck-coast, flagstaff-hill-maritime-village, muzzle loading cannon, 68 pound cannon, low moor foundry, royal gun factory, warrnambool militia, warrnambool garrison volunteers, warrnambool fortifications, wooden sliding compression mechanism, carriage and traversing slide, 19th century cannon

The carronade was designed as a short-range naval weapon with a low muzzle velocity for merchant ships, but it also found a niche role on warships. It was produced by the Carron Iron Works and was at first sold as a complete system with the gun, mounting, and shot altogether. Carronades initially became popular on British merchant ships during the American Revolutionary War. A lightweight gun that needed only a small gun crew and was devastating at short range was well suited to defending merchant ships against French and American privateers. The invention of the cannon is variously attributed to Lieutenant General Robert Melville in 1759, or to Charles Gascoigne, manager of the Carron Company from 1769 to 1779. In its early years, the weapon was sometimes called a "mellvinade" or a "gasconade". The carronade can be seen as the culmination of a development of naval guns reducing the barrel length and thereby the gunpowder charge. The Carron Company was already selling a "new light-constructed" gun, two-thirds of the weight of the standard naval gun and charged with one-sixth of the weight of the ball in powder before it introduced the carronade, which further halved the gunpowder charge. The theory of its design was to use less powder and had other advantages that were advertised in the company's sales pamphlet of the time, state. The smaller gunpowder charge reduced the barrel heating in action, also reduced the recoil. The mounting, attached to the side of the ship on a pivot, took the recoil on a slider, without altering the alignment of the gun. The pamphlet advocated the use of woollen cartridges, which eliminated the need for wadding and worming, although they were more expensive. Carronades also simplified gunnery for comparatively untrained merchant seamen in both aiming and reloading that was part of the rationale for adopting the gun. Other advantages promoted by the company were. The replacement of trunnions by a bolt underneath, to connect the gun to the mounting, reduced the width of the carriage that enhanced the wide angle of fire. A merchant ship would almost always be running away from an enemy, so a wide-angle of fire was much more important than on a warship. A carronade weighed a quarter as much as a standard cannon and used a quarter to a third of the gunpowder charge. This reduced charge allowed Carronades to have a shorter length and much lighter weight than long guns. Increasing the size of the bore and ball reduces the required length of the barrel. The force acting on the ball is proportional to the square of the diameter, while the mass of the ball rises by the cube, so acceleration is slower; thus, the barrel can be shorter and therefore lighter. Long guns were also much heavier than Carronades because they were over-specified to be capable of being double-shotted, (to load cannons with twice the shot, for increased damage at the expense of range), whereas it was dangerous to do this in a carronade. A ship could carry more carronades, or carronades of a larger calibre, than long guns, and carronades could be mounted on the upper decks, where heavy long guns could cause the ship to be top-heavy and unstable. Carronades also required a smaller gun crew, which was very important for merchant ships, and they were faster to reload. The small bore carronade and carriage is part of a collection of nineteenth Century Flagstaff Hill Guns and Cannon, which is classified as being of significance and was made a few years after the beginning of Queen Victoria's reign in 1837 and fires a 6 lb pound cannon ball. This nineteenth century artillery piece is a rare and representative item of artillery of this era, used predominately on ships, both military and merchant. The artillery piece, individually and as part of the collection, is highly significant for its historical, scientific and aesthetic reasons at the state, national and world level. This carronade represents the methods of artillery technology, its advancement and its modifications to suit dangerous situations that sailors encountered from attacks from free booters (pirates, living from plunder) or others at the time. Carronade firing a 6 lb cast iron ball, with a smooth bore barrel 6.5 cm in dia the item is mounted on stepped wooden carriage with wooden wheels. Cannon barrel can have its elevation adjusted via a wooden wedge. Gun carriage has loops for locating and holding in position to a deck by ropes. Carriage is a replica made 1982Cast into the barrel is the royal emblem of Queen Victoria (VR "Victoria Regina") indicating the carronade was cast during Queen Victoria's reign / 1840 & 4-2-0 denoting the weight of the barrel. Right hand trunnion has a serial number “8708”. Also on top of the barrel is the British "Board of Ordinance" identifying mark a broad arrow indicating the carronade was in military use. flagstaff hill, warrnambool, shipwrecked coast, flagstaff hill maritime museum, maritime museum, shipwreck coast, flagstaff hill maritime village, great ocean road, colonial defences, victoria’s coastal defences, warrnambool fortification, warrnambool garrison battery, warrnambool volunteer corps, ordinance, armaments, garrison gun, smooth bore cannon, carronade, black powder, 12 pounder, 1840, artillery, lieutenant general robert melville, charles gascoigne, carron company, mellvinade, gasconade

Petrol irons were introduced in 1902.Chrome pumpless petrol iron with blue wooden handle,"All British Pumpless Iron / Handi Works Brisbane / Handi Hall Mark Product."irons, laundry irons

House hold item, iron with round base for ironing embroideryiron

Hotpoint electric iron, weight 6 points - circa 1940Early electric metal iron wiht wooden handle."Standard Hotpoint Iron / Pacific Electric Heating Co. / New York - Ontario. Cal. - Chicago"irons, laundry irons

Sad irons of the 19th century were so named because of the weight 1.8Kg that was needed to press wrinkled clothes and sheets. They were made of solid metal, including the handle. When the iron was heated, this meant that the handle would also heat up. The user would have to use a thick cloth or a mitt of some sort before they could pick up the iron. Even so, burns and blisters, as well as strained, tired arms, were a normal part of the “ironing day.” Mrs Mary Florence Potts of Ottumwa, Iowa, brought a change to the world of ironing. At the age of 19, in 1870, she invented her first sad iron. It had a hollow metal body that could be filled with a non-conducting material such as plaster of Paris. In 1871, Mary invented the removable wood handle, so that it could be changed from the cool iron to one that was hot and ready to use. A final improvement was the shape: Mary made both ends pointed so its user could iron in either direction. All of these inventions were patented under her name, a rarity for the time. Mary, with the help of her husband, tried unsuccessfully to market her invention on her own. It wasn't until she sold the sales rights to the American Manufacturing Company that sales took off. Advertised as "Mrs Potts' sad iron," it became a sensation. The company manufactured the iron from about 1876 to 1951. Mrs Potts' sad iron became a household word and a standard for future inventors to have to surpass. This didn't happen until 1882 when Henry W. Seely patented the first electric iron. The item is significant not only as a usable domestic tool, but it was, at the time of its creation, a revolutionary labour-saving device. Mrs Potts invention remains associated with a housewife's answer to the domestic drudgery of ironing.Iron,"Mrs Potts" pattern iron. Semi-circular or 'D' shaped wood handle and wood knob.Mrs Pottsflagstaff hill, warrnambool, shipwrecked coast, flagstaff hill maritime museum, flagstaff hill maritime village, great ocean road, iron, clothes iron, flat iron, laundry, sad iron, mrs potts

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

Cast iron flat iron, with handle.Markings on top of iron - the number 6, Silversters patent and Salter and scroll work.irons, flat irons

Elliptical shape metal with pointy ends. The lower part of the shape extends about 5mm out all the way around the iron. It has a hole going through the metal (used to join handle to the iron)Asbestos Sad Iron 72-Biron, asbestos, clothing, house-keeping

Chrome Pumpless Kerosene Iron with green wooden handle."All British Pumpless Iron / Handi Works Brisbane"irons, laundry irons

Iron; flat iron, all metal with traces of original black finish on handle. Heavily corroded. flagstaff hill, warrnambool, shipwrecked coast, flagstaff hill, flagstaff hill maritime museum, maritime museum, shipwreck coast, flagstaff hill maritime village, great ocean road, iron, flat iron, laundry

Self Heating Family Charcoal Iron. Box iron with wooden handle and brass finger guard. The finger guard has two round emblems and the inscription "Awarded To T & G Clark & Co" on it.Two emblems within circles plus the inscription "Awarded To / T & G Clark & Co. on the finger guardflagstaff hill, warrnambool, shipwrecked-coast, flagstaff-hill, flagstaff-hill-maritime-museum, maritime-museum, shipwreck-coast, flagstaff-hill-maritime-village, iron, self heating iron, coal iron, laundry, family charcoal iron, t & g clair & co

Iron was heated on top of stove. Often the person ironing had two irons - one to iron with and the other heating on stove ready to use when the other cooled down. They were heavy to use and were generally cleaned with bees' wax and a cloth before use. Wooden handles were patented in 1865.This item is an example of a domestic appliance in common usage before the advent of electricity.Small rusty flat iron.domestic iron flat-iron

Iron, wedge shaped, flat, solid metal, painted black with solid cylindrical handle. Funnel through centre of handle.flagstaff hill, warrnambool, shipwrecked coast, flagstaff hill maritime museum, maritime museum, shipwreck coast, flagstaff hill maritime village, great ocean road, iron, flat iron, laundry equipment

Iron, wedge shape, solid metal, painted black with solid cylindrical handle. Large funnel through centre of handle.flagstaff hill, warrnambool, shipwrecked coast, flagstaff hill, flagstaff hill maritime museum, maritime museum, shipwreck coast, flagstaff hill maritime village, great ocean road, iron, flat iron, laundry equipment

Mrs Potts' iron used for delicate lace.Small metal Mrs. Potts' iron.irons, laundry irons

'Box' irons were heated by red hot charcoal. These first irons were first patented in 1852.Metal 'Box' iron with wooden handle. Specimen of 'Bless' charcoal iron decorated with head of Hephaestos, the Greek God of metal workers.irons, laundry irons