Summary

A handwritten letter from Hugh Victor McKay, to his brother Samuel McKay, dated 20th May 1912. He writes about his journey to Russia by train from Paris to St Petersburg, experience with border customs, planned visits with the Russian Minister of Agriculture, the British Consul and the Chamber of Commerce, observations of how the horses are rigged, interest in the Panhart Agency for motors, his impressions of a Bond Sawing machine, and his impressions of the German countryside.

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

One sheet of off-white note paper. Handwritten text in black ink, both sides. Printed text and logo of the hotel in the top left corner. Logo is image of a horse and rider on a rock, with horse rearing up on two legs.

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