Summary
Black and white photograph of Hecla factory workers in the polishing division of Hecla's Melbourne factory, possibly the Little Bourke Street site.
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 showing the corner of a large factory floor. Workers stand at polishing wheels spaced along the external wall beneath large banks of windows. They wear overalls, aprons or smocks. Behind them are heavy wooden benches upon which metal components are placed.to the rear of the room are piles of kettle and heater parts ready for polishing.
Physical Description
Black and white photograph with a white border. It is adhered with sticky tape to buff paper backing.
More Information
-
Collection Names
-
Collecting Areas
-
Acquisition Information
Donation from Mr Phil Wollen, 22 Oct 2004
-
Place & Date Depicted
-
Organisation Depicted
Hecla Electrics Pty Ltd, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 1920s
-
Format
Photograph, Black & White
-
Inscriptions
Handwritten, verso, upper left corner, graphite pencil: '3' Handwritten, verso, centre, graphite pencil: 'Corner of the / polishing division' Photographer's rubber stamp, verso, face right hand side, purple ink: 'C F Frazer / Photo / 154 LIT. COLLINS STREET / Phone 4358 Cent. MELB' Rubber stamp, verso, lower centre, blue ink: '6365' Handwritten, verso, lower left corner, graphite pencil: '6'
-
Brand Names
-
Classification
-
Category
-
Discipline
-
Type of item
-
Image Dimensions - Photograph
207 mm (Width), 157 mm (Height)
-
Keywords
Domestic Appliances, Electric Appliances, Factories, Factory Workers, Manufacturing, Manufacturing Workers, Workers, Working Conditions, Working Life