Researching and Viewing a Novelty "Cinegraph" Photograph
A "Cinegraph" Novelty Photograph, taken 1931.The photo sequence order is 3,2,1 so the image on the far right (no 3) is the first image taken.[From my own collection]I recently came across an unusual...
View ArticleDrummond - The Story of Two Country General Stores
Ezekiel Roberts with his family and customers outside their General Store, North Drummond, circa 1910[Photo Credit : Drummond Historical Society]As a companion piece to my recent blog on the evolution...
View ArticleA Little Bit Busy....
The New Zealand Hardware Company Ltd,Ironmongers & Iron Merchants,Invercargill, June 1904There will be no Blog postings over March while I work on refurbishing the exterior of my house. In the...
View ArticleThomas Edison's "Telephonoscope" of 1878 - Transmits Light as Well as Sound
An 1879 Representation of Thomas Edison's "Telephonoscope" in useThomas Edison is remembered primarily as the inventor of the incandescent electric light bulb. But Edison was also an accomplished...
View ArticleExploring a Victorian 'Mauchline Ware' Souvenir of Dunkeld
1870's 'Mauchline Ware' box with image of Dunkeld[From my own collection]In this blog I am featuring a recently purchased circa 140 year old Scottish Mauchline Ware velvet lined jewellery box covered...
View ArticleThe Waihou and Ohinemuri River Scheme, 1911 - 1928
William Dykes (centre rear) with D. Shankland and crew,taken on a P.W.D. "Ruston" 2 cubic yard capacity dragline with locomotive boiler used on stopbank building. Taken at Paeroa, July 1924 With a very...
View ArticleANZAC Day Remembrance 25th April 2017 - A Serviceman's Story
Henry George Edward Simpson 8/2132Note the badges shown below.Wakefield's Photo, Chiswick & Brentford[From my own collection]ANZAC Day, the 25th April 2017, "broadly commemorates all Australians...
View ArticleA 1930's Album of Deerstalking in the South Island of New Zealand
A collection of "Trophy" Red Deer Antlers including a Stag's Head and antlers in centre with an impressive 7 x 7 (14 point) trophy head.British settlers first liberated red deer in the South Island of...
View Article"Tintype" Memories of a Visit to Kilmarnock
A Group of Friends at Kilmarnock, circa 1883-1884.John Humphrey's Photo.[From my own collection]Today I am featuring an apparently unremarkable and slightly faded CDV (carte-de-visite) studio portrait...
View Article"Boghead" - The Story of a House and a Family on the Taieri
"Boghead" [Duddingston] as it appeared circa late 1890's[From my own collection]"Boghead" - or "Duddingston" as it is now known - is an attractive and historic two-storied colonial era home built on...
View ArticleIn Search of "A. Totin", A Late 19th Century Portrait and Landscape Artist
"Die Ersten Rosen"& "In Die Blühtezeit"by A. Totin[From my own collection] Since 1992 I have owned two very large approx 66 x 55cm gold framed late 19th century oil portraits of a rather...
View ArticleThe Saga of the 'Unlucky' Tokomairiro Church Bell
The Tokomairiro Presbyterian Church and Bell Tower[Source Google Maps]Can a Church bell be unlucky? Well, the good residents of Milton in Western Otago in Southern New Zealand might once have thought...
View ArticleEdward Simpson 1809 - 1877 : Reflections on an Emigrant and Colonist
Edward & Lucy Simpson,Nicholas Brothers Photo, Otago, NZ(Possibly taken in Dec 1872 when the Nicholas Brothers visited Riverton)[From my own collection]On the 29th August 1861 no less than ten...
View ArticleThe Story of The Invercargill Town Clock, 1860 - 1989 (Part One of Four)
The Former Invercargill Post Office"Littlejohn" Clock Mechanism as it appears todayThe Importance of An Accurate Knowledge of Time 1860 - 1891In 1989 the southern City of Invercargill finally...
View ArticleThe Story of the Invercargill Town Clock 1860 - 1989 (Part Two of Four)
The Invercargill Post Office and Town Clock,Published in "The Otago Witness" 4 Apr 1906[Source : Alexander Turnbull Library]Setting the Clock in Motion1892 - 1899This continues the story of...
View ArticleThe Story of the Invercargill Town Clock 1860 - 1989 (Part Three of Four)
The Invercargill Post Office and Town Clock.Taken prior to 1908[Source : www.philatelicdatabase.com/]Proving Its Usefulness1900 - 1943This continues the story of Invercargill's 1893 'Littlejohn' Town...
View ArticleThe Story of the Invercargill Town Clock 1860 - 1989 (Part Four of Four)
Wachner Place and the Re-Instated Town Clockas it appears todayFrom Gathering Dust to Re-Instatement 1943 - 1989This concludes the story of Invercargill's 1893 'Littlejohn' Town Clock and chimes. You...
View ArticleThe Prohibition Era and the Illicit Supply of "Hokonui Moonshine"
An Original Bottle which once held"Hokonui Moonshine", now beingowned by family members in Southland[From my own collection]The forest clad Hokonui Hills of Southland New Zealand are today celebrated...
View ArticleResearching a 1787 Double-Pair Cased Pocket Watch
A Double-Pair Cased Pocket Watch by P. Edmond, Dublin, 1787,together with Chain and Wax Sealer[From my own collection]As my regular readers will probably attest, I delight in researching old family...
View ArticleA Second World War 'Aerograph' Letter
An "Aerograph" message sent from Italy byLiet. Corp. R.W.E Taylor, 1944[From my own collection]I have always been intrigued by a small 1944 letter in my collection, being from a World War Two New...
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