A bandage is a piece of material used either to support a medical device such as a dressing or splint, or on its own to provide support to the body; it can also be used to restrict a part of the body. G. J. Coles opened the 'Coles Variety Store' on 9 April 1914 on Smith Street in the Melbourne, Victoria suburb of Collingwood. Further expansion occurred and Coles' interest in food retailing was spurred in 1958 when it acquired 54 John Connell Dickins grocery stores. It then acquired the Beilby's chain in South Australia in 1959 and 265 Matthews Thompson grocery stores in New South Wales in 1960 .In 1960, the first supermarket was opened in the Melbourne suburb Balwyn North, at the corner of Burke and Doncaster Roads where a modernised version continues to operate. By 1973, Coles had established stores in all Australian capital cities. From 1962, its supermarkets were branded Coles New World with accompanying rocket imagery. In 1991, the stores were re-branded Coles Supermarkets and from 1998, simply as Coles. George James (G. J.) Coles learned the retail trade working for his father's 'Coles Store' business from 1910 to 1913. The store continued operating as "The Original Coles" at Wilmot, Tasmania until it was destroyed by a fire on 24 January 2014. An unused, 1 inch ( 2.5cm ) x 6 yards ( 2metres) cotton, ‘open wove’ bandage in a cellophane wrapper sold by G.J. Coles Pty Ltd Variety StoresCellophane wrapper top: WHITE OPEN WOVE / BANDAGE / 1 X 6 YDS. / SPECIAL QUALITY / G.J.COLES * pharmacy, medicines, bandages, wounds, early settlers, market gardeners, moorabbin, bentleigh, cheltenham, cotton, gauze, coles g j pty ltd., variety stores, supermarkets, smith street collingwood, retailers, shops

Brown Paper Bag Judds 5/- Stores Bendigo and Branches. The Biggest and Best Variety Stores for Fancy Goods, Haberdashery, Toilets,Glassware,Ladies'Underwear, Toys Etc Buy at JUDDS and buy Cheaper.business, retail, judd's stores

After the extension of the Railway line from Caulfield to Mordialloc 1880's the shopping centre moved from the Tucker Rd end to around the East Brighton (Bentleigh) Station area of Centre Road. A variety of shops, forges, estate agents, Coles' and Fossey's variety stores, a Hoyts picture theatre, butchers, traded in Centre Rd. Crofts was one many grocery stores along the strip. Crofts Stores was established by Archibald Crofts (1875-1942) as a single grocery store in South Melbourne. It eventually expanded to include 137 branches throughout Victoria, trading as Crofts Stores. The Lees family had established a Seedling Nursery in Thomas St that has continued until the land sold 2018 for housing development.Crofts Grocery Store was one of the shops in the Centre Road Bentleigh shopping strip that were established after the arrival of the train line 1881Black & White photograph of 3 men outside Crofts Grocery Store 395 Centre Rd Bentleigh c 1937 Mr Jack Lees is centre.Handwritten informationcrofts grocery store bentleigh, lees jack, mordialloc railway line, centre road bentleigh, smith j l, smith mary ann, stanley helen, smith vic, smith harry redvers, chaff cutter, horse drawn carts, toll gates brighton, motor cars 1900, steam engines, early settlers, bentleigh, parish of moorabbin, city of moorabbin, county of bourke, moorabbin roads board, shire of moorabbin, henry dendy's special survey 1841, were j.b., bent thomas, o'shannassy john, king richard, charman stephen, highett william, ormond francis, maynard dennis, market gardeners, vineyards

Believed to have been made 1939/43. In 1904 the British Army adopted a new General Service (GS) pack saddle with an adjustable tree, known as the Mark V pack saddle. The main innovation was the adjustable tree created by having the front and back steel arches jointed to the wooden sidebars, which allowed them to turn to adjust to the size of the back of whatever animal carried the saddle, from the largest horse to the smallest donkey, and eliminated the need to manufacture saddles in different sizes. The saddle could be adapted, by the addition of hanging bars, or universal slats, to carry a wide variety of stores, tools and equipment, and also wounded men. The GS pack saddle was used in both world wars by both the British and Australian armies. The use of pack saddles was especially important in the campaign in Palestine during the First World War where wheeled transport was often not an option. Each machine gun carried by light horse units was transported on a pack saddle, and was accompanied by a second pack animal carrying spare ammunition. During the Second World War pack animals were routinely used by patrols, and larger units such as Norforce, in remote areas of northern Australia. The saddle shown here has two separate girths, which crossed under the animal's belly. Most later versions of the saddle used a shorter single girth buckled to a 'V' attachment, which was in turn buckled to the sidebars. Use of the 'V' attachment gave greater strength and stability to the saddle, and decreased 'rocking' of the load.

The basic balance scale has been around for thousands of years and its accuracy has improved dramatically over the last several centuries, the principle behind this tool remains unchanged. Its parts include a fulcrum, a beam that balances on it, a pan at the end of the beam to hold the materials to be weighed, and a flat platform at the other for the counter-balancing weights. Balance scales that require equal weights on each side of the fulcrum have been used by everyone from apothecaries and assayers to jewellers and postal workers. Known as an unequal arm balance scale, this variety builds the counterweight into the device. Counter scales used in dry-goods stores and domestic kitchens often featured Japanned or (blackened) cast iron with bronze trims. Made by companies such as Howe and Fairbanks, the footed tin pans of these scales were often oblong, some encircled at one end so bulk items could be easily poured into a bag. Seamless pans were typically stamped from brass and given style names like Snuff (the smallest) and Birmingham (the largest). Some counter scales were designed for measuring spices, others for weighing slices of cake. In the 18th century, spring scales began to appear and would use the resistance of spring to calculate weights, which are read automatically on the scale’s face. The ease of use of spring scales over balance scales. One of the most common types of spring scales was the kitchen scale also known as a family or dial scale. Designed for horizontal surfaces, these vintage kitchen scales used the weight of goods in a pan at the top of the scale to force the spring down rather than the balance system. Such scales were common in early 20th century households and were sold by many companies. Many had flat weighing surfaces but some were topped by shallow pans. Companies such as Salters, Chatillon, and Fairbanks were the most popular brands used. These scales are significant as they identify one of the basic preparation items for the weighing of foodstuff in the family kitchen to prepare everyday meals. This item is significant as it gives a snapshot into domestic life within the average home in Australia around the turn of the twentieth century and is, therefore, an item with social relevance. Black cast iron, medium weighing scales, with a fulcrum which the beam that balances on, there is as scoop at one end for the material to be weighted and a flat circular disc at the other end that holds the weights. Around the cast iron base is an embossed leaf pattern. All the weights have their weight embossed within the casting.There are 5 weights, marked 2 oz, 4 oz,8 oz,1 lb,2 lb, This scale does not have any visual markings on the arms to identify a maker or true balance. It is therefore assumed that these scales were made for domestic use only.flagstaff hill, warrnambool, shipwrecked-coast, flagstaff-hill, flagstaff-hill-maritime-museum, maritime-museum, shipwreck-coast, flagstaff-hill-maritime-village, spring scale, scale

This gift-boxed grooming set contains men's toiletry and grooming items in a lined and fitted case. The set was made by Fauldings from 193o to 1940 and sold by chemists and department stores throughout Australia. An advertisement promotes a variety of sets as 'Toilet Treasures by Faulding' and pictures several sets called 'caskets', and gives the different combinations a set number. Another advertisement promotes the sets as 'Gifts of Rare Discernment'. The items on offer include After-shave Lotion, a bottle of Brilliantine for hair, and an Old English Lavender shaving stick in a glass container. Some sets have Complexion Soap, a good quality sterilised Shaving Brush and Talcum Powder. A grooming set similar to the one in our collection was priced at 11 shillings in 1936 and would cost approximately AU $90 in 2022. This boxed grooming set is an example of men's toiletries sold from the 1920s to the 1940s in Australia. The supplier, Faulding, brand products have been available since 1845 when Francis Hardy Faulding opened a pharmacy in Adelaide, South Australia. The company has built a reputation for being a trustworthy supplier of pharmacy and healthcare needs for 175 years.Male grooming set; black leather-covered case with green velvet lining and strap with a metal button closure. The lid and front of the base fold out. The case is fitted with straps and a compartment to secure items inside. The set contains men's toiletries and grooming items; a nail file with ebonised handle, an oval bristle brush with shaped ebonised hand grip, and a twelve-sided textured glass bottle with a gold metal lid and a shave stick with silver foil around the base, wrapped in waxed paper. There is also a ten-sided plain glass bottle with silver metal lid, an oval metal soap container with hinged lid and an unused round cake of soap. A light brown leather stropping strap with a metal 'D' ring one end and a punched hole in the other end is fitted onto the folded down side of the case. The shaving stick is Old English Lavender by Faulding and the soap is Christy's. Inscriptions on the shaving stick wrapper, bottle base, label and lid. Shaving stick; "Faulding Old English Lavender Shaving Stick", "Faulding", "Faulding AUSTRALIA" and moulded inscriptions on the base [undecipherable]. Moulded in the soap; 'CHRISTY'S"flagstaff hill, flagstaff hill maritime museum and village, warrnambool, maritime museum, maritime village, great ocean road, shipwreck coast, male grooming set, male toiletries, male accessories, faulding, toilet treasures, gift box, casket, shaving toiletries, hair toiletries, christy's, complexion soap, ebonised handles

This MEZON brand button accordion was made specifically for Lyons, Musical Instrument Importer, 207 Bourke Street Melbourne, as can be seen on the embossed lettering on the top of the accordion. The hand inscribed nameplate indicates that the owner was T H Betts. On August 19th, 1903, Michael Edward Lyons applied to the Trade Mark’s Office of Sydney for registration of “The Invented word “MEZON” to be applied to musical instruments. In 1908 he was advertising himself as sole agents for MEZON accordions. He had been at that address for 15 years (since 1893) and was moving to larger premises at 256 Bourke Street, Melbourne. Still at this address in 1925, Lyons advertises MEZON accordions as “The ideal Xmas present, Maker your friends happy, This Xmas let the Present be a MEZON”. There was a choice of three styles: The Organ, The Wonder and The Grand Organ. They came with a Fibre Case with Lock and Key and a Leather Handle. The promise was “They Give Satisfaction”. They were obtainable at all stores or from Sole Distributors in Australia. In 1927 the MEZON was sold by Albert & Sons in Western Australia, Victoria, New South Wales and Queensland as well as by Lyons in Melbourne. The favoured German accordion brands were Monarch and Sterling, which were made by the International Accordion Company in Leipzig, Saxony, Germany. The company was founded in 1871 by Ernest Deines and made a variety of musical instruments. The company closed business in 1834. The International Accordion Company’s accordion range made the International brand and others such as MEZON, Globe, and Dienst. Australia imported the MEZON brand. American companies imported a range of the popular German branded accordions until World War II, when they were no longer available. In general, accordions produced after the war were not as high a quality and not loud enough to be heard over the electronic guitars and the drum kit of the bands. This accordion represents the type of musical instruments used in the late 19h and early 20th century, locally and Australia wide. In colonial Australia musical instruments like this one were imported from Germany as well as other countries. At that time, German made instruments represented good quality. This accordion is significant for being especially imported into Australia by a Melbourne retailer. Music was a part of family and social life, associated with dances, song and general fun.Button accordion with case. Accordion with steel reeds, three bass valves and ten treble valves. It is coloured black with very dark green trim, decorative silver metal reinforcing on main corners, gold reinforcing on corners of the bellows and delicate printed, gold printed patterned trims. Hand support for buttons is made of fabric. Folds of the bellows are light coloured with fine dark pattern. It has a nameplate on the front. Black wooden case has red lining, two brass hinges, two brass hook and eye catches and a swivel brass lock. The base of the case has a loose brass fitting. The top has a thin metal handle. Inscription on hand inscribed name on front, label inside case lid, silver reinforcing, leather on bellows top, and frame of accordion. Manufactured with the brand MEZON in Saxony, Germany, for Lyons of Melbourne. Once the property of T H Betts.Printed on label “MEZON ACCORDEONS.” Impressed in metal corners and reinforcing “MEZON” with logo [circle enclosing entwined capital D and E] “MADE IN SAXONY” Embossed in gold on frame “Made in Saxony”, “MEZON Accordion/ manufactured for LYONS / MELBOURNE, Bourke Street” Name inscribed by hand “T H Betts”flagstaff hill, warrnambool, shipwrecked coast, flagstaff hill maritime museum, maritime museum, shipwreck coast, flagstaff hill maritime village, great ocean road, mezon accordion, lyons, made in saxony, t h betts, betts, mezon, squeeze box, musical instrument, button accordion, germany, michael lyons, international accordion company, ernest deines, circle enclosing d e, d e, e d, german accordion

The basic balance scale has been around for thousands of years and its accuracy has improved dramatically over the last several centuries, the principle behind this tool remains unchanged. Its parts include a fulcrum, a beam that balances on it, a pan at the end of the beam to hold the materials to be weighed, and a flat platform at the other for the counter-balancing weights. Balance scales that require equal weights on each side of the fulcrum have been used by everyone from apothecaries and assayers to jewellers and postal workers. Known as an unequal arm balance scale, this variety builds the counterweight into the device. Counter scales used in dry-goods stores and domestic kitchens often featured Japanned or (blackened) cast iron with bronze trims. Made by companies such as Howe and Fairbanks, the footed tin pans of these scales were often oblong, some encircled at one end so bulk items could be easily poured into a bag. Seamless pans were typically stamped from brass and given style names like Snuff (the smallest) and Birmingham (the largest). Some counter scales were designed for measuring spices, others for weighing slices of cake. In the 18th century, spring scales began to appear and would use the resistance of spring to calculate weights, which are read automatically on the scale’s face. The ease of use of spring scales over balance scales. These scales are significant as they identify one of the basic preparation items for the weighing of foodstuff in the family kitchen to prepare everyday meals. This item is significant as it gives a snapshot into domestic life within the average home in Australia around the turn of the twentieth century and is, therefore, an item with social relevance. Black cast iron, medium weighing scales, with a fulcrum which the beam that balances on, there is a scoop or large bowl at one end for the material to be weighted and a flat platform at the other end that holds the weights. Around the cast iron base is an embossed strip weight and bowl missing.flagstaff hill, warrnambool, shipwrecked-coast, flagstaff-hill, flagstaff-hill-maritime-museum, maritime-museum, shipwreck-coast, flagstaff-hill-maritime-village

Shaving soap scuttles are distinguished from shaving mugs by having a separate area for hot water. The hot water is for dipping a shaving brush into to make a lather with the soap which is then applied to the skin before using the razor. Vintage scuttles are often elaborately decorated. Between 1880 and 1920 is the original time period for the occupational shaving mug. Most men owned a shaving mug, either at home or at a barber shop. Mugs purchased for home use typically were purchased through local stores, had more variety in style but usually went without a name. Barber shops sold mugs with the owners’ names on them partly because they thought that shaving rash came from sharing the same soap. In reality, the rash was not a result of soap but of unsterilized razors. Transfer ; The Duryea Motor Wagon was among the first standardized automobiles and among the first powered by gasoline. Fifteen examples were built by the Duryea Motor Wagon Company of Chicopee, Massachusetts, between 1893 and 1896. Their enterprise followed the first commercially available automobile which was patented by Karl Benz on January 29, 1886, and put into production in 1888. The Duryea Motor Wagon remained in production until 1917. The Duryea brothers entered their horseless carriage in many shows and races. A china shaving mug / scuttle with a car transfer. The mug has a wide spout to hold / insert the shaving brush , a perforated tray opening at the top to hold the soap and a bulbous base for the hot water. car transfershaving equipment, safety razors, cheltenham, early settlers, moorabbin, shaving soap sticks, shaving brushes, shaving scuttles, shaving rash, infectious diseases, barber shops,

Post Card Valentines c 1950. Main Street Stawell looking West. The view show cars parked at an angle down Main St. and shops mainly along one side. The town hall clock can be seen above the building with the Coles sign, Macrows and Geo on the right hand edge.Valentine's Post card of Main St., Stawell looking West. The scene is of many 1950 cars parked along the street with Coles Variety Store, Macrows and Geo stores dominating to the right of the photo."VII" "Main Street, Stawell" (on the front) "Valentine's Post Card sending you greetings" (on the back)stawell business streetscape

This quilt was created by Ms Shirley Critchley, c.1960. it was made in a wagga style from unpicked knitted jumpers that Shirley would repurpose. Some of these jumpers were from her daughters out growing their garments, while others were from jumpers Shirley would find at opportunity stores. One of Shirley’s daughters, Jane McGrath, followed in her mother’s footsteps and begun quilting with Shirley’s guidance. One of Jane’s first quilts, the “Tartan Fabric Sample Quilt” is located within the National Wool Museum’s collection (REG 8282). Multicoloured wagga style quilt. The quilt’s top layer is made from unpicked knitted woollen jumpers. These jumpers are in a variety of colours including yellow, blue, green, and red. Some blocks are a single colour, while others have been knitted with a different secondary colour such as grey or white to give noise. The quilt has an unknown insulating fabric. It shares its backing fabric with the material used to bind the edges together. This material is a woollen blanket in a tartan pattern of a blue background with green and red lines. The quilt is sized to suit a single bed. quilts, wagga, upcycle, shirley critchley/jane mcgrath collection, woollen jumpers

Danish brothers, Moritz, Julius and Jacob Cohn arrived in Bendigo in 1853 and by 1856 started making cider and soft drinks, building a brewery 1880 to further extend their commercial enterprises and stock their hotels with their own brand of beer. Having sent Moritz's son, (also Julius) to Germany to learn to brew, the Cohn Brothers began to produce Excelsior Lager in 1882, which was traditionally served cold, the first time this had been done in Australia. Overtime the Cohn brothers expanded their operations adding cordials and in 1916 produced a non-alcoholic beer to satisfy the temperance activists. Cohn Brothers built an empire of breweries, cordial factories, hotels and liquor stores and ice works. In 1925 they sold the hotels and breweries to Carlton & United but continued to make their other products until the 1970s when the company became part of the Coca Cola Amatil Group. These Cohn's Cobber Member pins relate to the Cohn's Cobbers TV Club which was sponsored by Cohn's Soft drinks. The Cobbers TV Club was an afternoon children's variety program modelled on the Tarax Show. When local TV station BCV8 opened in Bendigo they broadcast Cobber’s teleclub in their afternoon timeslot for young viewers. Jacob Isaac Cohn was born in 1830 (died 1911) in Horsens Denmark and entered the Sandhurst Borough Council in 1863 where he served as a member for three years, returning again in 1887 to serve as Mayor of the City of Bendigo from 1888-1889. Jacob Cohn was a great supporter of the Mechanics Institute, the Hospital and the Benevolent Asylum. It is believed that through his connection with the Mechanics Institute he exhibited some loaned engravings from the Dresden Art Gallery which were then donated to the City of Bendigo, forming the nuclei of the Art Gallery's collection. Jacob Cohn held the position of President of the Art Gallery for 18 years.Two small multi coloured member pins. Gold coloured metal and fastening pin on back. Brown, white and green inner sections with gold text on front.Cohns / Cobber / Membermayor jacob cohn, city of bendigo commerce, cohn brothers, cohns

Murray Comrie Collection. This image depicts stores in the main street of Tarnagulla, including the two-storey bank building being used as a licensed general store. The building on the left was also a bank, originally constructed by the Union Bank in 1859, and Is probably the first brick and stone building at Tarnagulla. It was used by the bank until 1888 at which time the Union and Colonial banks amalgamated. After this, the building was used for a variety of purposes. The milk bar section was constructed in the 1920s in an area at the front of what had once been the Bank’s manager’s residence. The Two-story bank building On the right was constructed and used by the Colonial Bank of Australasia (from 1866 to 1888) and, following bank amalgamation, by the Union Bank (from 1888 until closure in 1942). The original site had been occupied by Joseph Foo's store, a large wooden building with attached theatre. While the bank was being built, the Colonial Bank operated from the former Company's Hotel (soon after to become the Borough of Tarnagulla Council Chambers, then the Mechanics’ Institute, and finally, prior to final demolition in 1980, Burstall Hall) The new double-storey building was used by the Colonial Bank from 1866 until 21st February, 1888. The premises were sold to the Union Bank for £2500. The Union Bank moved in and commenced operations on 6th June 1888, continuing until 1942. The building was later used as a general store until the 1990s. It is a now private residence. This is a reasonable copy of an older original. Copy probably made by Murray Comrie in the 1970s. Monochrome photograph depicting a section of Commercial Road, Tarnagulla near the intersection with Poverty Street, including two stores - one a bakery/milk-bar and the other a general store operating in the former Colonial/Union Bank building. Photograph taken from north of milk-bar. Two people walking away from photographer on footpath/curb between the two stores. The building on the left was the Union Bank premises, constructed in 1859 and Tarnagulla's oldest surviving brick building. The Union Bank absorbed the Colonial Bank in 1888, and the Union Bank moved operations next door into the much larger former Colonial Bank premises which had been constructed in 1865/66. After amalgamation, the old Union Bank premises was then used for a variety of purposes from visiting doctor's rooms to cafe, etc. The Union Bank continued to operate at Tarnagulla until closure in 1942, at which time business had fallen away and Tarnagulla Branch had already been downgraded to sub-branch status. tarnagulla, banks, banking, commerce, stores, shopping, shops, food, groceries, buildings, commercial road

This photograph depicts the interior of the Coles Variety Store within Bentleigh's Centre Road shopping precinct in 1956. Signage represents the pre decimal currency era. The Record Bar advertises the availability of standard and microgroove vinyl records.In this era, the Centre Road Bentleigh shopping strip provided consumers with access to many of the major retail outlets and provided for a wide range of shopping needs. By the 1960s, Chadstone Shopping Centres (opened 1960) and Southland (opened 1968) had been established which created changes to the way in which people shopped.Black and white photograph of interior of Coles Store in Centre Road, Bentleigh displaying prominent signage predating decimal currency. Other signage includes the Coles Record Bar indicating the sale of standard and microgroove vinyl records.Handwritten in blue ink: Coles Bentleigh Sep 1956 B Black printed text on white round adhesive sticker: 202 Handwritten in red ink: 80%shopping strip, strip shopping, bentleigh, city of moorabbin, coles stores

The Bathurst-class corvettes were a class of general purpose vessels designed and built in Australia during World War II. Originally classified as minesweepers, but widely referred to as corvettes, the Bathurst-class vessels fulfilled a broad anti-submarine, anti-mine, and convoy escort role.The corvettes were handy and reliable, and in addition to minesweeping, patrol and escort work they were employed on an endless variety of tasks including the carrying of troops and stores, participation in bombardments and assault landings, surveying and towing operations.Brown timber frame with grey mount containing print of ship at sea HMAS Corvette Presented to Wangaratta RSL by HMAS Mildura Association in Appreciation for honour of leading ANZAC Day March 1999ww2, corvette, minesweeper, ran

Foy & Gibson Pty Ltd was a major Melbourne department store located on Smith St, Collingwood, In the surrounding streets, the company owned extensive factories that manufactured an large variety of products for its stores. The company was a major employer and contributed to the successful retail sector in Melbourne and Australia. The passing cable tram line and Foy & Gibson benefited from each other. This advertisement can be found reproduced in a number of publications.Yields information about early Melbouren retail Black and white print from a 1908 catalogue glued to thick card with label below. No note on rear. Some of the lettering on the print is faded but legible.Label below reads "From the Exhibition catalogue, 1908".foy & gibson, department store, smith st, retail sector, manufacture

Miscellaneous Correspondence;; Cuttings;; Schedules 1971-1961 (Some missing);; 1897 - first show award.Packet includes: . Programme for Ringwood Show Society third Annual Show to be held on Friday and Saturday, 3rd and 4th April 1936. . Correspondence between Ringwood Show Society and Ringwood Borough Council in connection with the 1936 Ringwood Show. . Two typed pages about the fruit growing in the Ringwood district and the establishment of the Ringwood cool stores in the early 1900's (Physical copy moved to VC 11257 - see note). . Newspaper cuttings dated 1922 to 1964- Ringwood Horticultural Society shows and activities. . Ringwood Horticultural & Agricultural Society Schedule for the Annual Autumn Show March 11th, 1961. . Newspaper cuttings- Schedules for Ringwood Shows 1911, 1917, 1918, 1920, 1922, 1924, 1934, 1936, 1937. . First Show First Prize Award Certificate awarded to J. Hewish for Variety Vegetables exhibit. . Miscellaneous hand written notes by members on a variety of matters- early 1900's.

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. The ‘Embassy’ brand was a house brand of Coles stores from 1929-1994, and manufactured a wide variety of household goods. The manufacture of this specific style of notebook can be dated to between 1947 and 1953.Notebook with handwritten instructions, formulas and sketches detailing patterns for samples. ‘Embassy’ exercise book cover is printed with a blue checked pattern on a background that was originally likely white, but appears cream due to discolouration. The centre of the front cover has a trapezoidal label that provides space for handwritten labels, and features a map of Australia inside a red circle, as well as the manufacturers branding. The 64 internal pages are printed with blue lines as a writing guide.[Obverse] Embassy EXERCISE BOOK NAME [handwritten] Mrs Maley GRADE [handwritten] Sample Book SCHOOL 64 PAGES BEST QUALITY PAPER BLUE RULED – 26 LINES TO PAGE [sample of internal pages] [left page] Notes: 34” = 3 garments out of 40” Length 32” = 3 “ “ “ 38 “ “ 30” = 28” = Cut together (26” = 4 garments “ “ 33” “ (24 = 4 garments “ “ 33” length Blue 36” Red 36 ½“ Green 36” Royal 35 ½” [right page] Design Esquire (Width 35 ½ - 36) Size 34” Width Yardage Size 32” Width Yardage Sample cotton 90 ribs for 28” Size 28” (sample size) Width cut to 20 ½ (double) Yardage 34 ½“ for 2 garm. Size 26” Width Yardage Size 24” Width Yardagebusiness, business history, manufacturing, knitting machine, fashion textile production, business archives, manufacturing documents, embassy brand, coles