It took 15 years to invent the can. It took 100 more to invent a standard way to open it. In the 19th century, decades after the invention of canning, there were virtually no can openers. Canned food, such as sardines, came with its own "key" to peel back the tin lid. Birth of the can One of the oddest things about the can opener is that the can predates it by almost 150 years. Though common today, cans were once military-grade technology. In 1795, Napoleon, to whom the phrase "an army marches on its stomach" is attributed, offered 12,000 francs to anyone who could find a way to preserve food. Without any knowledge of bacteria or their role in food spoilage, scientists didn't even know where to begin. It took 15 years before a chef named Nicholas Appert claimed the prize after successfully jarring food. Soon after that, his countryman Philippe de Girard came up with a variant on Appert's method—metal tins—and sold the idea to the British. Spoiled food, and the sickness it caused, was a widespread problem. The public would have benefited from canned food, but for decades cans were almost exclusively for the army and the navy. The canning process, with its hours of boiling and steaming, its scrupulous cleanliness, its heated metal, and its need for a great deal of disposable material, made canned food far too expensive for anyone but the military. No can openers were needed or even possible. The metal of early cans was too thick to make openers practical. Soldiers and sailors had plenty of sharp objects on hand and made ample use of them when they wanted to eat. During the 19th century, the process of canning was refined and mechanised, and the metal wall of the average can slimmed down enough that a civilian could get it open—if that civilian had the right tool. No one had that tool yet, so early cans had to open themselves. In other words, they came with built-in openers. The result was a confusing but pleasing free-for-all, in terms of product engineering. Each type of food came with its own kind of can, and each kind of can came with its own kind of opener. Tinned fish and meat were often sold in rectangular cans. These cans were fitted with a "key" that would roll down the top of the can. Coffee, beans, and other types of meat were packaged in cylinders with metal strips that could be peeled back with their own kinds of built-in keys. Cans of milk, which didn't need to be completely opened, came with puncture devices. As tinned food became more common, its containers became more regular. A nice cylindrical can became the norm, and, as these cans filled kitchens, more engineers put their minds to finding a convenient way to open all of them. The first standalone can opener worked on a simple principle: point, stab, and pull. From the mid-19th century to the end of World War I, the typical can opener looked roughly like a wrench, if the lower 'jaw' of the wrench were replaced with a blade. People used the blade to puncture the top of the can near its edge, push the upper jaw against the side of the can, and drag the blade through the metal along the rim. Because meat was the first and most popular canned substance, these can openers were often shaped to look like cows and given the nickname 'bully beef can openers'. The bully beef can opener, popular in the mid-19th century, resulted in many lost fingers. Bully beef can openers were so common, effective, and sturdy that they are still frequently available on collectors' sites. Some are advertised as “still working,” and every last one of them is, without a doubt, soaked in the blood of our ancestors. Dragging a sharp blade along the edge of a can is certain to cause injury sooner or later. So once people got a reliable can shape and a reliable way to get the can open, the search was on for a reliable way to get a can open without the possibility of losing a finger. The answer came in 1925, from the Star Can Opener Company of San Francisco. This is probably the first can opener that resembles the one people have in their kitchens today. Instead of using a blade to pry open a metal can, buyers could clamp the edge of the can between two wheels and twist the handle of one of the wheels to move the blade around the lip. The Star can openers weren't perfect. Compared to the bully beef model, they were flimsy and breakable, but they probably prevented a few injuries. Six short years after the Star model came to market, the first electric can opener was invented. It was patented in 1931 by the Bunker Clancey Company of Kansas City, who had already been sued by the Star Can Opener Company for trying sell a double-wheeled can opener like the Star model (the case was dismissed). The electric can opener must have seemed like the wave of the future and a sure-fire seller, but it proved to be too far ahead of its time. In 1931 not that many households had electricity, and those that did weren't interested in buying can openers. The Bunker Clancey Company was subsequently bought by the Rival Company, which still makes small appliances like can openers today. It took another 25 years for electrically powered can openers to become practical. In the 1950s, Walter Hess Bodle and his daughter, Elizabeth Bodle, developed an electric can opener in the family garage. Walter came up with the opener's blades and motor, and Elizabeth sculpted the outside. Their can opener was a free-standing unit that could sit on the kitchen counter. The Udico brand of the Union Die Casting Company put it on the market in time for Christmas in 1956 and had great success with it. Over the next few years it came out in different styles and colours, and, like the bully beef can opener, has become a collector's item. Also like the bully beef model, Udico can openers often still work. They don't make 'em like they used to. Although there have been some design changes and refinements over the last sixty years, there have yet to be any more leaps forward in can opener technology. If you're resentfully opening a can, you are almost certainly doing it using the Star design, manually forcing the can between two wheels, or the Bodle design, clamping the can into a free-standing electrical opener. Whether or not you enjoy your holiday meals, at least you can be happy that you are not getting poisoned by your own food or cutting open your hand with the blade you use to get at it. That's something, right?The can opener is still a very important and essential item in most kitchens.Can opener, right handed, metal, upper blade section serrated, inscription 'Peerless Pat.Feb 11-90'.Peerless Pat.Feb 11-90flagstaff hill, warrnambool, shipwrecked-coast, flagstaff-hill, flagstaff-hill-maritime-museum, maritime-museum, shipwreck-coast, flagstaff-hill-maritime-village, cannning, can opener, kitchen equipment

Aqua glass bottle, 12.7 cm tall, embossed on three sides: ‘Hauthaway’s/ Peerless Gloss/ Made in U.S.A’. Hauthaway’s company, established in 1852, manufactured protective coatings for shoes. The bottles come in different colours. Some have the name Hauthaway’s repeated (instead of ‘Made in U.S.A). This example was discarded in 1908 after the death of Mary Everett. Embossed on base, ‘C/6’.Green, square-bottomed glass bottle"Hauthaway's" on one face, "Peerless Gloss" on the opposite facebottles, containers

Program: Victorian season, Bendigo, Geelong, Ballarat. The Australian Elizabethan Theatre Trust presents 'The Trust Players' in 'Fire on the Wind' a drama by J. Anthony Coburn, Bendigo, Royal Princess Theatre, Sept 10, 11,12. Geelong Plaza Theatre Sept 14, 15, 16. Ballarat Her Majesty's Sept. 17, 18, 19. Peerless Press Pty Ltd. Sydney, Australia.Peerless Press Pty. Ltd., Sydney, Australiaprogram, theatre, the trust players 1959 season, trust players, fire on the wind, a. coburn, elizabethan theatre trust, bendigo, ballarat, geelong

Theatre Program, Cherniavsky Concert Recitals: Australian Tour 1928 Jan,Pianist, Leo,Violinist, Michel, Vioncellist. Allan E.Martin Manager and Tuner. Price 6D. Program No.6. Peerless Press, 558a George Street Sydney. Under Direction of Mr. Edward Branscombe. Contralto: Madame Marie Hooton, Baritone: Mr. Percival Driver. Manager Nigel Brook, Touring Representatives: Mr. F.G.Robson & Mr. W.J.Smith. Concert Program: Leo, Jan & Mischel Cherniavski Recital.Peerless Press, 558a George Street,Sydney.program, theatre, cherniavsky concert, cherniavsky

Emlyn Williams as Charles Dickens. Giving a Solo Performance of Scenes from the Famous Novels and Stories. Tour of New Zealand and Australia, 1958. D D O'Conner Productions Ltd.., in association with the Australian Elizabethan Theatre Trust. 1 Moving in Society. 2 Paul. 3 Mr Bob Sawyer Gives a Bachelor Party. 4 The Signalman. 5 Mr Chops. 6 The Fancy Ball. The Adoptions . . . The Desk . . . The Nature of the Performance. During the fifties of the last century, Charles Dickens, at the Height of his fame as a novelist, ventured on something quite new; he gave, in Birmingham, a public 'reading' of one of his stories. This turned out to be an historic occasion, opening up an extraordinary career for the great writer. Each 'Reading' was more sensationally successful than the last. The word was put into inverted commas because nothing could have been less like reading than Dickens's dramatic performance. Something like a hundred years later at the Criterion Theatre, EMILYN WILLIAMS appeared before the London public 'as Charles Dicken's, giving a solo performance of scenes from the novels.' At this point the actor had been a star of . . . Personal Manager for Emlyn Williams: Alan Cambell. Stage Director: Tony Ward. Secretary and Accountant: Aubrey Thomas. Manager for the Australian Elizabethan Theatre Trust: Mary Rawdon. EMILYN WILLIAMS. Emlyn Williams, as actor, playwright of director (often in all three capacities simultaneously) has been in the theatre since he acquired the degree of M.A. and shook from his feet the dust of Oxford. Born in Flintshire, North Wales, in 1905, the son of a village inn-keeper, he spoke only Welsh as a child and learned English at school - a boyhood freely depicted in his comedy, 'The Druid's Rest.' At the age of ten he won a scholarship to the local Holywell County School, and at the age of seventeen another scholarship (in French) to Christ Church, Oxford. Once at the University hw discovered the theatre, by means of the Dramatic Society, and realized at once it was to dominate his life. While he . . . Includes photo of E Williams. Advertisement for DECCA Records, Emlyn Williams as Charles Dickens, Volume 1.Back cover photograph of Emlyn Williams. Second Programme in Australia: Emlyn Williams as 'A Boy Growing Up' An entertainment from the stories of Dylan Thomas. 'Gorgeously Funny' - The observer, London. Cover well decorated with sketches and photo of Emlyn WilliamsPeerless Press Pty. Ltd.cottage, miners, emlyn williams as charles dickens. giving a solo performance of scenes from the famous novels and stories. tour of new zealand and australia, 1958. d d o'conner productions ltd.., in association with the australian elizabethan theatre trust. 1 moving in society. 2 paul. 3 mr bob sawyer gives a bachelor party. 4 the signalman. 5 mr chops. 6 the fancy ball. the adoptions . . . the desk . . . the nature of the performance. during the fifties of the last century, novelist, ventured on something quite new, in birmingham, a public 'reading'. an historic occasion, opening up a career 'reading' criterion theatre solo performance novels.' actor had been a star of . . . personal manager for emlyn williams: alan cambell. stage director: tony ward. secretary and accountant: aubrey thomas. manager for the australian elizabethan theatre trust: mary rawdon. actor, playwright of director (often in all three capacities simultaneously) degree of m.a. oxford. born in flintshire, north wales, in 1905, village inn-keeper, spoke welsh learned english at school. comedy, 'the druid's rest.' won a scholarship to the local holywell county school, and at the age of seventeen another scholarship (in french) to christ church, oxford. university he discovered the theatre, dramatic society. photo of e williams. advertisement for decca records, as charles dickens, volume 1.back cover photograph of emlyn williams. second programme in australia: emlyn williams as 'a boy growing up' stories of dylan thomas. 'gorgeously funny' - the observer, london.

As used by manufacturer for shipment of his productsas sold by Holden and Frost Ca 1900Small wooden box with no lid, with inscription of manufacturer printed on.3 Dozen Frank Millar Peerless shoe blacking on front 3 dozen Frank Millar Peerless ??? on both ends The Frank Millar Company New Yorkshipping container, box, wood

A small wooden case (.1), containing a miniature tennis set, featuring: two wooden handled, metallic tennis racquets (.2 - .3), and a net attached to two spiked posts (.4). Inscription across top of lid: THE PEERLESS/PARLOUR/AND LAWN/TENNIS SET. Materials: Metal, Wood, Glue, Lacquer, Cord, Inktennis

Eleven photocopies of Plaza Theatre Bendigo images including documentation. 1 Plaza Theatre Bendigo upstairs auditorium, 2 Ground floor entrance Plaza Bendigo 1936 and name of film starring Gary Grant Constance Bennett 'Big Brown Eyes', 3 Plaza Theatre Mitchell Street Bendigo 1953 film 'Warpath' Edmund O' Brien Dean jagger forest tucker Harry Carey 'Thunder in the East' Alan Ladd Deborah Kerr Charles Boger Phyllis Calvert nearby residents Hamptons Newsagency Melody Bar Pearse dentist Quins bluebird fruit shop Norris's Menswear Matchetts grocery, 'Port Hole Paradise' My Days as an Assistant Projectionist by Micheal Purdon 6 pages, copy of a glass advertising slide, cinema glass advertising slide late 40's early 50's, Plaza theatre Auditorium 1935, Plaza Bendigo 1967 Projector 2X Cummings & Wilson Western Electric Sound Bases Peerless Magnarc Carbon Arc Lamps.bendigo, buildings, plaza theatre