Looking west across the Main Road Bridge over the Diamond Creek at Eltham, c.1939. The car in the foreground, possibly the photographer's, is a Ford Model C Ten built by Ford UK between 1934 and 1937. The Model C was released in Australia in 1935. The Ford Model C Ten is a car that was built by Ford UK between 1934 and 1937. The Model C was released in Australia in 1935 https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ford_Model_C_Ten This glass plate negative was used to manufacture postcards (1:1 printing) for commercial sale by the Rose Sterograph Company and its subsidiaries. George Rose founded the Rose Stereograph Company in 1880 and was joined by Herbert (Bert) Cutts in the early 20th Century. The pair formed a lifetime working partnership and strong personal friendship. Assisted by George’s two sons, Herbert George and Walter, and later by Neil Cutts, the Rose Stereograph Company continued its operations for more than 140 years. The company was initially built on stereographs, but as cinema took over and stereographs fell out of fashion, the Rose Stereograph Company developed Australia’s first commercially viable photographic postcard business. Specialising in postcards of iconic historical moments and significant landmarks, The Rose Stereograph Company became a staple of the Australian travel industry.

This remarkable collection of glass plate negatives, transparencies, and postcards – arguably Australia’s most significant photography collection outside of public hands – has been passed down through the generations, surviving war, relocation, and the harsh Victorian climate. The historic Rose Stereograph collection is the culmination of George Rose’s dream of capturing and preserving precious moments in time and remains the legacy of the Rose and Cutts families. It is with great sadness that the Cutts family says goodbye to a collection that spans five generations and 140 years. The Cutts family understands that for these historically important pieces to rest with one family is to deny others the pleasure of their custodianship.

Glass Plate Negative Size: 9 x 13.9 cm

The Bridge, Eltham, Valentine Series No. 3196, Copyright

peter and elizabeth pidgeon collection, bridge, cars, diamond creek (creek), eltham, eltham south, ford model c ten, glass plate negative, main road, main road bridge, motor vehicles, postcard, rose stereograph, rose stereograph company, valentine series postcard