Summary
Booklet with detailed engravings, black & white photos and colour lithographed illustrations of farmers using the machinery and implements in the field. Indepth description of the machinery and how it will improve productivity and reduce man power, including references to soil and farming conditions and the value of using a H. V. McKay product.
Front cover is missing. A detailed description of the Sunshine Stripper Harvester is on page 3 with an amazing colour illustrations depicting a farmer on the harvester pulled by 5 horses in a field of gold.
First page states "that Sunshine is 7 ½ miles from Melbourne and can be reached in 20 minutes, by electric train from Flinders Street or Spencer Street stations". It further extends an invitation to farmers visiting Melbourne to inspect the Works, which is the largest manufactory of farm implements in the Southern Hemisphere'. Page one also lists the details of the national and global branches of H. V. McKay Pty. Ltd.
"Expert Service" - Sunshine Harvester Works had trained staff at every branch, offering demonstrations and repairs to equipiment at a reasonable price.
This publication appears to have first been released in September 1927, with descriptions of the catalogue appear in Melbourne metropolitan and regional newspapers during September & October. The earliest description appeared under the heading 'Attractive Implement Catalogue' in The Argus, on Saturday 17th September 1927, which read:
"Printed on fine art paper, with many coloured plates the new general implement catalogue of H. V. McKay Pty. Ltd., is an attractive publication. An interesting picture is that of the farm smithy at Drumartin, where the first Sunshine harvester was made by Mr. H. V. McKay in 1884. The progress made in farm machinery since that time is indicated by the modem methods employed to-day. Sunshine implements at work are shown in many fine rural scenes."
Beginning on the 29th September 1927 another description of the publication appeared in numerous regional Victorian newspapers under the heading 'An Artistic Production', with text reading:
"With characteristic enterprise, H. V. McKay Pty, Ltd., the well-known manufacturers of farm machinery, have issued an artistic catalogue containing descriptions and illustrations of their deservedly popular farm appliances and machinery. Printed in clear readable type and attractively illustrated in color work, the compilation is a most useful hand-book for the man on the land. It is most comprehensive in character, describing, as it does the many productions for the farm, such as auto-headers, bag loaders, chaffcutters, cultivators, harrows, harvesters, ploughs and many other mechanical devices indispensable to the scientific and up-to-date farmer. Copies can be obtained from H. V. McKay Pty. Ltd. Sunshine."
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.
Title
Cover is missing, but Title Page reads: 'H.V.McKAY PTY.LTD. / Sunshine Harvester Works [italics] / SUNSHINE (Near Melbourne), AUSTRALIA / Manufacturers of / Farm Machinery'
More Information
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Collection Names
H.V. McKay Sunshine Collection, Old McKay Archive (Transfer No.1) Series G
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Collecting Areas
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Acquisition Information
Donation & Subsequent Transfer from Mrs. Cecil Newton McKay (nee Shaw), Old McKay Archives, Science & Technology Collection, Museum Victoria, Mr F.J. (John) Kendall B.Agr.Sc. - Science Museum of Victoria, 1978
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Manufacturer
Hugh V. McKay, Sunshine Harvester Works, Devonshire Road, Sunshine, Melbourne, Victoria, Australia
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Publication Date
1927/09 circa
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Printer
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Publisher
H.V. McKay Pty Ltd, Devonshire Road, Sunshine, Greater Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, Sep 1927
This publication appears to have first been released in September 1927, with a description appearing in The Argus, Saturday 17 Sep 1927, under the heading 'Attractive Implement Catalogue', reading: "Printed on fine art paper, with many coloured plates the new general implement catalogue of H. V. McKay Pty. Ltd., is an attractive publication... Sunshine implements at work are shown in many fine rural scenes." -
Brand Names
"SUNSHINE" (Agricultural Implements) , Suntyne (Seed & Fertilizer Drills) , Sunglow (Cultivators) , Sundercut (Stump Jump Disc Plough) , Sunrise (Stump Jump Mouldboard Ploughs) , Sunleaf (Disc Ploughs) , Sunray (Disc Ploughs) , Sunbow (Stump Jump Disc Plough) , Sundrop (Agricultural Equipment) , Sungem (Seed Planter Components) , Sundex (Petrol Engine) , Sunwell (Agricultural Implements) , Sunrotor (Agricultural Equipment) , Sunstar (Agricultural Implements)
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Number of Pages
96
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Page Size Format
180 x 240
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Primary Subject
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Illustration Types
Colour; Black & White; Line Drawings; Engravings
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Printing Types
Monochrome; Full Colour
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Publication Types
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Classification
Agriculture & rural life, General farm equipment, Catalogues
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Category
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Discipline
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Type of item
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References
'ITEMS OF INTEREST', The Argus (Melbourne), 17 Sep 1927, p.40, from [Link 1] ; 'THE SUNSHINE HARVESTER CATALOGUE', Portland Guardian (Vic.), 29 Sep 1927, p.5 (Evening Edition), from [Link 2] ; 'THE SUNSHINE HARVESTER CATALOGUE', Shepparton Advertiser (Vic. ), 17 Oct 1927, p.4, from [Link 3]
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Keywords
Agricultural Equipment, Agricultural Equipment Dealers, Agricultural Implements, Animal Power, Auto Header Harvesters, Cultivators, Drills, Engines, Environmental Issues, Farms, Harrows, Harvesters, Header Harvesters, Planters, Ploughs, Reaper-Binders, Rural Life, Rural Victoria, Spraying Equipment, Tractor Accessories, Tractor Attachments