Summary

A box for a Detroit Hardness Tester produced by Alpha Hardness Tester, Independence Street, Moorabbin, Melbourne, Victoria. The tester was used in 1930 by Derek Craggs who worked at H. V. McKay in Tractor Assembly, Shafting, Heat Treatment, and Blacksmith's No.1 Departments. The tester uses the Rockwell 'C' scale.

Part of a collection of photographs, negatives, moving film, artefacts, documents and trade literature belonging to the H. V. McKay Sunshine Collection. The McKay collection is regarded as one of the most significant industrial heritage collections in Australia. The collection relates to the agricultural manufacturing firm, the Sunshine Harvester Works. The Australian operations of this company were originally founded by Hugh V. McKay in the 1890s in Ballarat. Between 1906 and 1907, McKay moved production to Sunshine where the firm became one of the largest industrial businesses in Australia. Change in ownership is a recurring theme in the company's history. In 1930, it merged with Massey-Harris to become H.V McKay Massey Harris. In the mid-1950s, the company was absorbed by Canadian agricultural firm Massey-Ferguson. Production in Sunshine ceased in the mid-1980s, following almost 100 years of manufacturing agricultural equipment.

Physical Description

A black vinyl covered cardboard box with a lid. The lid is hinged along one side by two strips of vinyl. A felt-covered cardboard support with the cut out shape of the Detroit Hardness Tester sits inside the box. There is soiling, loose threads along the vinyl hinge and dents in the edges of the box. There is a mark on the top of the lid where the finish of the vinyl coating has been removed. There is also soiling inside the box and on the felt-covered support.

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