Summary

Photograph of male Hecla employees assembing electrical products, possibly at Hecla's Little Bourke Street premises in Melbourne. To the left of the image partially completed kettles and electric heaters are visible. At the right are pieces of ornamental metalwork including a winged sphinx and metal plaque of names. This suggests an early date for the photograph, as Hecla moved preogressively from decorative and art metal to domestic and industrial appliance manufacture.

The factory room is crowded with a low ceiling. Light is provided by a bank of winnows along the rear wall, as well as electric lights suspended from the ceailing. Heavy wooden benches are positioned in rows along the room to form assembly lines. Painted on the rear wall of the room is the sign "No Smoking".

This photograph is from an album containing 255 black and white photographs depicting electrical appliances, showroom displays, factory interiors and advertising material relating to Hecla Electrics Pty Ltd. It is part of the Hecla collection of photographs, documents, products, manuals and promotional materials from the Hecla Electrics factories in Melbourne. This collection dates from the late 19th century to the late 20th century and was acquired in 2004 from the current owner of the Hecla Electrics brand.

Hecla Electrics manufactured and distributed a wide range of domestic and commercial electric appliances products to Australasia, such as heaters, kettles, toasters, stoves and water heaters. Its client base included households, commercial businesses such as cafés, hospitals and offices, as well as the military. The company promoted its goods through advertisements in home magazines and displays in shop windows, home shows and the 1935 All-Electricity Exhibition. Hecla Electrics became a household name in Melbourne during the 1920s and remained a popular Australian brand until the late 20th century.'

Description of Content

Photograph of factory workers at a Hecla premises. The room is crowded and workers stand behind heavy wooden benches are stacked with kettles and heaters. At the rear of the image are large banks of windows, to the right are examples of ornamental work including a winged sphinx.

Physical Description

Black and white photograph adhered a laminate card backing, attached to a buff paper backing by sticky tape at each corner.

More Information