"Industrial Fibres: a review of production, trade and consumption relating to wool, cotton, silk, flax, jute, sisal and other hemps, mohair, coir, kapok, rayon and other man-made fibres" - Commonwealth Economic Committee - Intelligence Branch, London, 1960.textile fibres textiles - industrial textile industry textile production, commonwealth economic committee, textile fibres, textiles - industrial, textile industry, textile production

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

Monsieur Charles Auguste Albert Racinet was born in Paris on July 20th, 1825. His job was representative of a group of 19th-century industrial draughtsmen, teachers of technical drawing and factory studio manager. He helped in spreading the most significant design of the decorative arts of the time. Racinet learned his trade from his father. He was trained by neo-classical artists in the ambit of Percier and Fontaine. August Racinet was influenced by the Schinkel tendency and supported by architects such as Hittorf and Voillet-le-Duc.Book. Large red leather cover. Title written in gold on spine. Illustrations (black & white), 100 of chromolithographic plates in gold, silver and colours. Various styles of ancient, oriental and medieval art including the Renaissance, the 17th, and the 18th centuries. Subjects are arranged in historical order. Text translated from the original French. The book includes a table of contents, a list of plates, a classified index and an introduction.A book plate inside front cover with a heading "Ballarat School of Art Library No. R/171. Stamped with "Reference","Education Department" and "Ballarat School of Art Library"art, paintings, textile, designs, decoration and craft, ornaments, ballarat technical art school library, bookplate

The Ballarat Technical Art School was a division of the Ballarat School of Mines, and a predecessor of Federation University Australia. Red hard covered book including chapters on interior decoration, furniture, woodwork, carpets, textiles, metalwork, lighting, heating, pottery, and glass. Formerly Book R528 in the Ballarat Technical Art School Library.industrial arts, henry g. dowling, ballarat technical art school library, ballarat technical art school, j. ewins & son, bookplate, wrought iron, furniture

Kinnear's factory in Footscray, Melbourne is a large industrial site which is no longer used for rope making. Until its closure Kinnear's Rope : - *was an important example of a rope making factory. *was the largest and longest continually operating producer of rope products in Victoria. * contributed to the industrial landscape of Melbourne, in particular the western suburb of Footscray as a major industrial centre. *played a role in the history of post war migration to Victoria. *had an mportant and successful role in rope and textile manufacturing in Victoria during the twentieth century.  * site includes the remnant rope walk which is demonstrative of a traditional rope laying process no longer practiced and one of only two surviving such structures in Victoria. *remnant rope-making machinery is of technological significance as rare surviving examples of such equipment dating from the early twentieth century. (http://www.maribyrnong.vic.gov.au/Files/C93_kinnears_amendment_request_sm.pdf)An advertisement for Kinnear's Emu Brand rope and twine. It features a close up photograph of a man sewing a hessian bag closed, and Kinnear House in King Street, Melbourne.kinnear, rope, footscray, kinnear house, industry

Acquired when "Classweave Industries" closed downGeelong Industrial Cricket Asstn/Federal Woollen Mills cricket team, B section winners/ season 1927-28woollen mills - history woollen mills textile mills - staff sporting teams, classweave industries pty ltd federal woollen mills ltd, sport, woollen mills - history, woollen mills, textile mills - staff, sporting teams

Acquired when "Classweave Industries" closed down.Industrial Choir Contest 1925 Presented by the/ Blue Triangle / for Industrial Choirs/ [..]nally won by H L S POTTER/ PHOTO STORES/...textile mills woollen mills textile mills - staff sporting teams, classweave industries pty ltd federal woollen mills ltd, sport, textile mills, woollen mills, textile mills - staff, sporting teams

Acquired when "Classweave Industries" closed down.Wooden shield with two silverplate etched bands inscribed "The Industrial Choir Contest 1923 and "Ald J C Kings Shield", between the ribbons is a metal plaque inscribed "Advance Geelong Industries", below that a silverplate shield- shaped plaque inscribed "Presented by Ald J C King JP, Mayor of Geelong, for Best Industrial Choir, to be won twice " , this is surrounded by four smaller lyre shaped plaques and another metal band etched "COMMUN NA FEINE 1856".The Industrial Choir Contest 1923 - Ald J C Kings Shield Presented by/ Ald J C King JP,/ Mayor of Geelong,/ for Best Industrial Choir,/ to be won twicetextile mills woollen mills textile mills - staff, classweave industries pty ltd federal woollen mills ltd, textile mills, woollen mills, textile mills - staff

Donated when "Classweave Industries" closed down.Cup with two side handles fixed to a circular black plastic base with screw and nut. The cup is engraved. 8 Hours Sports /1947 / Won by Fedralia / Women's Industrial Eventtextile mills - sporting teams textile mills - staff woollen mills sporting teams, classweave industries pty ltd federal woollen mills ltd foster valley mill pty ltd, sport, textile mills - sporting teams, textile mills - staff, woollen mills, sporting teams, working life

Black and white photograph of a group of men and women standing around a piano.Back: [handwritten] employees after lunch / at R S & S (mid-day break) / G. Kidman Z / access 13-7-1989 / no 29 Back: [printed] : AUSTRALIAN OFFICIAL PHOTOGRAPH/ DEPT OF INFORMATIONtextile mills - staff textile mills - history textile mills, returned soldiers and sailors mill, kidman, mr g. l., textile mills - staff, textile mills - history, textile mills, piano, working life, music, lunch, lunchbreak, industrial geelong, recreation

Indian Industrial Mission......wool marketing textile mills - history textile mills - staff textile mills, returned soldiers and sailors mill, kidman, mr g. l., wool marketing, textile mills - history, textile mills - staff, textile mills

Series of six letters from various officers of the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research to W.R. Lang between 1938 and 1950 re: issues to do with wool testing and requests for an expert opinion. Two are from I. Clunies Ross and include a copy of a speech titled "The Relationship of Textile Research to the Problems of the Wool Grower".wool - research wool - testing textile testing world war ii, council for scientific and industrial research, lang, dr w. roy clunies ross, mr ian, wool - research, wool - testing, textile testing, world war ii

Sporting trophy. Inscription on trophy reads 'G.I.C.A., G V Spark Cup, Section Premiers. Won by Valley Mill 1941-42'. GICA probably stands for Geelong Industrial Cricket Association. Used at Foster Valley Mill.Silver plated trophy with two handles on bakelite base. Cup is conical in shape with partly square shaped handles. Lower parts of the base have broken off.G.I.C.A., G V Spark Cup, Section Premiers. Won by Valley Mill 1941-42sporting teams textile mills - sporting teams, valley worsted mill foster valley mill pty ltd, sport, sporting teams, textile mills - sporting teams

Sporting trophy engraved with the words "G.I.C.A., B grade cup won by Valley Mills cc Premiers 1954-55". GICA probably stands for Geelong Industrial Cricket Association. Used at Foster Valley Mill.Short, silver plated sporting trophy on bakelite base. Cup is cylindrical in shape, with one handle attached and the second handle unattached. Short round base of cup sits on simple bakelite base.G.I.C.A., B grade, cup won by Valley Mills cc Premiers 1954-55sporting teams textile mills - sporting teams, valley worsted mill foster valley mill pty ltd, sport, sporting teams, textile mills - sporting teams, working life, award, trophy

Photo depicts the Excelsior Mills Cricket Team who played in the Industrial Association and who were "A" Grade Premiers in 1953-54.Excelsior Mills Cricket Club team, A Grade premiers of the Industrial Association, 1953-54.EXCELSIOR MILLS' CRICKET CLUB / INDUSTRIAL ASSOCIATION / "A" GRADE PREMIERS, 1953-54 / Back Row (L to R) - G.N. Buckland (Scorer), C.H. Phillips, P. Coleman (Committee) / Standing - E.N. Boys (Ass.Sec.), A. Young, W. Woods, C.S. Wells, C. Baker, N.A. Ferguson (Committee) / Seated - W.P. Baker (Life Member), A. Watkins, L. Watkins (Capt.), C.L. Hirst (Pres.), J.T. Flynn (Vice-Capt. & Treas.) / Front - R.J. Green, W.J. Young / Absent - B. Delmanstro, R. McCabe LAWRENCE WILSON, / GEELONG N. FERGUSONtextile mills - staff textile mills - sporting teams, excelsior woollen and worsted mills, sport, textile mills - staff, textile mills - sporting teams

Photo depicts the Excelsior Mills Cricket Club team who were premiers of the Industrial Association in 1939-40. The photo was donated by Mr N.A. Ferguson who played with the club and appears in the photo.Excelsior Mills Cricket Club team, premiers of the Industrial Association, 1939-40.EXCELSIOR MILLS CRICKET CLUB. / INDUSTRIAL ASSOCIATION / PREMIERS 1939-40. / BACK ROW- H. Smith, N.A. Ferguson, G.W. Baker, H.G. Hirst (Chairman), G. Clarke, J.B. O'Neill, W.J. Carroll / CENTRE- Les Hirst (Hon. Sec.), S.N. Boseley, J.R. Southall (Capt.), Mr. Lewis Hirst (Pres.), J.C. Foord, L. Allen, J. McGregor (Scorer) / SITTING- R.E. Smith / ABSENT- G. Poyser (Vice-Capt.), R. Poyser, N. Hunter The / Lockwood / Studio. N. FERGUSONtextile mills staff, textile mills sporting teams, excelsior woollen and worsted mills, sport, textile mills - staff, textile mills - sporting teams

Group photograph showing Valley Worsted Mill staff at the Swanston Street complex in Geelong. The mill complex was built in 1924 and was considered to be the largest and most modern textile mill in Australia at the time. The mill operated for about 50 years and at its peak employed around 500 people.Black and white panoramic photograph mounted on boardvalley worsted mill, geelong, industrial history, wool industry, textile industry, workers, staff photo, textile mill, employee

Group photograph showing Valley Worsted Mill staff at the Swanston Street complex in Geelong. The mill complex was built in 1924 and was considered to be the largest and most modern textile mill in Australia at the time. The mill operated for about 50 years and at its peak employed around 500 people. Black and white panoramic photograph mounted on boardvalley worsted mill, geelong, wool industry, textile industry, industrial history, wool, employers, photograph, staff photo

Artist Alison Withers work DIY Deluge Design No. 5 was awarded Expressions: The Wool Quilt Acquisitive Award in 2023. Works were received from across Australasia and internationally from some of quilting’s most highly regarded and awarded artists. Finalists work was displayed at Art Quilt Australia 2023 presented by Ozquilt Network and the National Wool Museum from 12 August to 12 November 2023. Artist Statement: It's clear we need to adapt the anatomy of our human spaces to become more resilient to the increasingly unavoidable impacts of climate change. Made by piecing, applique and free machine stitching, using industrial felt, hand dyed merino felt, woollen suiting, cotton fabric, wool theatre curtain backing and cotton and polyester thread.Rectangular portrait orientated art quilt depicting an environmental scene including boats, lights, elevated buildings, plants and birds on a background of shades of cream, blue and grey. A baton is sewn into the back at the bottom.Back: DIY Deluge Design No.5 / Alison Withersquilt, ozquilt network, prize, wool, art, felt, piecing, applique

Soft cover booknon-fictionA collection of stories told by retrenched workers about their lives and work at Feltex Carpets in Braybrook, Melbourne braybrook, feltex, scotland street

The name of this chair, Lepidoptera, refers to the insect species of moths and butterflies as LeAmon drew upon the anatomy of a butterfly to develop the concept of the chair?s structure, colour and pattern. Another key feature of the design was the use of textile remnants from automotive textile manufacturer Autofab,recalling LeAmon's redeployment of leather offcuts from the manufacture of cricket balls to make her 'Bowling Arm' series of bangles.industrial design, furniture

Kathryn Knitwear, founded by Robert Blake, manufactured high quality children’s knitwear in Melbourne from the 1940s – 1980s. Robert Blake began manufacturing children’s knitwear in his bedroom in Strathmore using a hand powered machine in the late 1940s. The operation moved to Ascot Vale and Essendon, before eventually establishing a factory in Moonee Ponds in the early 1950s. The business continued to expand, necessitating a move to a new factory in Broadmeadows. By 1962, the Broadmeadows factory was producing an average of 20,000 garments per month, which increased to 24,000 by 1964. Robert Blake’s Son, Brendan recalls that “The Kathryn brand was famous around Australia, anywhere children needed to keep warm and dress smartly. It also won a number of wool fashion awards”, including the 1969 Wool Awards, which was held by the Australian Wool Bureau and published in Women’s Weekly. The Kathryn range was designed for durability, comfort and care, without sacrificing style. They used patterning techniques that increase stretchiness, comfort and fit, as well as integrating decorative elements into the fabric to prevent them from being bulky, uncomfortable or tight. Making longevity of style a priority, Brendan Blake remembers that “there was one particular garment that was in the range for at least thirty years”. He also recalls “In the past, when women have found out that I was associated with Kathryn Knitwear, they would often relate to me the story of a garment they had purchased or received as a gift and, when their child had grown out of it, they would hand it on to another child. Several ladies have told me of purchasing garments for their daughters’ glory box, or saving a particular garment after their daughter had grown out of it. Brendan Blake: “At the peak of their operation they employed approximately two hundred people, mainly women and girls. A family would often seek to send their daughter to work in this company because they knew they would be looked after and safe. One lady wrote to me telling me that working at the Moonee Ponds Factory prior to getting married was the happiest time of her life.” In 1963, workers at the Kathryn factory earned £13 per week, which was 8 shillings and 8 pence higher than the minimum weekly wage for female workers in the textile manufacturing industry (£12 11s 4d). By 1970, the Kathryn Knitwear brand expanded from children’s knitwear into womenswear under the brand name ‘Lady Kathryn’, and for boys and men under ‘Robert Blake’. Continuing to diversify their distribution, they also began exporting ‘Kathryn’ garments to New Zealand, the Pacific Islands, and Japan. ‘Kathryn Knitwear’ was well-known for their early adoption of modern materials and techniques that had broad appeal to their customer base. This is shown in their early use of the acrylic fibre ‘Orlon’ in the 50s and 60s and ‘Superwash’ wool in the 1970s. Many of Kathryn Knitwear’s styles, particularly those that were long running staples of the brand, were available in both wool and Orlon to suit the consumer’s preference. Far from the humble origins of one man in his bedroom with a hand-cranked machine; at its closure in 1980, the Broadmeadows factory of ‘Kathryn’ housed more than 100 machines, including 53 sewing machines and 45 knitting machines. Robert Blake was “a passionate advocate for wool and Australian Made” throughout his whole life. A strong thread that ties through the lifespan of Robert Blake and Kathryn Knitwear is a balance between adopting new innovations without sacrificing the core values of durability, comfort, care and style that had made the brand so well known. Their legacy forms an integral part of both Australian social and manufacturing history.Measuring instrument with five circular white layers and one long transparent plastic ruler on top. Transparent layer is now yellowed, was likely originally clear. All of the layers connected with a metal rivet at the centre, allowing the discs and line indicator to move in relation to each other. Discs are labelled (inside – outside) Cost per Thousand Overall Unit Hour U/S [units] produced in 1000s No. of persons Bonus Percentage 9017.2 Black leather case with white block letter printing [9017.3 - 9017.5] Inside case are three notes (one printed, two handwritten) that provide instructions for using the calculator[label on obverse of case] THE AUSTRAL UNIT CALCULATOR ISSUED BY INDUSTRIAL CONSULTANTS, MELB MADE BY MELB >W&G< AUST.business, business history, manufacturing history, calculator, textile fibres textile history

Part of a collection of archival materials from Collins Bros. Mills.Four page pamphlet with text printed in black and graphics printed in black and colour.THE NEW “PROSPECT” / BLOWING MACHINE / .. ACHIEVES THE OBJECT.. / AND / TAKES CARE / OF / THE COSTadvertising, j. charlesworth, working life, textile industry, industrial machinery, textile machinery

Part of a collection of archival materials from Collins Bros. Mills. The company was founded by William Smith in 1795. He produced spinning frames known as throstles and in the early 19th century was producing high-quality machinery for processing textiles. His son, Prince Smith, took over the business and in 1869 he bought the Burlington Shed works from Samuel Cunliffe Lister and renamed the company Prince Smith & Son. The organisation had reputation for machines of the highest quality.Forty eight page booklet with red and black printed text and graphics. Cover is brown with green and black embossed textCatalogue of / WORSTED / MACHINERY. / Special Machinery for / Worsted & other Fibres. / PS&S / Manufactured by / PRINCE SMITH & SON, LIMITED / KEIGHLEY, England. / Estabd. 1795.industrial machinery, textile industry, working life, advertising, prince smith & son, textile machinery

Part of a collection of archival materials from Collins Bros. Mills.Ten page booklet with black printed text and graphics. Cover is black printed text and graphics.ESTABLISHED 1854. / WM. WHITELEY & SONS, LTD. / Lockwood, HUDDERSFIELD, / England. / TEXTILE MACHINISTS. / Makers of all kinds of WOOLLEN MACHINERY,industrial machinery, textile industry, working life, advertising, wm. whiteley and sons limited, textile machinery

The Valley Worsted Mills were established in 1924 on Swanston Street in South Geelong and quickly grew to become the largest and most modern textile mill in Australia, employing roughly 500 workers at its peak. Built out of distinctive red Geelong brick with iconic Art Deco white trimmings and a sawtooth roofline, the massive 11-acre complex served as a major manufacturing cornerstone during the height of the region's historic wool boom. The mill operated at high production for nearly 50 years before merging with John Foster & Son in December 1973, subsequently closing down entirely in the mid-1970s. During the Great Depression of the 1930s, the female workforce at Valley Worsted Mills and other local Geelong textile factories became more vital than ever. Because women were historically paid significantly lower wage rates than men for equivalent labor, local mills increasingly relied on them to keep operating costs low during severe economic strain. These young women, often referred to affectionately as "mill girls," typically started working as young as 14 to 16 years old. They filled specialized, highly skilled roles as menders, warpers, and weavers. For many families in the Geelong region, the steady industrial employment of these women provided a crucial financial lifeline when male breadwinners faced widespread unemployment. Beyond their grueling factory shifts, the mill women maintained a vibrant social culture, even forming organized recreation groups like the Valley Worsted Mills Women’s Basketball team during this era. The donor's father Stan Hoyle, and grandfather Cliff Hoyle, both worked there at the time.Black and white panoramic photograph attached to backing board. Photograph shows a group portrait of female factory workers outdoors.back: [handwritten] Valley / Worsted Mills Geelong / 34 - 40 / Ada? Stan?valley worsted mills, swanston street geelong, geelong, woollen mills, depression, 1930s, working life, panoramic, employees, staff, portrait, textile industry, great depression, female workers, mill girls, social culture, stan hoyle, cliff hoyle

Photographs most likely used for promotional purposes. The photographs are of a yarn spinning machine used to place yarn onto bobbins. The machine was made by Hearl Heaton and Sons Ltd, founded in 1809. The company played an important part in Britain’s Industrial Revolution, providing bobbins to the textile mills across the North of England.Four black and white photographs of a yarn spinning machine. The first two photos show the machine in the lower floor of the building and the last two are on the upper floor. The are connected by the two chains working the machine.8053.1 - Front right edge - Hearl Heaton & Sons Ltd Crown Steel Works, Liversedge. 8053.2 - Rear middle - No.1 Hearl Heaton & Sons Ltd Crown Steel Works, Liversedge. 8053.3 - Front top edge - Hearl Heaton & Sons Ltd Crown Steel Works, Liversedge. 8053.4 - No. 2 Hearl Heaton & Sons Ltd Crown Steel Works, Liversedge.textile machinery, wool manufacture, wool, spinning