Summary

Black and white photograph of Charlie Day's farewell gathering at H.V McKay Massey Harris. Charlie Day began working for H.V McKay in 1898 in Ballarat as a blacksmith earning 30/- per week. Throughout his 50 year association with the company, Day worked in the Blacksmith Department. He pioneered the use of iron-bending machines in the factory and moved the McKay firm from using the anvil to the use of bending machinery. Day was also the Captain and later Superintendent of the Sunshine Harvester Works Fire Brigade. He retired from the firm in June 1948.

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.

Description of Content

Charlie Day shaking hands with a man while a large group of men stand behind them, in the blacksmith shop.

Physical Description

Black and white glass plate negative.

More Information