Summary

Negative of Gus Godden, an employee at H.V McKay Massey Harris. Godden was part of the company's service staff. Black and white photograph of A. (Gus) Godden, an employee at H.V McKay Massey Harris. Godden joined the firm in the early 1900s when he was sent to Argentina to introduce Sunshine harvesters to the market. He travelled extensively for the company over the coming decades. He was involved in the sale and service of the company's headers in the south of England during World War II. By 1946 Godden had spent 11 seasons working with headers in South Africa, three seasons in England and a shorter period of time working with rice headers in Sri Lanka. In addition, Godden carried out field service work for the company all over Australia. Godden was a known personality at the company's Sunshine headquarters, instantly recognisable by his pipe which he used to smoke his favourite Rhodesian blend tobacco!

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

Man in work overalls and hat holding a pipe in his mouth. He is resting his left hand on his hip. He is standing in front of a brick building

Physical Description

Black and white negative.

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