Sailmaker's twine is usually stored on a reel. It is wax coated and ready to use. The twine is made from strands of fibres that are plied together. The wax waterproofs the twine and smooths out the fine hairs of the fibres, making it easier to work with. The waxed twine helps prevent the ends of the rope work from fraying. Sailmakers use twine and needles to sew sails and many other canvas items such as bags and covers. Special tools, equipment, benches and seats are needed to work with the large heavy and thick pieces of canvas. Sometimes the sailmaker with have special-purpose tools made for his unique work. The place of work on shore is often called a sailmaker's loft. However, sailmakers also work on the job, on sailing ships and boats. This twine is an example imperative equipment for sailmakers. Sailmaking was an essential trade in the shipping industry of the 17th to 19th and early 20th centuries. Sailmakers were often part of a ship's crew, making repairs as needed and using their skills for other work such as net making.Twine; reel of brown waxed sailmaker's twine.warrnambool, shipwreck coast, flagstaff hill, flagstaff hill maritime museum, flagstaff hill maritime village, twine, waxed twine, sailmaker's twine, sailmaker's equipment, sailmaking, canvas work

Punch, metal, with round burred head, four flat sides that taper to a flat narrow endflagstaff hill, flagstaff hill maritime museum and village, punch, tool, metal work, metal work equipment, carpenter tool, sailmaker tool

This handmade rope ladder is an example of maritime equipment. It could be easily folded and stored and was useful for many purposes including fixing the ship's rigging.The rope ladder is an example of handmade maritime equipment using the shills of a ship's carpenter or sailmaker. It was simple to make, easily stored and useful for many purposes including the ship's rigging. The rope ladder is significant for being the only rope ladder in our collection of maritime equipment. Rope ladder. Handmade ladder with three wooden steps joined by thick rope lengths between them. Each step has rounded corners and a large hole near each corner. The tope is threaded and knotted to create an equal distance between the upper, centre and lower steps. flagstaff hill, warrnambool, maritime museum, maritime village, great ocean road, shipwreck coast, ladder, rope ladder, handmade ladder, ship's ladder, maritime equipment, rigging, ropework

This standard design life jacket was made by sailmakers Harry West Pty Ltd at Balmain, Sydney, New South Wales from 1930s to 1950s. Harry West - Harry was a chandler, sailmaker and rigger. He made and sold all kinds of canvas and rope goods including sails, awnings and covers. In 1925 he was advertising life buoys but by 1933 he was advertising life jackets. He and his wife Margery had six children. His business was still operating in 1954, when an article on the craft of sailmaking appeared in the Sydney Morning Herald. His sailmaker's loft was located, traditionally, close to Sydney's harbour. Life Jackets - Life jackets were part of the equipment carried by the Life Saving Rescue Crew of South Western Victoria, including Warrnambool, from around 1858 until the 1950s. The purpose of a life jacket is to keep the wearer afloat until he or she is rescued from the water. Life jackets were first invented in 1854 by Captain Ward of the Royal National Lifeboat Institution in Britain. The early life jackets were filled with cork, which is very buoyant. However, many times he cork caused the jacket to rise up quickly with a force that caused unconsciousness, sometimes turning the person face down in the water , causing them to drown. After the tragic loss of the ship RMS Titanic in 1912 and the lost lives of those onboard, a woman named Orpheus Newman designed the Salvus life jacket (Salvus means safe), which was filled with kapok instead of cork. Kapok comes from seed pods of the Ceiba Pentandra tree and is waterproof as well as buoyant. These Salvus jackets were used by the Royal Navy until new synthetic materials became available around the time of World War II.This life jacket is significant for its connection with local history, maritime history and marine technology. Lifesaving has been an important part of the services performed from Warrnambool's very early days, supported by State and Local Government, and based on the methods and experience of Great Britain. Hundreds of shipwrecks along the coast are evidence of the rough weather and rugged coastline. Ordinary citizens, the Harbour employees, and the volunteer boat and rescue crew, saved lives in adverse circumstances. Some were recognised as heroes, others went unrecognised. In Lady Bay, Warrnambool, there were around 16 known shipwrecks between 1850 and 1905. Many lives were saved but tragically, eight lives were lost.Life jacket, canvas covered, with two kapok padded compartments joined by shoulder straps and waist ties. Designed to slip over the head and tie at the waist. Inscriptions on pouches, some stencilled, some hand written, and inspection text on shoulder strap. Made by Harry West Pty Ltd., Sailmakers, Balmain, Sydney.Stencilled on pockets: “- - - NDARD / LIFE JACKET” [STANDARD LIFE JACKET], “HARRY WEST PTY LTD / SAILMAKERS / BALMAIN, SYDNEY” Stamped on shoulder strap: "XM3271RC" Hand painted on pocket: “DAVIES”flagstaff hill maritime museum and village, flagstaff hill, maritime museum, maritime village, warrnambool, lady bay, warrnambool harbour, captain ward, royal national lifeboat instution, kapok, life jacket, orpheus newman, salvus jacket, life saving, rescue, rescue crew, l.s.r.c., life saving equipment, marine technology, lifeboat, shipwreck victim, vintage, harry west, balmain, sydney, davies, standard life jacket, survivor, shipwreck, sailmakers, harry west pty ltd

This handmade barrel sling has been crafted and used for hoisting barrels onto ships.This handcrafted barrel sling is an example of the ropework that sailmakers are skilled in. It is typical of the equipment carried on ships in the 19th and 20th centuries and used at docks for loading and unloading the cargo.Barrel sling; handmade hemp fibre ropework formed into a sling to support and carry a barrel or cask.flagstaff hill, warrnambool, maritime museum, maritime village, great ocean road, shipwreck coast, barrel sling, ropework, cargo handling, loading sihps, dockside handling, freight handling

This handmade barrel sling is used for hoisting barrels onto ships. It is made from hemp fibre and is part of the equipment carried on 19th and early 20th century vessels for loading and unloading barrels and casks at the docks.This barrel sling is significant as equipment typically carried on board sailing ships for use in port when loading and unloading cargo.Barrel sling, handmade from hemp fibre.flagstaff hill, warrnambool, maritime museum, maritime village, great ocean road, shipwreck coast, barrel sling, cask, dock, loading cargo, ship equipment, sailmaker, ropework

The shrouds or fore-rigging are a part of the standing rigging on a sailing ship. They are used in pairs on each side of a ship to help hold the masts in place and to aid the sailors who climb the rigging. They are part of the basic framework for the sails. Larger vessels may have two or three pairs, and some ships may have upper and lower shrouds. The upper shrouds would be fixed to a protruding structure on the top of the masts so that they hung from the right angle. The ropework skills of the sailmaker would be used to create the shrouds, choosing fibres with properties suitable for the job at hand and creating the triangular shape carefully. Deadeyes and ropes were then used to attach the shrouds to the ship's structure.This shroud is an example of a part of the standing rigging of a sailing ship. Shrouds were used in pairs on larger sailing vessels to help hold the masts in place and give access to adjustable rigging such as sails.Fore Rigging or Shrouds, made from rope fibres. This shroud includes the upper and lower wooden deadeyes. They are part of a ship's rigging. flagstaff hill, warrnambool, maritime museum, maritime village, great ocean road, shipwreck coast, shroud, fore-rigging, ropework, sailing ship rigging, standing rigging, natural fibres, sailmakers, handmade, deadeye, knot making

The shrouds or fore-rigging are a part of the standing rigging on a sailing ship. They are used in pairs on each side of a ship to help hold the masts in place and to aid the sailors who climb the rigging. They are part of the basic framework for the sails. Larger vessels may have two or three pairs, and some ships may have upper and lower shrouds. The upper shrouds would be fixed to a protruding structure on the top of the masts so that they hung from the right angle. The ropework skills of the sailmaker would be used to create the shrouds, choosing fibres with properties suitable for the job at hand and creating the triangular shape carefully. Deadeyes and ropes were then used to attach the shrouds to the ship's structure.This shroud is an example of a part of the standing rigging of a sailing ship. Shrouds were used in pairs on larger sailing vessels to help hold the masts in place and give access to adjustable rigging such as sails.Fore Rigging or Shrouds, made from rope fibres. This shroud includes the upper and lower wooden deadeyes. They are part of a ship's rigging.flagstaff hill, warrnambool, maritime museum, maritime village, great ocean road, shipwreck coast, shroud, fore-rigging, ropework, knot making, sailing ship rigging, standing rigging, natural fibres, sailmakers, handmade, deadeye

The sewing palm was used by visually impaired workers in the mat making workshop at the Royal Victorian for the Blind Institute during the binding of mats to protect their palms from the 17cm-long curved mat making needle.1 leather folded band with indented metal square attached and leather lacing fastening at back assistive devices, employment