Velvet Soap was a widely used laundry bar soap launched in 1906, produced by J. Kitchen & Sons, owned by John Ambrose Kitchen (1835 - 1922). Kitchen was born in Britain and emigrated to Victoria in 1854. After a less than successful period at the Caledonian and Blackwood diggings, Kitchen returned to Melbourne and joined his father and brothers in establishing a tallow candle making works. Through merger and expansion the company became the pre-eminent manufacturer of soap and candles in the eastern colonies in the mid to late 19th century. Kitchen also speculated in a number of enterprises but suffered financial setbacks as a result of the 1890s bank crashes. Despite this, the company continued to grow in the early twentieth century with the introduction of products such as Velvet Soap and Solvol. The company merged with the British company Lever Bros in 1914 who eventually took full control of the company in 1924, becoming Lever and Kitchen. Advertising for Velvet Soap in Australia was extensive and pervasive. All manner of surfaces were used to advertise the product such as building walls, roofs, and most commonly, enamelled sheet metal signs which were fastened to any available surface internally and externally. The most common form of sign that Velvet Soap used was the words 'PURE VELVET SOAP' in white lettering within a vivid dark blue, elongated Maltese cross. On the enamelled metal signs the Maltese cross sat on a red background with a yellow border. While this was the dominant form for Velvet Soap signs, there were variations from the standard. The Velvet Soap sign is of historical significance as a representative of painted signs that were once a common form of advertising during the nineteenth and early twentieth centuries. - : http://vhd.heritagecouncil.vic.gov.au/places/14447#sthash.Vb6KAUWl.dpufHistoric - Advertising Sign - Velvet SoapTin sign with white, yellow, red and blue enamel. Pure velvet soap.puffing billy, enamel sign, pure velvet soap

Velvet soap, commonly used for washing of both hands and items such as dishes and clothingTwo cakes of Velvet soap"Velvet" molded on face, J. Kitchen and Sons Pty Ltd on obverse; colour yellowsoap, laundry soap

The Rose Series P. 4284 post card Taken from near what would be present day CLC car park looking southwest across Diamond Street, present-day Andrew Park to the railway station and developing Eltham shopping precinct. Arthur Street visible, Pryor and Luck Street not evident. Sunnybrook, the Taylor home is visible at the top of the hill in Bible Street. Only three residences visible in Arthur Street on the southern side, two of these are the David Harbison Rest Home at 10 and 12 Arthur Street (built and opened in November 1919), present day site of Eltham Mall. There are none on the north side of the street. Based on 1945 aerial view there are 8 buildings on the northern side between Main Road and Bible Street which and given the extent of commercial development on Main Road, it is estimated this image is circa 1925. Luther Haley was the first to build an open a baker and General Store in this location next to the railway station in 1902. However, it took nearly twenty years until the early to mid-1920s when a period of significant growth in the Eltham shopping centre happened with many businesses relocating their operations from the original town centre of Maria Street in Little Eltham as well as new businesses opening. Other stores/buildings noted (L-R) are: Stationmaster's House built circa 1910 Eltham Hardware Store opposite the railway station first opened on Main Road opposite the Railway Station around late 1922. An advertisement placed in the Hurstbridge Advertiser advised that the Hardware Store had just opened with a varied stock of Saws, Hammers, Nails, Shovels, Screw Drivers, and every article required in a house or on a farm. People were also encouraged to try their Jams, Pickles, Sauces, Cups and Saucers, etc. Newsagency with 'Leader' advertising on awning - E. J. Andrew opened his newsagency shop opposite the station in March 1923, advertising for sale stationery, school requisites and periodicals. Bird Brothers Cash Grocer & Fruiterer opposite the railway station offering summer drinks and confectionery a specialty with a full Stock of groceries of the best quality always on hand at city prices opened December 1921 William Capewell's Butcher shop at the corner of Dudley Street. Capewell previously had a small shop in front of the station opposite Luck Street. He enlisted in the AIF during WW1 and returned home in 1919. He re-applied for a slaughtering license in February 1920 and was advertising by October 1922 supplying all districts. Not visible (or not yet identified) but in business by October 1922 were: J.H. Fraser, Carpenter and Builder at Luck Street opposite the station George A. Danslow, Hairdresser and Tobacconist opposite the railway station Miss Barber's 'Blue Gum' Soda Fountain opened October 1922 opposite the railway station (hidden behind Stationmaster's House). It was so named due to its proximity to a tall Blue Gum tree G.H. McDonald Boot Repairer opposite the railway station In December 1923 the first portion of the main street to be formed from Dudley to Arthur streets was almost completed. This is the section in front of Capewell's Butcher shop though it is difficult to fully make out from the photoDigital file only Postcards scanned from the collection of Michael Aitken on loan to EDHS, 2 Sep. 2022michael aitken collection, eltham, postcards, arthur street, david harbison rest home, electrine candles, eltham railway station, eltham shopping centre, lloyd's general store, red rattler, rose series postcard, rose stereograph company, tait train, velvet soap, andrew park, bible street, bird brothers cash grocer & fruiterer, bird brothers cash grocer and fruiterer, butcher, diamond street, dudley street, eltham hardware and timber, eltham hardware store, eltham mall, main road, station masters house, stationmaster's house, sunnybrook, w.j. capewell, w.j. capewell butcher shop

Black and white photograph c1920's of the Mitcham Post Office and the State Savings Bank under construction. Car in front of post office and Velvet Soap sign on wall.mitcham post office, state savings bank of victoria, mitcham, post offices, banks

Pink coloured invoice 1191 issued to Mr. Piper, Inglewood on 1.12.37 by H.V. Pulfer, merchant and importer, 402 Hargreaves Street, Bendigo, for '1 dozen quints Velvet soap'.bendigo, business, h.v. pulfer

The pictures were taken in October 2011 by PMHPS members and in February 2013 the contents of the museum were given to PMHPS for safekeeping prior to the closure of the site.Pictures taken inside the Pental/Symex museum in Woodruff St building. Displaying historical items and photos of interest in relation to the activities of J Kitchen & Sons on this site. (.01) some of the display boards within the museum (.02) a framed aerial photographic view of the site (.03) Ledgers, photographs, trophies (.04) bench with books, photos, candlesticks (.05) framed aerial view of the site plus other photos and ledgers (.06) full wall and bench of display (.07) Horse drwan cart of Velvet soap - one of the display boards mentioned in .01 (.08) Open truck loaded with Velvet soap - one of the display boards mentioned in .01 (.09) Framed photo of Candle Room - one of the display boards mentioned in .01 (.10) Velvet Soap truck, enclsed van - one of the display boards mentioned in .01built environment - industrial, business and traders - soaps/candles, j kitchen & sons pty ltd, pental products pty ltd, symex holdings ltd

Black and white photo of Whitehorse Road, Mitcham looking east. Approaching Mitcham Road from Nunawading (Tunstall) in Whitehorse Road. Note local blacksmith with Velvet Soap sign on west wall opposite Church of England in Edward Street.whitehorse road, mitcham

Black and white negative, by Wal Jack, of scrubber No. 8 in Holmes St at Mitchell St East Brunswick. Has a shop advertising Velvet Soap in the background. Photo dated 24-11-1941 in the Wal Jack album along with details of the location.trams, tramways, holmes st, work trams, scrubber tram, tram 8

Postcard - Bridge Sreet, Ballarat Vic showing tram tracks, a number of horse drawn carts and cabs. On the far right, a tram stop sign can be seen, along with men talking. In the view are shops, businesses or advertisements for: Junction Boot Store, Havelock Tobacco, Halls Corner, A Bregeut Ales & Butter shop, W A Stark Wines and Spirits, Velvet Soap, Thomas Dunstan? Leather Merchant.Yields infomation about the corner of Bridge Street, Main Road and Victoria Streets.Black and white postcard titled Bridge Sreet Ballarat Vic, looking west from the corner of Bridge Street, Main Road and Victoria Streets 1910c. Divided back type, published by VSM Melboune and printed in Prussia.bridge street, ballarat, stones corner, victoria street, main road, tramways, tram track, horse drawn vehicles