Summary

Part of a subset of 16 black and white negatives depicting workers operating machinery at the Fibremakers Nylon Spinners (Previously called the British Nylon Spinners) plant at Bayswater. The images were commissioned by United Service Publicity (USP) Benson.

This subset is part of approximately 3,000 negatives taken by Jim Payens, the Melbourne based aerial photographer, and form part of the Payens Collection. The images span the period predominantly between the 1950s - 1970s.

Jim Payens was one of a very small number of Australian photographers to have specialised in oblique and survey aerial photography. He was also one of the earliest Australian aerial photographers. This collection consists predominantly of aerial views of the city of Melbourne, surrounding suburbs and regional Victoria but also extends to other parts of Australia. The Collection depicts a variety of landmark events and major engineering projects throughout Australia including the Australian Grand Prix, Olympic Games (Melbourne & Sydney) and the construction of Eildon Weir.

The Museum also holds the aerial camera and equipment used by Payens to take these images as well as an oral history interview with the photographer.

Description of Content

A man in a laboratory wearing protective clothing including an apron, gloves, respirator and visor. He appears to be filling a container with formic acid at the Fibremarkers Nylon Spinners plant at Bayswater.

Physical Description

negative; black and white; silver gelatin; cellulose acetate.

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