Summary
Portrait of Kodak Australasia Pty Ltd managing directors Thomas Baker and John Joseph (JJ) Rouse seated on a bench together at the front of Thomas Baker's home 'Manyung' in Mornington, June 1921.
JJ Rouse lived in Sydney and was making a visit to Melbourne for a Kodak company conference when this photograph was taken. This is one of 3 photographs taken on this day, which were all reproduced in the Australasian Photographic Review in August 1921. Museums Victoria only holds this particular photograph out of those 3 published images.
This is one of the few photographs taken of the two men together. Thomas Baker is at left (with bow tie), and JJ Rouse is at right (with tie).
Thomas Baker was a pioneer of photographic manufacturing in Australasia. He was the founder of the Austral Laboratory. J.J. Rouse was an accountant who went into partnership with pharmaceutical chemist, Thomas Baker, in 1884 to develop the photographic manufacturing company, Baker and Rouse Pty Ltd. In 1907 Baker and Rouse proposed a merger with Eastman Kodak and in 1908, Australian Kodak Limited was formed and evolved to become Kodak Australasia. JJ Rouse played an important role in Kodak Australasia for many years, becoming a managing director along with Thomas Baker.
Baker remained a director of Kodak Australasia and was an indispensable technical director of manufacturing until his death in 1928. JJ Rouse remained a Kodak director until his own death in 1938.
This photograph is part of the Kodak collection of products, promotional materials, photographs and working life artefacts collected from Kodak Australasia in 2005 when the Melbourne manufacturing plant closed down.
Description of Content
Two men in suits, waistcoats and hats sit on a bench outside, in front of the stone steps of a grand building. The man at left has high, button boots, jodhpurs, a bow tie, hat, fob watch and white beard. His legs are crossed. The man to his right is in a dark suit and bowler hat with a fob watch and a flower corsage on his suit jacket. He wears a ring, and has a cigar in his left hand.
Physical Description
Large format photographic print mounted on thick cardboard with a business card sticky taped to the back, top left side.
More Information
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Collection Names
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Collecting Areas
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Acquisition Information
Donation from Kodak (Australasia) Pty Ltd, Ms. Kate Metcalf - Kodak (Australasia) Pty Ltd, 2005
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Acknowledgement
Courtesy of Kodak (Australasia) Pty Ltd.
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Place & Date Depicted
Manyung, Mornington, Greater Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, June 1921
The Australian Photographic Review published August 1921 features an article pp410-412, including this photograph of the men, as well as two other photographs of them with their executive team on the same day, dating this image to June 1921. -
Person Depicted
Mr Thomas Baker - Kodak Australasia, Pty Ltd, Greater Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, June 1921
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Person Depicted
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Date Used
Coburg, Greater Melbourne, Victoria, Australia, 1961-1970
Based on when Bill West was involved with factory tours. Note that the photograph appears to be an earlier original print but was mounted and used circa 1960s-70s for factory tours with Bill West. -
Individuals Identified
Rouse, John J; Baker, Mr. Thomas
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Format
Poster, See Dimensions, Black & White
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Inscriptions
Label (now discarded due to mould/insect damage), printed, black ink: 'The late Mr. T. BAKER & Mr J.J. ROUSE / Founders of BAKER & ROUSE Prop. Ltd. / Head Office, Laboratory and Works: / Austral Works, BOND STREET, ABBOTSFORD / Victoria. / Sole Agents for Australian Kodak Ltd. and Allied Companies'
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Classification
Manufacturing & industry, Photographic products, Promotional materials
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Category
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Discipline
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Type of item
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Image Dimensions - Photograph
455 mm (Width), 3 mm (Depth), 600 mm (Height)
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References
The Australian Photographic Review published August 1921 features an article pp410-412, including this photograph of the men, as well as two other photographs of them with their executive team on the same day.
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Keywords
Manufacturing, Photography, Factories, Managers, Portraits, Houses, Executives, Business Management
