Summary

Alternative Name(s): Drill Set, Home Power Tool Kit

Power tool kit in blue metal box made by KBC - Ken Bowes & Co. Ltd, Woodlands Park, South Australia. It comprises a drill with several attachments: saw, sander, polisher, grinder and buffer - 'for 100 jobs in every home'. It was advertised in Australian newspapers between 1953 and 1954, for around £21.

The kit was used as a prop in the 'House Secrets' exhibition at Scienceworks, 6 March 2006 to 14 July 2013. Most of the props for the exhibition were sourced from opportunity shops in 2002 and 2003 by curator Andi Horvarth and other Museum Victoria staff. 'House Secrets' aimed to 'Explore the science behind all the familiar things in our homes', presenting 'all sorts of wonderful things we might find around the home, from the food we eat, to the appliances we use, to the animals we share our living space with.' The exhibition was 'highly interactive'.

Physical Description

Power tool kit in blue painted metal box with red handle and pivoting clasp. The hinged lid opens to reveal a drill with several attachments to create other tools: saw, sander, polisher, grinder and buffer. The main components are housed in the lower half of the case, with sanding discs and paperwork in the lid, held in place with a metal strap. An illustrated pamphlet printed in black and red on white provides line drawings illustrating the uses of the tool - by a man and a woman in an apron, with a boy alongside in each image. A heavily-deteriorated (including insect-damaged) document, with address on one side for postage, has a serial number filled in: 'D12009M'.

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