Historical information
The wooden pattern is part of a set that is stored in a strong wooden crate and may be part of another similar pattern. It was used at Briggs’ Brass Foundry for making sand casts. The traditional craft of sand casting is over 2000 years old. The handcrafted process produces brass and copper alloy goods that are well suited to marine use; bells, boat hooks, cowls, propellers, handles, lids, rowlocks, hooks, letters, bolts, rail holders, brackets, deck plates, flanges, rudder guides, portholes and covers. Briggs’ Bronze mixture is a copper-based alloy made from local ingots of copper, tin, zinc and lead in carefully measured quantities. The finished product is non-ferrous and can last indefinitely. The crate of patterns was donated by the Briggs family in the early years of Flagstaff Hill, along with other related items such as brassware, tools and machinery.
The donated items were displayed in a simulated Brass Foundry in the Village along with other working crafts, trades and services found in a Maritime town. The items were on show from the completion of the building in 1986 until 1994 when the building was repurposed. The patterns represent the trades of foundering and metalwork, both supporting maritime industries such as shipwrights and boatbuilders. Farmers, manufacturers and other local industries also needed the castings made by foundries. The Brass Foundry included a historic Cornish chimney set up as a working model, to tell the story of smelted metal heated in furnaces then be poured into the sand moulds. This chimney was made from specially curved bricks and is now about two-thirds of its full height when originally located at the Grassmere Cheese factory.
Significance
The hand-cast sand patterns hold considerable significance due to their association with Briggs Brass Founders, a firm established in the early 20th century and widely recognised for its expertise in producing, repairing, and restoring ship bells and marine equipment. Known for their specialisation in non-ferrous metal casting, Briggs Brass Founders supplied high-quality fittings and equipment for maritime use.
The company extended its operations by opening a branch in Warrnambool, where it actively supported the local community. The foundry’s ability to cast essential products was important to local and regional industries, like fishing, farming, manufacturing and commercial businesses. Through its presence, its reputation was reinforced as both a skilled manufacturer and a community-minded enterprise.
The foundry is notably associated with the Schomberg Bell at Flagstaff Hill, having restored this small, historic bell to its original condition. The Schomberg Bell is a fine example from a luxury migrant vessel dating back to the mid-19th century, reflecting the craftsmanship and heritage preserved by Briggs Brass Foundry.
Physical description
Pattern; unpainted, square wooden block with a semi-circle of dowel added to the centre of the side with rounded corners. Three short dowel pegs are inserted on one flat side; one below the semi-circle and one near the lower corners in an overall triangle configuration. The pattern is part of a set of foundry patterns from Briggs Brass Foundry.
Subjects
- flagstaff hill,
- flagstaff hill maritime museum and village,
- warrnambool,
- maritime museum,
- maritime village,
- great ocean road,
- shipwreck coast,
- briggs' bronze,
- traditional method,
- trade,
- sand cast,
- cast,
- brass alloy,
- copper alloy,
- pattern,
- mould,
- foundry,
- brass foundry,
- metal foundry,
- casting,
- sand mould,
- sand casting,
- marine equipment,
- marine tools,
- marine fittings,
- copper tin zinc lead,
- non-ferrous,
- non-corrosive,
- brassware,
- metalware,
- foundering,
- metalwork,
- maritime,
- bell founders,
- ship chandlers,
- marine products,
- biggs,
- briggs family,
- herbert harrison briggs,
- h h briggs,
- george edward briggs,
- cyril falkiner mckinnon briggs,
- cyril briggs,
- briggs & son brass foundry,
- h h briggs & sons foundry,
- briggs marine,
- alliance casting & engineering solutions,
- grassmere cheese factory,
- cornish chimney,
- curved bricks,
- collingwood,
- moorabbin,
- collingwood foundry,
- moorabbin foundry,
- 1912,
- briggs,
- briggs brass foundry,
- briggs marine foundry,
- briggs marine products,
- frank lee,
- les lee,
- eva lee,
- briggs marine warrnambool,
- non-ferrous founders,
- bell specialists,
- ship bell specialists,
- founders,
- metalworking,
- traditional sand casting,
- casting pattern,
- foundry pattern
References
- Briggs Marine History, About Us
- General Kinematics What is Sand Casting?
