Embroidery thread is useful for craft and sewing projects. Semco was a Melbourne firm which in 1923 opened a factory in Cheltenham Road, Black Rock. It moved to George Street, Sandringham, and amalgamated with Coats Paton in 1983. There are no donation details with this Semco wheel, but it was in the same package as some Ric Rac trims and garters which date from around the 1950s to 1960s.Embroidery and sewing skills have been traditionally valued for women and these were often taught to girls in schools.Small cardboard Semco Rayon Crochet wheel wound with gold embroidery threadOn front: 'Semco / RAYON CROCHET / (50 YARDS) / GUARANTEED / FAST / COLOURS'sewing, craft, 1950s-1960s, semco

Front cover of "Semco smocking instruction book". An example of 1950s advertising through sewing and homemaker books. In this book, instructions are given for smocking of garments. Smocking is an embroidery technique used to gather fabric. An example of mid 20th century advertising through 'how-to' books.Digital copy of front cover of a bookhistoric advertisements, smocking, embroidery, hand sewing, semco

Sample pages from "Semco smocking instruction book". An example of 1950s advertising through sewing and homemaker books. In this book, instructions are given for smocking of garments. Smocking is an embroidery technique used to gather fabric. An example of mid 20th century advertising through 'how-to' books.Digital copy of ample pages from a bookhistoric advertisements, smocking, embroidery, hand sewing, semco

Semco souvenir printed tablecloth c 1950's. Owned by Donor's grandmother Veronica Constable who was born in Culgoa VIC in 1904Unfinished Semco tablecloth with crochet edging. Printed with design of Captain Cooks Cottage and the Endeavour.captain cook, semco

NeedleworkBooklet contains sheets of tissue paper Fautley's size , B also iron on transfers. Semco Transfer Frock Sprays BookletSemco Transfer Frock Sprays Folder No.15 Price 3DDistiction and smartness may be added to your frock, jacket or blouse with charming hand embroidery. These transfers are specifically designed for this purpose and can be used on the collar, pockets or anywhere on the garment. If desired additional sheets may be obtained. These designs are equally attractive worked with wool or Semco Embroidery Threads. Semco Art Needlework, Victoriastawell

Published by Semco Art Needlework Pty.Ltd> Semco Park Cheltenham Road Black Rock S.9. Farrow Falcon Press Pty. Ltd. 226 Lonsdale Place, Melbourne. For Girls learning embroidery- home/schoolSemco Embroidery Text Book. White outline around Black cover. Large red circle with girl siting in front doing embroidery wearing Victorian style short puffed sleeved dress polka dot pattern and pantaloons red stockings and lace up ballerina style shoes1st Edition Semco Embroidery Text Book 3D Free sampler transfer inside. Booklet contains illustrations and instructions for each stich. Pages 2 and 3 have pencil squiggles across the top.: Stem stitch, Snail Trail, Back Stitch, Lazy Daisy Stitch, Thousand Flower Stitch, Buttonhole Stitch, Long and short buttonhole stitch, Chain Stitch Seed Stitch, Arrow stitch, Feather Stitch, Herringbone Stitch, Cross Stitch, French Knots, Lattice Stitch. Illustrations of designs with stiches referred to on previous pages. stawell

Typed note about the construction, history and use of open cross bench trailers by the Victorian Railways on their two electric street railways or tramways. One of these cars was sold to Semco Park, an industrial concern making fabric products - see reference. Yields information about, VR open cross bench trailers and use at Semco Park.Typed document titled "Tramcar body in Semco Park"vr tram, open cross bench trailer car, trailer

Tatting is a form of knotted lace making using thread and a small shuttle. Twisted threads are tied around or through small, pointed shuttles that can be made of bone, mother of pearl, tortoise shell, steel or plastic. This produces a stable, strong lace using simple knots of two half hitches to make rings and chains embellished with picots. The origins of tatting are not clear but early versions of decorative knotting were used by the Egyptians on their ceremonial dress. Tatting also has elements of fishermen's net making techniques and the decorative knotting that was practiced by aristocratic women from the 15th century. Tatting, as we know it today, emerged in the first half of the 19th century. The new availability of mercerised thread from 1835 encouraged a burgeoning of lace crafts of all sorts. It was known in Italy as "occhi" and in France as "la frivolite". Tatting looks fragile but is both strong and durable. An article in a column named "Wives and Daughters" published in the Star newspaper in May 1910 describes the durability of tatting lace - "there is edging and insertion still in existence that have outworn two sets of pillow slips." In the 19th century and well into the 20th century, tatting was used like crochet and knitted lace for decorative edgings, collars, doilies, tray cloths etc. At first, different tatting patterns were passed along by word of mouth from person to person, however in time, patterns regularly appeared in newspapers and magazines well into the 1950's. This book has photographs and detailed instructions for a wide range of tatted edgings and insertions suitable for household linens such as towels, doilies and tablecloths as well as patterns for whole mats. Stanley E. Mullen (a businessman) developed Semco Pty Ltd which began as a Melbourne based importation company in 1907. The first three letters of Semco's name were his initials. In 1915 it began manufacturing women's apparel, whitework and transfer patterns. In 1924 the company moved to Black Rock, Victoria and continued to produce an extensive range of needlework patterns and handcraft instruction booklets, threads etc. up until the late 1970's. Semco had a staff that included many young women. It was noted by E.J. Trait (editor of the local newspaper "Standard News") that the firm provided them with good working conditions and the correct rate of pay for women in a time of war - the starting rate for 15 year olds, mainly girls at Semco was 25 shillings per week. During World War 2, Manpower Regulations could be used to coerce workers to move into jobs that supported the war effort, but Trait argued that being employed at Semco could make this unlikely as the firm made some goods essential for the war effort. He even suggested that women be encouraged to produce needlework items (and play a part in the war effort) by sending them as presents, to the troops up north. He also heaped praise on the Semco workplace - noting that no Saturday work was the norm, allowing employees to shop and have "hair-do's" before enjoying a relaxing weekend! Semco also had a female cricket side in the women's Saturday association. After the war the firm stayed in production until the early 1990's when it was taken over by Coates-Paton Pty Ltd. Norma Benporath (1900 - 1998) was an expert in tatting techniques and taught and published extensively on the subject. She was born in New Zealand with impaired sight but cataract surgery restored 50% vision to one eye. She was inspired to learn tatting whilst watching her aunt tat and being told that tatting did not require as much sharp vision as embroidery. She quickly learnt to design her own patterns and published over 1000 tatted lace patterns between 1929 and 1952. She became a regular contributor to magazines (such as Home Beautiful) and newspapers across Australia. Her designs were also published in New Zealand, South Africa as well as the U.K. and U.S.A. When Semco, a thread manufacturer, noticed a rise in the sale of fine crochet threads, they realized they had an untapped market to explore. Norma designed a collection of tatting patterns for Semco that were used to help promote their threads. Norma also worked with Semco to produce a line of threads and shuttles specifically suited to tatting. In 1997, Norma was inducted into the "Order of Australia" for "Service to the craft of tatting as a designer and through the international publication of her patterns".This item is an excellent example of the needle work being enjoyed by women in the 1940's in Australia and the skills of the Australian designer, Norma Benporath. It is also an example of the trend that emerged for craft companies such as Semco to publish pattern books in order to advertise their own materials.A 32 page soft cover instruction book with green front and back covers showing two tatted doily designs. The book includes black and white photographs and written patterns by Norma Benporath.Front cover - "TATTING" "For / EXPERTS/ and / BEGINNERS" "By/Semco" "SEMCO INSTRUCTION BOOK" "No. 16" "WITH ILLUSTRATIONS AND INSTRUCTIONS" "9" Back cover - "FOR INSTRUCTIONS FOR WORKING SEE PAGE 22" "Published by Semco Pty. Ltd." "BLACK ROCK, 29, VIC"flagstaff hill maritime museum and village, warrnambool, great ocean road, tatting, tatting instruction book, tatting patterns, tatting shuttle, semco, semco pty ltd, norma benporath, needlework, handcrafts, household linen, craftwork

Semco souvenir household linen with transfer printed Australiana design popular in 1950'sSemco dressing table mat with a transfer printed design of map of Australia, floral emblems, koala and kangaroo. Unworked except for crochet edgingaustraliana, australia, map, floral, koala, kangaroo

Semco souvenir household linen with transfer printed Australiana design popular in 1950'sSemco dressing table mat with a transfer printed design of map of Australia, floral emblems, koala and kangaroo. Unworked except for crochet edgingaustraliana, australia, map, floral, koala, kangaroo

Semco souvenir household linen with transfer printed Australiana design popular in 1950'sSemco dressing table mat with a transfer printed design of map of Australia, floral emblems, koala and kangaroo. Unworked with working sheet and instructions. Crochet edgingaustraliana, australia, map, floral, koala, kangaroo

In 1977, artist Annette Meikle undertook a commission to illustrate a book recording stories of places and people in the Bayside area. It was published in 1978 as Sandringham Sketchbook, with text by Elizabeth Waters. The sketches were intended to record remaining examples of Bayside’s early architecture and environment, as well as reflect newer architectural changes. Meikle went on to donate 22 of these sketches to Bayside City Council in 2003. Semco Park was a model of exemplary modern business in the 1920s. Located on Cheltenham Road, Black Rock, then considered to be an outer suburb, the property was home to Semco, a manufacturing and importing business of paper goods and cotton fabric items. The business’s governing director, Charles Mylius, wanted a firm that treated staff with fairness, created healthy and spacious working sites and offered recreational facilities. The site contained a factory as well as three houses for staff, a park with lawns, trees and flowerbeds, a cricket oval and a canteen serving hot food. Staff enjoyed soft background music played in the factory, and benefited from a superannuation scheme. Semco Park was sold to developers in 1977 but the business continued until the early 1990s with the office moving to Mulgrave, while factory work shifted to New Zealand.Annette Meikle, Semco Park 1977, ink and watercolour, 25.8 x 35.7 cm. Bayside City Council Art and Heritage Collection. Donated by the artist, 2003annette meikle, sandringham sketchbook, elizabeth waters, semco park, semco, cheltenham road, black rock

Taken in Beechworth c1910, this postcard depicts Victoria Road lined with trees and residential houses. A horse and buggy is also pictured driving towards the camera. This postcard was manufacture by SEMCO or SEMCO Art Needlework Company, which was a "music, post-card and fine art importers, indentors and publishers" established by Stanley Edward Mullen in c1910, Melbourne. One of the identifying features of the Semco postcards is the text printed on the reverse of the cards which read: “Semco Series, P.O. Box 545, G.P.O. Melbourne.” Black and white postcard within oval frame, grey decorative edge. Obverse: VICTORIA ROAD, BEECHWORTH Reverse: 1997.2839 (crossed-out) A02839 84-137-1 POST CARD Near our state school. BEECHWORTH about 1910 beechworth, victoria road, postcard, 1910, semco

Associated with - Semco Series Box 545 Buildings - Coliban Bridge

Associated with - Semco Series Box 545 Buildings - Mollison Street People - "Penno, Olive; Sutton Photo"

Associated with - Semco Series Box 545 Buildings - "M/Church, M.H.S,Shops" People - "Penno, Fred & Olive And George"

Associated with - Semco Series Box 545 Buildings - "Shops, Mollison St, Lamps" People - "Sturgess, Mrs E, Sutton Photo"

Sample of thread used for darning cottonCard containing various coloured embroidery cottonsSemco 2 strand embroidery. Specially prepared for dainty needlework. Set 1.sewing, darning, domestic life

Coloured postcard photograph, in a brown printed frame, showing a view of the path along the weir of Lake King and the bridge. Two women, one with a baby, both wearing long dresses and large hats, are at one end of the bridge.On back of card: "W. Hine, Rutherglen" | Semco Series, Box 545, G.P.O., Melbourne"lake king, rutherglen park

Embroidered by the donor's Grandmother Veronica Constable. Veronica was born in 1904 in Culgoa and died in 1976. Veronica lived on a soldier settlement property in the Wimmera at Wycheproof where the family farmed wheat and cattle. The table cloth was stored in a suitcase with other linen in her mothers wardrobe since 1970s or earlier. Donor doesn't remember her grandmother embroidering so probably dates pre 1950's. Cotton tablecloth, unfinished. Printed design of the state of Victoria, with Victorian towns and their local industries.. Crochet edging. Accompanied by bundle of embroidery cottons with Semco kit label.Victoria and names of major towns map, victoria, towns, industry

Women kept embroidery threads in containers such as these.A small natural, green and purple coloured raffia lidded basket. It contains many coloured vintage embroidery threads inside - Semco, DMC.'Semco' 'DMC' branded embroidery threads.sewing baskets, sewing equipment, embroidery equipment

Divided back postcard featuring a hand coloured black and white photograph of a view looking from Flinders St towards Government House, c1900, or from the roof of the Flinders St Station which could be under construction. Embossed Photograph enclosed within an artists palette, surrounded by roses. Note the buildings between the bridge and Government house - a former asylum? Card from the SEMCO Series Box 545 GPO Melbourne. Addressed to Miss V Hall of Blackwood.trams, tramways, princes bridge, cable trams, flinders st, flinders st station

Made by donor's mother.Two linen Semco cloths, embroidered in yellow, orange, brown, and green. Crochet edges. Book/folder is a history of the cloths, complete with pictures, and a history of Semco.cloths, linen, semco, book

Fairy KnittingBrochure - "Semco" Fairy Knitting Folder No. 4 Cream brochure with magenta colouring Coral design has picture and of doileys.'As above'semco, knitting, doileys

Black and white photograph of the South beach with the Bathing boxes and swings in the centre middle ground and six people walking across the the sand in the foreground taken for use as a postcardBathing boxes and Beach Port Fairybeach, bathing boxes, south beach, pea soup, boarding school bay, swings, ocean, sea

Black and white photograph on a post card, with brown border, showing the Bowling Green in Murray Street.bowling green, sports grounds, murray street

Black and white photograph on a post card, with brown border, showing the Prentice and Southern Gold Mine.prentice and southern gold mine, gold mining, mining industry

Black and white photograph on a post card, with brown border, showing the Rutherglen Park, with a view of the weir and Lake King in the background. In the foreground is the bridge over the weir out-fall, with two ladies on the bridge, one of them holding a baby.rutherglen park, lake king, water storage