It is believed the word thimble evolved from "thumb bell". They were first produced in 1695 by a dutch metalworker. The small thimble, size 7 is 15 mm at the rim and was made in Germany. The medium thimble (Size 8) was made in England. The largest thimble is a size 13 3 silver thimbles each of varying sizes. Large thimble has England stamped on it and the number 1. Each thimble has indentations covering 2/3 of the thimble areaEngland 1thimbles, sewing aid

In 1867 the Singer Company decided that the demand for their sewing machines in the UK was sufficiently high to open a local factory. Glasgow was selected for its iron-making industries, cheap labour, and possibly because at the time the General Manager of the US Singer Sewing Machine Company was George McKenzie, who was of Scottish descent. The company obtained a lease on land near Queen Street Station and machinery and machine parts were shipped over from the US. Demand for sewing machines outstripped production at the new plant and by 1873 a new larger factory was completed near Bridgeton Cross. By now Singer employed over 2,000 people in Scotland but still, they could not produce enough machines. In 1882 George McKenzie, the soon to become President of the Singer Sewing Machine Company undertook the ground breaking ceremony on 46 acres of farmland at Kilbowie, Clydebank and the largest Singer factory in the world started to be built. Originally two main buildings were constructed. Built above the middle wing of the factory was a huge clock tower with the 'Singer' name displayed for all to see from miles around. Many miles of railway lines were laid throughout the factory to connect the different departments and to aid in the shipping of their goods. Railway lines from the factory connected Glasgow, Dumbarton, and Helensburgh stations. The factory was regarded as the most modern facility in Europe at that time. As different departments in the factory were completed, the workers moved from the old sites to the new one at Kilbowie and the factory was finally finished in 1885. With nearly a million square feet of space and almost 7,000 employees producing on average 13,000 machines a week, making it the largest sewing machine factory in the world. The Clydebank factory was so productive that in 1905 the US Singer Company set up the Singer Manufacturing Company Ltd. as a UK registered company. The invention of the sewing machine had several very significant impacts on the lives of many people. It changed the domestic life of many women as more households began to own sewing machines, women as the ones who traditionally stayed home to do chores including making and repairing clothing, found themselves with more free time. Previously several days a week would be dedicated to sewing clothing for herself and her family, a housewife could now complete her sewing in merely several hours, allowing for more free time to pursue hobbies and attain new skills. Sewing and clothing production, in general, became more industrialized activities, taking place less in the home and more in large factories. Industrial sewing machines, in combination with the cotton gin, the spinning jenny, and the steam engine, made clothing production much easier and much cheaper. Sewing machine, treadle operated, "Branded Premier" 5-7-9-2-0-0-" Serial Number Y6243048 (denotes 1922 year of manufacture) flagstaff hill, warrnambool, shipwrecked-coast, flagstaff-hill-maritime-museum, maritime-museum, shipwreck-coast, flagstaff-hill-maritime-village, sewing machine, hand operated, dressmaking, textile machinery, portable, premier sewing machine, premier, singer treadle sewing machine

In 1867 the Singer Company decided that the demand for their sewing machines in the UK was sufficiently high to open a local factory. Glasgow was selected for its iron-making industries, cheap labour, and possibly because at the time the General Manager of the US Singer Sewing Machine Company was George McKenzie, who was of Scottish descent. The company obtained a lease on land near Queen Street Station and machinery and machine parts were shipped over from the US. Demand for sewing machines outstripped production at the new plant and by 1873 a new larger factory was completed near Bridgeton Cross. By now Singer employed over 2,000 people in Scotland but still, they could not produce enough machines. In 1882 George McKenzie, the soon to become President of the Singer Sewing Machine Company undertook the ground breaking ceremony on 46 acres of farmland at Kilbowie, Clydebank and the largest Singer factory in the world started to be built. Originally two main buildings were constructed. Built above the middle wing of the factory was a huge clock tower with the 'Singer' name displayed for all to see from miles around. Many miles of railway lines were laid throughout the factory to connect the different departments and to aid in the shipping of their goods. Railway lines from the factory connected Glasgow, Dumbarton, and Helensburgh stations. The factory was regarded as the most modern facility in Europe at that time. As different departments in the factory were completed, the workers moved from the old sites to the new one at Kilbowie and the factory was finally finished in 1885. With nearly a million square feet of space and almost 7,000 employees producing on average 13,000 machines a week, making it the largest sewing machine factory in the world. The Clydebank factory was so productive that in 1905 the US Singer Company set up the Singer Manufacturing Company Ltd. as a UK registered company. The invention of the sewing machine had several very significant impacts on the lives of many people. It changed the domestic life of many women as more households began to own sewing machines, women as the ones who traditionally stayed home to do chores including making and repairing clothing, found themselves with more free time. Previously several days a week would be dedicated to sewing clothing for herself and her family, a housewife could now complete her sewing in merely several hours, allowing for more free time to pursue hobbies and attain new skills. Sewing and clothing production, in general, became more industrialized activities, taking place less in the home and more in large factories. Industrial sewing machines, in combination with the cotton gin, the spinning jenny, and the steam engine, made clothing production much easier and much cheaper. Singer sewing machine treadle type wooden stand with six drawers plus instruction manual Lotus decoration to machinewarrnambool, shipwrecked-coast, flagstaff-hill, flagstaff-hill-maritime-museum, shipwreck-coast, flagstaff-hill-maritime-village, sewing-machine, clothes repair, singer sewing machine

This wooden mushroom-shaped darner was commonly used as an aid in darning socks and similar items.Two pieces, "mushroom" and handle.darners, sewing equipment

Ref to Cat 5825 Patterson.This is made of jungle green cotton drill. It has one end pointed with two small cords. Inside are two pockets. One pocket is open, one pocket is held shut with the aid of a brown button. Inside the pockets are various loos items such as cottons, wool and needles.Written in ink on the outside is "1734719 Steele"vietnam war, soldiers kit, steele

These items were given to clients of the Mid City Motel (probably the one in Ballarat ). The Mid City Motel company was formed in 1963 by a syndicate with the motel in Raglan Parade, Warrnambool. It was later sold with the company liquidated in 1982. The expansion from Warrnambool to Ballarat occurred in 1970 with a building in Doveton Street North, Ballarat. Items such as the sewing kit and shower cap are still given out as promotional material in many motels today. These items are of little importance but are examples of the promotional activities of the motel/tourism scene 30 or so years ago. They may be useful for display.This is a small plastic bag containing a paper sewing kit and a paper folder containing two Alka-Seltser tablets. The sewing kit is red and white and the Alka Seltzer packet is mostly blue. The three items come from the Mid-City Motel and are intended to be kept in a car. Plastic Bag: Mid City Motels, Princes Highway, Warrnambool, 055 62 8026, Doveton Street, Ballarat, 053 31 1222, Travellers Aid Bag for your car with Sewing Kit, Alka Seltzer, Shoe Shine, Shower Cap, Have a Nice Day, Ballarat City Map.warrnambool, mid city motel, tourism

Brown cardboard square box lined with beige tissue paper. Containing one reel beige cotton on cardboard reel and a roll of cotton tape with handwritten name 'Rose Humphreys'Handwritten with biro on top of the box: Rose Humphreys / Tawonga & / District/ Hospital /3699 / Aid No: 229218 MB On one side: 41and on the opposite side: Pension No. / HO 20171L tawonga district hospital, sewing kit

The Australian Red Cross was established in 1914 as part of the British Red Cross and the Warrnambool branch was established in the same year. The local Warrnambool branch volunteers were mainly women who held sewing meetings, organized parcels for the soldiers abroad during World War One, undertook First Aid courses to be of assistance in hospitals and raised funds for the Red Cross, especially the local branch and the Melbourne branch. This badge would have been sold as part of the1916 fund-raising campaign.This badge is of particular interest as a badge connected to the Warrnambool Red Cross in World War One and presumably sold to raise funds for the local branch of the Red Cross. This is a circular metal badge with a cream-coloured background, a painted red cross and blue printing. The badge has a metal clip at the back Warrnambool 1916warrnambool red cross, world war one, badge

Nightingale Cape, commenced using 1860s, Ballarat Base HospitalThese grey flannel capes - a kind of flannel scarf with sleeves, worn by patients when sitting up in bed. The design was from the Crimean War Hospital. Commencing in the 1860s the Ladies Aid Society Ballarat, a group of ladies who spent a lot of time sewing & mending at the hospital made these capes. The capes were part of bed linen list. These capes were frequently used in the Queen Victoria Block of the Ballarat Base Hospital as this was a cold area of the hospital. Grey flannel capecapes, nightingales, flannel, ballarat, hospital

Mr Joseph George of 26 Scheele Street Pictured as an Air Raid Precautions Officer during the 1939 – 1945 war. ARP officers controlled the areas around their homes to check on tell-tale lights showing in the ‘brownout’ conditions and advising on the black-out of homes. Street lights were dimmed and screened downwards and Joseph’s daughter Marie remembered sewing black Italian cloth curtains to hang over the windows. Joseph taught adult first aid classes in local schools, church halls and at The Surrey Dive. Joseph conducted his practical training sessions at the Quarry in Grovedale Road, in case they had to deal with an emergency in such a site. Joseph (Joe) and wife Emily Ruth were English migrants; they bought their home in Scheele Street in 1919. Daughter Marie was born in 1914 when they are listed in the electoral roll at 'Hasland', Croydon Road, Surrey Hills; his occupation is given as a boilermaker. Emily (nee Sturgess) - d 15 November, 1960; buried Box Hill Cemetery - M-199A-0034 along with daughter Marie. Possible birth c Oct 1880, Birmingham (not confirmed); marriage to Joseph George c Jan 1905, Chesterfield, Derbyshire. The donor was his daughter, Marie, who was a school teacher and was on the staff at Chatham Primary School for a number of years. She died in February 1989.A black and white photograph of a man in uniform standing in a garden, with a small case beside him.(mr) joseph george, surrey hills, mont albert, scheele street, clothing and dress, uniforms, world war, 1939-1945, air raid wardens

Used by donor's family as an aid in dress making and sewing.Used to obtain accurate measurements36 inch (one yard rule) made in England, 'Rabone No 1504'. Wood stained with metal ends. Graduated in inches with increments of 16ths, 8ths, and quarter and half inches.Rabone No 1504 Made in Englandhandcrafts, dressmaking

Jessie Isabel Henderson was President of the Melbourne District Nursing Society (MDNS) form 1924 until 1947. She was made a Commander of the British Empire (CBE) for her welfare work. Jessie Isabel Henderson was a leader in all the welfare organizations in which she was involved, including the Melbourne District Nursing Society (MDNS) where she was elected as a Committee member in 1912. She was regarded as being "clear-sighted, level-headed, being able to see the right perspective when troubles arose" and having an exceptional memory. She was a representative on the newly formed Charities Board in 1923 and was elected President of the MDNS in 1924 and continued in this role until 1947. During this time she was involved with the formation of the Society's first Auxiliary; the founding, and later extensions, of the After-Care Home, the Society now being called 'Melbourne District Nursing Society and After-Care Home'. This involved many fund raising efforts for the purchase of property of the Nurses Home at No. 39 Victoria Parade, Collingwood and the building of the After-Care Home at No. 45. During her time as President the After-Care opened an Ante-Natal Clinic and a Women's Welfare Clinic, as well as the Society creating a 'Committee of Almoners' who assisted discharged patients from the After-Care to receive assistance from other organizations if required. The name changed to 'Ward Visitors' when an 'Institute of Almoners' was formed with newly trained Almoners. During the depression 1929-1933 she led the Society in extending its Midwifery and District services, including supplying milk for expectant mothers. Through the depression her philanthropy extended to, with the help of another, in assisting young ladies out of work. She sought sewing machines and material from businesses and set up a factory where the ladies were employed producing salable products. In 1933 Mrs. Henderson suggested the name of the After-Care Home be changed to the 'After-Care Hospital'; she felt using the word 'hospital' would aid with receiving grants and money from the public through appeals - this came into effect in 1934. In 1936 Jessie Isabel Henderson was made Commander of the British Empire (C.B.E) for her welfare work. Mrs. Henderson was unable to carry out her Presidential duties in 1947 due to ill health, and she resigned in 1948. She died on the 11th of January 1951. The After-Care Hospital dedicated wards 4, 5 and 6 in the Jessie Henderson wing in her memory. She is listed on page 180 in ‘Women Shaping the Nation - Victorian Honour Roll of Women, Vol 1, 2001’ Centenary of Federation 1901 - 2001 Black and white photograph of the head and shoulder view of Mrs. G.G. (Jessie Isabel) Henderson who has her wavy dark hair drawn back and is wearing a short necklace and a longer single string of pearls, She is wearing a black frock which has a square neckline.mdns, after-care hospital, melbourne district nursing society, rdns, royal district nursing service, mrs g.g. (jessie isabel) henderson