The most common technique to measure fuel moisture content in Victorian forests until recently was the Speedy Moisture Meter - which is essentially a pressure cylinder. Originally developed in England during the 1920s for measuring moisture in wheat and other grains it was adapted for Australian forest fuels in the 1950s. Fuel was first ground using a Spong domestic food mincer, often attached to the bullbar of a vehicle, and a small measured (using the beam balance) sample placed into the Speedy together with a measured amount of calcium carbide and then sealed. The chemical reaction between the moisture in the fuel and the calcium carbide created acetylene gas; the pressure of which was read on the external dial which gave the read-out as the moisture content (percentage of net weight) of the sample. There were important techniques with preparing the minced samples, using the chemical and the subsequent cleaning of the Speedy to give reliable readings, but it was quick, inexpensive, robust, portable and practical in the field - it gave readings which were reproducible to within +/- 0.5% moisture content. It was used routinely before igniting a fuel reduction burn or measuring fuel moisture differentials on slash burns. In about 1996, Karen Chatto and Kevin Tolhurst from the Department’s Creswick Research Station developed the Wiltronics Fuel Moisture meter which measured electrical resistance.First reliable tool for measuring bushfire fuel moisture content in the fieldSpeedy Moisture Meter in wooden boxmanufacture's marks and instructions on usebushfire, forests commission victoria (fcv)

Used for pressure testing and recalibrating Speedy Moisture metersKit used pressure test Speedy Moisture metersforests commission victoria (fcv), bushfire, forest measurement

Bushfire behaviour is influenced by many things including temperature, relative humidity, forest type, fuel quantity and fuel dryness, topography and even slope. Wind has a dominant effect on the Rate of Spread (ROS), and also bushfire size, shape and direction. Fuel arrangement is as important as fuel quantity (tonnes/ha). Fibrous and ribbon bark, together with elevated and near-surface scrub fuels act as ladders which lead flames into the tree canopy. But the availability of fuel to burn depends largely on its moisture content. When it exceeds 20-25% not much will burn, whereas 12-15% is generally ideal for fuel reduction burning, but if the moisture content drops as low as 7-10% virtually everything will ignite, and fire behaviour becomes extreme. During the afternoon of the Ash Wednesday bushfires on 16 February 1983 fuel moisture contents were recorded at Stawell as low as 2.7%. Fine fuels like leaves and bark can rapidly absorb moisture after a shower of rain, or from the air when the Relative Humidity (RH) is high, and the temperature is low. Conversely, they can also dry out very quickly. So even though the overall fuel quantity in the forest doesn’t change, the fine fuel availability can increase rapidly from zero after rain to many tonnes per hectare as the fuel dries out. This can happen over a few hours on hot and windy days. Heavy fuels like logs on the ground take longer to dry out. Since the 1930s foresters, firefighters and researchers have been working to develop quick and reliable techniques for measuring fuel moisture content. One of the most accurate methods is slowly drying a sample of fuel in a conventional oven for 24-48 hours to remove all the moisture and measuring the weight difference, but this takes time and is not practical in the field when rapid measurements are needed. But oven drying is often used as a benchmark to compare other methods. Microwave ovens are faster but can cause uneven drying and even char the fuel. They are also not very practical for use in the field. Some mathematical models rely on weather records such as rainfall, wind speed, evaporation, cloud cover, shading, relative humidity, slope, aspect and season of the year to predict soil and fuel moisture. The Keetch-Byram Drought Index of soil dryness is the most common. But complex fuels with leaves, twigs, grass etc make the predictive models often inadequate for fine fuels. The most common technique in Victorian forests until recently was the trusty Speedy Moisture Meter. Originally developed in England during the 1920s for measuring moisture in wheat and other grains it was adapted for Australian forest fuels in the 1950s (I think). Fuel was first ground using a Spong mincer, often attached to the bullbar of a vehicle, and a small sample placed into the Speedy together with a measure of calcium carbide and then sealed. A chemical reaction created gas pressure which was read on the external dial. There were important techniques with cleaning, mincing and using the chemicals with the Speedy to give reliable readings, but it was quick, inexpensive, robust, portable and practical in the field. It was used routinely before igniting a fuel reduction burn or measuring fuel moisture differentials on slash burns. But in about 1996, Karen Chatto and Kevin Tolhurst from the Department’s Creswick Research Station developed the Wiltronics Fuel Moisture meter which measured electrical resistance. Wiltronics is an Australian owned company operating from Ballarat. The final result was a kit that was portable, accurate and could reliably measure fuel moisture contents between 3% and 200%. Although expensive, it is now widely used by fire agencies around the world which has virtually relegated the Speedy to the back cupboard.Prototype Fuel moisture meterT-H Fine Fuel Meterforests commission victoria (fcv), bushfire, forest measurement

Used to measure moisture content by electric current resistance Representative samples of fuel such as bark, leaves, twigs etc were minced and the moisture measured The availability of fuel to burn depends largely on its moisture content. When it exceeds 20-25% not much will burn, whereas 12-15% is generally ideal for fuel reduction burning, but if the moisture content drops as low as 7-10% virtually everything will ignite, and fire behaviour becomes extreme. During the afternoon of the Ash Wednesday bushfires on 16 February 1983 fuel moisture contents were recorded at Stawell as low as 2.7%. Fine fuels like leaves and bark can rapidly absorb moisture after a shower of rain, or from the air when the Relative Humidity (RH) is high, and the temperature is low. Conversely, they can also dry out very quickly. So even though the overall fuel quantity in the forest doesn’t change, the fine fuel availability can increase rapidly from zero after rain to many tonnes per hectare as the fuel dries out. This can happen over a few hours on hot and windy days. Heavy fuels like logs on the ground take longer to dry out. Commercial timber moisture meter used to measure fuelDCR9-Tforests commission victoria (fcv), bushfire, forest measurement

Used to measure fuel moisture content Representative samples of fuel such as bark, leaves, twigs etc were minced and the moisture measured The availability of fuel to burn depends largely on its moisture content. When it exceeds 20-25% not much will burn, whereas 12-15% is generally ideal for fuel reduction burning, but if the moisture content drops as low as 7-10% virtually everything will ignite, and fire behaviour becomes extreme. During the afternoon of the Ash Wednesday bushfires on 16 February 1983 fuel moisture contents were recorded at Stawell as low as 2.7%. Fine fuels like leaves and bark can rapidly absorb moisture after a shower of rain, or from the air when the Relative Humidity (RH) is high, and the temperature is low. Conversely, they can also dry out very quickly. So even though the overall fuel quantity in the forest doesn’t change, the fine fuel availability can increase rapidly from zero after rain to many tonnes per hectare as the fuel dries out. This can happen over a few hours on hot and windy days. Heavy fuels like logs on the ground take longer to dry out. Adaption of a commercial timber moisture meter measure fuelTF 933 Cforests commission victoria (fcv), bushfire, forest measurement

Representative samples of fuel such as bark, leaves, twigs etc were minced and the moisture measured The availability of fuel to burn depends largely on its moisture content. When it exceeds 20-25% not much will burn, whereas 12-15% is generally ideal for fuel reduction burning, but if the moisture content drops as low as 7-10% virtually everything will ignite, and fire behaviour becomes extreme. During the afternoon of the Ash Wednesday bushfires on 16 February 1983 fuel moisture contents were recorded at Stawell as low as 2.7%. Fine fuels like leaves and bark can rapidly absorb moisture after a shower of rain, or from the air when the Relative Humidity (RH) is high, and the temperature is low. Conversely, they can also dry out very quickly. So even though the overall fuel quantity in the forest doesn’t change, the fine fuel availability can increase rapidly from zero after rain to many tonnes per hectare as the fuel dries out. This can happen over a few hours on hot and windy days. Heavy fuels like logs on the ground take longer to dry out. Adaption of a timber moisture meter made by the FCV radio lab to measure fuelforests commission victoria (fcv), bushfire, forest measurement

Acquired when "Classewave Industries" closed down.Moisture damage to last pages Moisture damage to last pagestextile industry textile industry - history, textile society of australia, geelong branch, lang, dr w. roy harrison, mr p. w., textile industry, textile industry - history

Military case, aluminium, that seals to avoid moisture damage to contents in the tropicsJ Coughlan J Coughlancase, metal

The wallet was issued to some Australian soldiers in Vietnam and its waterproof characteristic was essential in a very wet environment.Significant to the soldier as it protected largely, irreplaceable documents and/or pictures.Made of a flexible plastic material, colour is Olive Drab and has sufficient capacity to carry smaller documents and protect same from moisture.Printed onto the item: V44/Made in Australia/1945/D, arrow upwards symbol D/F, arrow upwards 12.vietnam, vietnam war, equipment, diamond valley vietnam veterans sub branch

Light card cover with green cloth backstrip to spine. Significant moisture, mildew and fungal staining on cover and throughout. cover and several pages are torn at extremities. Poor condition.non-fictionA descriptive atlas of the Eucalypts of Australia and adjoining islands.botany, eucalypts, australia

To cover Breech of gun from moisture when not in useAs supplied by GMH during World war 2Military green canvas cover divided in front with brass eyelets to attach rope that holds bag closed over breech with carry strap on topCover breech -QF-25 PDRmilitary, breech, cover

Used to prepare fuel samples to measure their moisture content. Representative samples of fine fuel such as bark, leaves, twigs etc were minced first through a course mincing plate, then a fine plate and the moisture content measured with a Speedy moisture meter or other device. The availability of fuel to burn depends largely on its moisture content. When it exceeds 20-25% not much will burn, whereas 12-15% is generally ideal for fuel reduction burning, but if the moisture content drops as low as 7-10% virtually everything will ignite, and fire behaviour becomes extreme. During the afternoon of the Ash Wednesday bushfires on 16 February 1983 fuel moisture contents were recorded at Stawell as low as 2.7%. Fine fuels like leaves and bark can rapidly absorb moisture after a shower of rain, or from the air when the Relative Humidity (RH) is high, and the temperature is low. Conversely, they can also dry out very quickly. So even though the overall fuel quantity in the forest doesn’t change, the fine fuel availability can increase rapidly from zero after rain to many tonnes per hectare as the fuel dries out. This can happen over a few hours on hot and windy days. Heavy fuels like logs on the ground take longer to dry out. Spong No 10 food mincerforests commission victoria (fcv), bushfire, forest measurement

Light card cover with worn blue cloth backstrip, tearing at top and bottom. Widespread moisture, mildew and fungal staining throughout. Small patches of insect damage to cover. Poor conditionnon-fictionA descriptive atlas of the Eucalypts of Australia and the adjoining islandsbotany, eucalypts, australia

Used to mince fuel samples to measure moisture content Representative samples of fuel such as bark, leaves, twigs etc were minced and the moisture measured The availability of fuel to burn depends largely on its moisture content. When it exceeds 20-25% not much will burn, whereas 12-15% is generally ideal for fuel reduction burning, but if the moisture content drops as low as 7-10% virtually everything will ignite, and fire behaviour becomes extreme. During the afternoon of the Ash Wednesday bushfires on 16 February 1983 fuel moisture contents were recorded at Stawell as low as 2.7%. Fine fuels like leaves and bark can rapidly absorb moisture after a shower of rain, or from the air when the Relative Humidity (RH) is high, and the temperature is low. Conversely, they can also dry out very quickly. So even though the overall fuel quantity in the forest doesn’t change, the fine fuel availability can increase rapidly from zero after rain to many tonnes per hectare as the fuel dries out. This can happen over a few hours on hot and windy days. Heavy fuels like logs on the ground take longer to dry out. Fuel mincer Made at Altona as an alternative design to the commercial Spong Mincer With wooden plug to push fuel into the mincer and glass jar to collect sampleforests commission victoria (fcv), bushfire, forest measurement

Used to mince fuel samples to measure moisture content Representative samples of fuel such as bark, leaves, twigs etc were minced and the moisture measured The availability of fuel to burn depends largely on its moisture content. When it exceeds 20-25% not much will burn, whereas 12-15% is generally ideal for fuel reduction burning, but if the moisture content drops as low as 7-10% virtually everything will ignite, and fire behaviour becomes extreme. During the afternoon of the Ash Wednesday bushfires on 16 February 1983 fuel moisture contents were recorded at Stawell as low as 2.7%. Fine fuels like leaves and bark can rapidly absorb moisture after a shower of rain, or from the air when the Relative Humidity (RH) is high, and the temperature is low. Conversely, they can also dry out very quickly. So even though the overall fuel quantity in the forest doesn’t change, the fine fuel availability can increase rapidly from zero after rain to many tonnes per hectare as the fuel dries out. This can happen over a few hours on hot and windy days. Heavy fuels like logs on the ground take longer to dry out. Battery operated Fuel mincer. Plugs into 12 volt car cigarette lighter socket Adaption using parts from commercial food processor Made at Altona as an alternative design to the commercial Spong Mincer Glass jar to collect sampleforests commission victoria (fcv), bushfire, forest measurement

Brass unit and flexible tubing, stainless steel adjustment knob and copper coated spiral cover of control cable. Two spare fittings and two description cards. Decarbonizes the engine, sends a constant stream of moisture to the engine.Patented and patents pending in USA and foreign countries. VIX Vapor humidifier, Wheaton, ILL, USAengine humidifier, walter g. critchlow, vix vapour humidifier, vix vapor humidifier

This domestic kitchen appliance is typical of the period when food processing was done at home. It would have been before the time of mass food processing factoriesVery rusted round tin with detachable bottom and lid for easy removal of cheese. Small eyelets on each side and large handles each side. Top and bottom lids have holes in them to allow moisture to escape.cheese-mould domestic food-preparation

Light card cover with some mildew & other staining back & front. Discoloration from light exposure. Blue cloth backstrip on spine with minor wear top & bottom. Mildew & moisture staining throughout, light foxing. Binding intact. Fair condition.non-fictionA descriptive atlas of the Eucalypts of Australia and the adjoining islands.botany, eucalypts, australia

This is a lockable metal money box. It would have been useful place to store money and small items. being metal ,it would offer some protection from moisture and pests This money box has no known local provenance but it is an interesting item and is useful for display. This is a black rectangular tin box with a hinged lid with a tin handle attached with metal clips. There is a lock but no key. The lid has a gold and yellow border pattern and gold edging on the rim of the lid but these decorations are mostly eroded away. There is a maker’s mark on the base of the tin but it is indecipherable. ‘English Made’ social history, history of warrnambool, vintage money box

A box used to store and carry cartridges safely. It is protcted from moisture entering. Labelled with caliber, quantity and manufacturing date or lot number. The Martini-Henry is a single shot ricle with a lever action used in WWI.Sturdy rectangular wooden box with steel straps. At the top is a sliding opening with yellowish wood and printed black label."680 / Cartridges / Ball / b. L. Martini-Henry Arm / Mark V / R. L. " is printed in black on uellowish wood at the top centre of the box. More printing on the top each side "C & H' and "C?? / 19,2,75?"ammunition box, cartridge box, dederang rifle club

Possibly part of the Uebergang collection. The moulds are placed under pressure during the maturation process with excess moisture being forced out through the holes in the lid. This is one of a set of moulds with a size range 5lb, 10lb, 15lb, 20lb, 40lb, 80lb.Round galvanised steel cheese hoop with strap handles soldered to the sides. The round lid has 6 holes.

The M6 was the standard periscope used on the Sherman tanks. There are two large prisms assembled in each end of a metal shell. Frequent problems with moisture and condensation resulted in the development of a new periscope made from a solid block of plastic with a reflecting surface at each end.Wartime significance.Sherman Tank Periscope Type : M6.Periscope M6. Minneapolis - Honeywell Regulator Company. #96812 1942. D.A.

Light card cover, creased top right front, tearing at bottom, with faded and worn blue cloth backstrip to spine. Backstrip torn at top and separated from body of book. Several pages missing at the front. Moisture stains on cover. Minor insect damage to some pages. Foxing throughout. Poor condition.non-fictionA descriptive atlas of the Eucalypts of Australia and the adjoining islandsbotany, eucalypts, australia

The Maddingley area of Bacchus Marsh was surveyed for brown coal deposits in the 1930s. By the early 1940s brown coal in large quantities was being extracted and was transported to Melbourne where it was used to fire boilers for the Australian Paper Mills (APM) company. By the 1970s APM was using natural gas instead of coal. Maddingley brown coal was then used to fire boilers for the CRA/VISY cardboard factory at Bacchus Marsh. This factory closed down in 1990. During the 1990s the mine was acquired by the Calleja family company who ran transport and waste management operations.The Maddingley Brown coal mine was a major industry in Bacchus Marsh for 50 years. A sample of coal from the mine is a reminder of the importance of this local industry over an extended period of time.Two cylindrical plastic containers mounted on rectangular baseSample of pulverised brown coal produced from Maddingley brown coal deposit located at Bacchus Marsh Victoria, October 1981. Moisture content 12% - Specific energy - 22 GJ/Tonne - Particle size - 25% +90 Microncoal mines, mining, brown coal, maddingley brown coal mine

Moisture-proof wax vestas issued to A.I.F. troops during south-west Pacific campaign. Cigarettes were a normal part of life during both World Wars and there was no attempt made to limit or stop soldiers from smoking. In many cases it was actually encouraged.In WW1 there were almost no cigarette lighters available. Even in WW2 they were unusual. Matches were the normal way of creating fire. The wooden "safety" match that we know today was not in common use. Matches were made from wax and came in tins such as this item.Small rectangular iron alloy container with hinged cover. Base has a slightly recessed central section which has been perforated to enable the striking of matches. The cover has been painted with 'Bells Waterproof Wax Vestas' on a green or black ground. tin bell's-vestas smoking matches

Light card cover with blue clothe backstrip on spine. Mildew staining top left front cover, small stains elsewhere. Minor insect damage top left back cover. Slight tearing top of backstrip. Moisture staining throughout with some mildew stains. Foxing on some pages. Binding intact. Fair conditionnon-fictionA descriptive atlas of the eucalypts of Australia and the adjoining islands.botany, eucalypts, australia

Skincare cosmetics used for ageing skin have been a priority for over 3000 years, in ancient times masks were used to cleanse and maintain the moisture of the skin. The Egyptians used anti-wrinkle creams made with the essential oil of frankincense which claimed to possess anti-inflammatory properties. Thick creams use on the face were created to preserve moisture on mature skin. And were formulated from resin, wax, oil, grass, and plant juice, In the 1700s, face toners and scented water were popular. Cold cream made with scented oils, spermaceti, and wax mixed with rose water and ambergris was a common toilette preparation. But it was the 20th century when face cosmetics entered their golden era and mass production made cosmetics available to women of all classes. An item used to store face cream from the 1920s when face creams and other cosmetics started to become available to all classes of women and no longer were these types of preparations only available to women of financial means.Clear glass jar with "hobnail" pattern and brass lid used to hold face cream cosmetics.Lid decorated with a relief design of 5 cherub heads and cloudsflagstaff hill, warrnambool, shipwrecked coast, flagstaff hill maritime museum, maritime museum, shipwreck coast, flagstaff hill maritime village, great ocean road, glass jar, cosmetics jar, toilet article

Two handwritten pages, and typed copies of same, addressed to Mr J. J. Stanistreet, Commonwealth Bank Chambers, Bendigo. Notes mention the gross weight, moisture content and net-dry weight of Pyrites Lot no 68, Slimes or Strakes Lot No 67 and Blanket Sand Lot no 66. Assay results are also mentioned. The share for Tributors is also tabled. Albert Richardson Collection. document, gold, north deborah gold mining co n. l., north deborah gold mining co n. l., assay results for north deborah gold mining co n. l., mr j j stanistreet, school of mines, victor leggo & co