Summary

Black and white photograph of the interior of a Hecla factory. The photograph possibly shows Hecla's Little Bourke Street premises in Melbourne.

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

Interior of a largely an empty factory with exposed wooden rafters, concrete floor and corrugated iron roof. It appears to be the same factory as appears in MM 107022, though photographed from the opposite end of the building. The building is lit by skylights and windows on external walls. It is empty except for some partially completed stoves and several bicycles leaned against a pallet to the left of the image. In the mid-ground two men in suits survey the floor. Workers in shirt sleeves stand to the rear of the building.

Physical Description

Black and white photograph with a white border. It is adhered with sticky tape to a hole punched buff paper backing.

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