Geelong Bottle & Collectables Club IncVolume 76 September/October 2010

One-day wonder

Switch from two-day format a winning move

Geelong Bottle and Collectables Club Inc. The club meets on the fourth Monday of each month (excluding December) at the Belmont Park Pavilion, Barrabool Road, under the James Harrison Bridge.

Club postal address: Geelong Bottle and Collectables Club Inc. Box 5049 North Geelong LPO 3215

WHO’S WHOPresident: Dave Smith 0419 434 306

Vice-president: Peter Harding

Treasurer: Bob Bauer

Secretary:Tracey Elso

Assistant secretary: Noel Dawson

Librarian: Craig Finegan

Editor: Cam Ward 0430 369 146

Public officer: Kim Johnson

State representative: David Smith

Catering officer: Pam Bauer

Committee members: Tony ParsonsCraig FineganKim JohnsonNoel Dawsonand executives

If YOU think there’s something different about this issue of

the newsletter, you’re right. At 16 pages, it’s the biggest edition I’ve overseen and is, I believe, a fitting tribute to the 2010 show the club staged in October. Our six-page coverage starts on page 4

By any criteria – number of people through the door, early bird passes, swap and sell space and profit, which is expected to be in the order of $2500 – the one-day show was a resounding success.

If that sounds like a lot of money for a one day’s work, the reality is that one day was the culmination of a long road that began almost as soon as the dust had settled after the 2008 Victorian state show that Geelong staged.

That the 2010 show went smoothly was a tribute to the committee that worked together tirelessly behind the scenes – and in the days, weeks and months beforehand – to ensure the day went so smoothly.

The lessons learned from the 2008 show were successfully

applied to this year’s show, which will, in turn, aid us in the next show we host in 2012.

In the pages of this edition you’ll see plenty of images from the 2010 show. But if it leaves you wanting more, there’s a new way to see what Geelong 2010 was all about.

An audio visual presentation is now available on YouTube. Just go to http://tinyurl.com.au/xx8 and relive the day, or get a hint of what you missed out on.

Cam WardNewsletter editor

From the desk of the editor

Diary datesNovember27-28 – MORWELL (Gemstones, jewellery, antiques & collectables fair; Kernot Hall)

December5 – BRISBANE (Annual free show; Botanic Garden Auditorium)

January22-23 – FRYERSTOWN (Annual Antique Fair)

February19-20 – TOOWOOMBA (Antique collectors fair & exhibition; Founders Pavilion)

April2-3 – BENDIGO (National show; Bendigo Exhibition Centre, Bendigo Showgrounds)

Stellar example of well-known brand fetches a packet

Uncommonly grand designWhat collector hasn’t

had a Rowlands bottle at some time

in their collection? The miner and farmer brand is one of Australia’s most recognisable trademarks, the glorious embossing matched by the company’s willingness to put it on a variety of bottles.

But a recent auction pushed Rowlands desirability to new heights – and there wasn’t a miner or farmer in sight.The prized object was a rare two-gallon ginger beer demijohn with spigot.

The English-made demijohn is stamped on the front “This jar is the property of E. Rowlands & Must Be Returned when empty”, “Ye Olde English Brewed Ginger Beer Brewed from Pure Spring Water at Katoomba E. Rowlands”, “Ballarat Melbourne”, “Katoomba Sydney” and “To close the tap turn whole in the handle to the front. Do not raise the tap on turning”, to the left.

The eBay description notes that the bottle is in “fantastic condition, with no chips or cracks”. With one tiny rough section in the glaze at the front of the lip, this piece was a show-stopper in every sense of the word – including price.

A frenzy of interest among 11 bidders saw 21bids push the demijohn from a starting price of 99 cents to a final price of $11,225.50 in a week. And, no, that 50 cents didn’t make the difference; the under-bidder was $11,125.50.

Not that the final result would have come as a complete surprise to the vendor. Show-quality pieces will also command a premium and the item description noted that another example of this demijohn fetched $5063 at auction in 2003.

While not in the same league, a Chas Cole hamilton attracted more interest. This

variety, with embossing across the body, was sold in as-found condition and attracted 25 bids from 11 bidders. It topped out $15 short of an even $1000. Another lightly polished variety, with embossing going along the body, sold for a single $200 bid.

Rare codds have again been

in demand. Among those that made four figures were a mint G. Pettett, Emu Park ($1000), 13oz J.M. Dobie Morwell with JMD monogram inside double ringed design ($1245) and a Western Australian F.P McAllinden Bridgetown ($1224). Condition aside, these codds were all be described as

plain, meaning it’s not just the pictorials that set collectors’ pulses racing.

Other notable sales included an aqua 13oz Summons Sydney blob top with embossed kangaroo ($861) and a very good condition Thornton’s Anthracoline pot lid ($561).

SOLID INVESTMENT: A demijohn similiar to the one that fetched more than $11,000 on eBay was a centrepiece of this award-winning display at the 2008 Victorian state show.

People power makes for

just one week after the Geelong Agricultural Show presented challenges for the agricultural show committee and us, but all was resolved because of consultation when we initially booked the date.

Good participation on Thursday afternoon gave us a great headstart. Friday went so well we were ready one hour early at 1pm.

No paper on tables, good trestles and using masking tape to allocate spacing all helped.

Peter Harding’s layout plan remains a great tool and leaving it to his experience – after input from all – worked.

The changed configuration of having all rows of tables aligned the same way to better allow pedestrian flow through to the display area was good. But security issues (members of the public wanting to buy display items) could be improved. (See under “Improvements”.)

Door entry was good with improved flow through and the exit was okay.

What was needed was better training of duty club member on their roles and a roster for this Security

Only one or two doors (occasionally three) were open during set up; the taping over of emergency doors worked well. Allan Snowden was an ever-vigilant presence and Peter Harding assisted, with other club members, but a more formalised roster may have helped.

Set up and security on Saturday were great and the public phase was good but stronger deliniation between display and selling areas is needed.

I misunderstood Allan’s concept of a complete barrier and emptying display area of all people when it came to the display dismantle and bump-out phase and this will be improved next time.

All members of the public must be out of the hall and the door shut.

One suggestion is having the bump out through side doors only.

The use of GBACC lanyards and

local signage – •including the production of 25 1200x1200mm stencillled corflute signs erected on City of Greater Geelong noticeboards, at prominent intersections with owners’ permission and on commonly used highway locations;five existing banners in •the days before the show and on the day; 20 full colour •laminated A3 posters in collectables shops at Geelong, Winchelsea, Ballarat and Warnambool; 1500 black & white A5 •flyers at shows;schedules and two •consecutive adverts in the ABCR;press articles in the •Geelong independent (22 October) and the Geelong Advertiser’s GT magazine (23 October) included photos of my collection and good informative articles;two garage sale •classified ad in the Geelong Advertiser on 16 and 23 October;one wanted to buy •classified ad in the Geelong Advertiser on 16 October (paid for by me);long-running Australian •Bottle Forum thread;eBay listings; and•13 community •announcements

Set up/lay outThe fact that our show was

Phew! I am writing this on the morning after the show before. I’m aiming

for a factual report with some reflections to help improve future shows.Planning

This started two years ago, after the 2008 state show hosted by the club. A new committee in May 2009 confirmed that the Geelong Bottle and Collectables Club would try to run a show every two years (even), rather than every four.

The plan was for a one-day show in between state shows, with the Warnambool club hosting its own show in the alternating (odd) years. Both shows would be styled as a western Victoria show weekend on the calendars

The venue was booked and the date put on as many calendars as possible. Unfortunately the world road cycling championships in Geelong meant that a local collectables fair had to move two weeks later and closer to our date.

PreparationsA hard working committee

comprised of individuals who showed consitently that they could work as a team.

I must comment here that the committee of (new members) David Smith (president), Tracey Elso (secretary) and Tony Parsons, and experienced members Kim Johnson (past president), Peter Harding (vice-president), Allan Snowden, Craig Finegan, Noel Dawson and Bob Bauer (treasuer) showed that the blend of fresh ideas, experience and, most importantly, a willingness to discuss and compromise worked brilliantly.

We had our moments and stuff-ups but the willingness to ditch personnal favourite concepts allowed a fantastic show to happen.

The efforts by Tacey, Kim, Peter, Allan, Noel, Tony, Craig and Bob under pretty tough personnal circumstances all deserve mention.Marketing

The aim of our marketing strategy was simple – low budget or free and minimum paid press advertising. To this end we utilised:

calendars – including •VBACC, ABCR, Ron Barry’s site, Bottle Guide, Australian Antique Bottle Forum, Victorian Tourism and Geelong events;listings in collectables •fairs magazine;

KNIFE EFFORT: Junior club member Jack Elso-Ledgerd and his winning pocket knives display.

MASS APPEAL: Crowds pack the swap and sell area early on Saturday morning.

insisting they be worn was great and saved costs

Allan undertook the job of manufacturing 50 security bollards on his own. The club had intended to make these available for hire to other clubs/events but is concerned that the financial return may not justify potential damage incurred. Storage for this asset now is needed.Barbecue/catering/coffee

Barbecue food quality and quantity were good, with some exceptions. Rotary will need to be consulted about this. Thought should have been given earlier to setting up a seperate inclement weather eating area and enforcing a strict no food or alcohol policy inside the hall.

Otherwise the barbecue was well received, with approximately 70 out of the 100 meals being sold to stall olders

Saturday’s catering also was good, with the breakfast bacon and eggs a popular choice. One suggestion was that Rotary switched to a lunchtime menu too early.

Unfortunately the permanent layout of the showgrounds is against good visibility and position for this food option in relation to the show venue.

The coffee van served up more than 100 great quality cuppas, complementing the Rotary food menu and meaning that Rotary did not have to worry about hot drinks.Feedback/improvements

Book the date and venue •(including alternatives) for the 2012 show, whether or not the club is that year’s state show host, as soon as possible and start getting the date into into calendars.Signage is the best for of •cheap PR, but calendars/bottle forum/eBay also play a good role. We need to try for more print/radio/TV coverage in 2012, especially if it is a state show.Better secure the display •area with a permanent barrier between it and the swap and sell area and one entry/exit point. Suggested signs:

FREE ENTRY o TO DISPLAY AREANOTHING o FOR SALE IN THIS SECTION

Don’t be stingy and •

book a good quality PA system.Get more pre paid late •booked stall fees.Triple-check dates, days, •times, fees and all other facts on ALL publicity.Venue entry needs to •be more inviting, with clear signage and easy access. Club members can play an informative and welcoming role in enticing public, stallholders and early birdsAward an extra prize •for adult collectables category (and since it’s just as likely to be a female winner, don’t just make it a “blokey bottle”.A decision has to be on •whether the next show is branded as a collectables fair or a bottle and collectables show •and sell in order to differentiate between other fairs and us.

AwardsBest collectables adult – Cam Ward (Hard Rock Cafe “guitar” and badges)Best collectables junior – Jack Elso-Ledgerd (pocket knives)Best collectables novice – Cheryl Power (ladies choice)Best general bottles (adult) – Ross RoycroftBest general bottles (novice) – Glen Vogel Best general bottles (junior) – No entriesPeople’s choice – Cam Ward (Hard Rock Cafe “guitar” and badges)Committee encouragement awardsGeneral bottles – Tony Parsons (country Victorian ceramic labels)Collectables – Jan Pocock

While it seems Geelong member cleaned up, winning five of eight awards, the experienced judging panel of Jim Bell, Kingsley Durdin and June Dunn were meticulous in their judging. The people’s choice was just that and the committee went for those who needed the encouragement. Jan needed lots of encouragement for her first ever entry.

But at the end of it all, after all the hard work – and a not insubstantial profit for the club – I’m left with one overriding impression. It seems that everyone really remembered to enjoy their hobby.

David Smith Geelong Bottle and

Collectables Club president

Geelong show to remember

LOOKING AHEAD: Could it be that club president David Smith and Ern Taylor are already planning the next show?

BARGAIN HUNTERS: Committed buyers and wishful thinkers flooded the swap and sell area on Saturday morning.

WATCHFUL: Peter Harding keeps an eye on proceedings.

COMEBACK: Less than two years after being devastated by the Black Saturday bushfires, Ross and Christine Roycroft’s general bottle display won best in show.

DESIRABLE: Charlie Tysoe’s large SH Curtis ginger beer.SHINING EXAMPLE: Tracey Elso had a stunning display of uranium glass.

VARIATIONS ON A THEME: They were ceratinly not the most expensive items for sale at the Geelong show but for sheer vari-ety it was hard to go past the 20 different Warners Safe Cures that Jim Bell had for sale.

SHOW STOPPER: The sight of this magnificent Majolica-glazed JJ Trait barrel created almost as much interest as its $6000 price tag.

INVALUABLE: Bruce Lowenthal providing another expert valuation.

LET’S MAKE A DEAL: Kim Johnson still had to time to do some wheeling and dealing.

CHEERFUL ENTRANCE: Robyn Stocks and Jan Pocock keep the smiles going for another show visitor.

BREAKTHROUGH: Cheryl Power won the novice best collect-ables prize for her ladies choice display.

EYE-CATCHING: A show visitor stops for a closer look at some of the collectables displays.

KEEP IT UP: Tony Parsons earned a club encouragement award for his display of Victorian ceramic labels.

FIVE OF A KIND: These five Colac examples were among a stunning display of 18 Western District ginger beers.

NERVOUS FOR NOTHING: Jan Pocock needed plenty of convincing to enter her first ever competitive collectables display and was rewarded with a club encouragement award.

WISE MEN: Ern Taylor deep in conversation with fellow bottle collecting stalwart Ross Roycroft (right).

LOCAL GEM: Club member Craig Finegan proudly displayed one of his most significant recent local acquisitons. This rare Chas Cole Geelong glazed stoneware barrel is one of only a handful known.

minutes

August monthly meetingAugust 23, 2010

Meeting opened: 8.02pmApologies: Tracey, Kim, Jan, Footy, Francis C, Bruce

Minutes of previous meeting:Moved: Noel DawsonSeconded: Ernie Taylor

Business Arising from Minutes:Bus trip to Maryborough cancelled because no driver available.

Correspondence:Gippsland AB&C Newsletter

Treasurers’ report:Term Deposit: $ 2556.79 Cash Tin $-Tea Tin $79Swap & Sell Tin $-Moved: Joe VotavaSeconded: Peter Harding

General Business:Library – Culling (pamphlets, old club newletters from other clubs, etc) in process to make room for storage.

Show schedule error – Mistake in schedule to be adjusted to intended price. If negotiations are required, Dave will talk to the people over these matters.

Show updates – Trestles booked; signage, stencils, etc organised; laminated poster OK to go ahead – 10+ being printed; advertisement on the bottle forum; non-member (John Cross) to do eBay buy it now stall at show.

Meeting closed: 8.30pm

Best aquired:1st: Colin France Militaria & books 2nd: Bob Bauer White Friars Vase circa 1920 3rd: Tony Parsons Green Cohn Bros Soda Syphon

latest finds

SeptemberDavid R Clarke demijohn =SECOND ABCR Perth displays

Alan 10 railway sleeper date nails Ushers Whiskey decanter – Coronation of King George V 1911 FIRST

Dot Disney Items

Ern Blow torch

Bob MacRobertson money container

Tony 2 Wagga Wagga bottles

Cam 2 “Mickey Mouse” padlocks THIRD 5 Country Victoria soda syphons

Jan & Ron Baby Brownies = SECOND Donald Duck bag Erskine Falls green dish Bottles found at Broken Hill

Noel Small fruit juiced bottle Agee CD422 insulator Gold assay crucible from Mount Morgan Tabasco mixture bottle

Amber Peace Beanie Kid

Molly 17 Schelich horses

Peter Assorted Geelong ephemera

CHEERS: Almost 100 years old, this Ushers Whiskey decanter for the 1911 coronation of King George V landed Alan second place in September’s latest finds.

CHEERS: A contact alerted Dave to this rare impressed Gee-long demijohn sitting in the Castlemaine Antique Centre. Dave was in Perth for the national at the time but still struck a deal.

minutes

September committee meetingSeptember 20, 2010

Meeting opened: 7.30pmApologies: Cam, PeterPresent: Dave, Allen, Noel, Craig, Bob, Tracey, Tony

Minutes of previous meeting:Moved: DaveSeconded: Craig

Business arising from minutes:General Business:Antique Trails – Kim wants some for show; Ian Baliss has offered to take up sponsorship of trails and can get printed for less than eight cents/copy Prizes – Eight black bottles gone to Judith McGuiness for calligraphy-style writing on bottles for category winners plus people choice; movie passes for junior display winner.Bollards – Beany to check out bollards at Bernie Leens; Craig to collect blue and yellow telecom rope.PA system – Craig has asked Geoff at Mill Markets re system, all OK; speakers from Ian Baliss.Posters – Dave has list of where poster have goneBBQ & meals – Rotary Club has organised itself Signs – Dave has designed and started signs; members to find clever spots for them; 20 more proposed to be doneCommunity announcements – Kim has organised them; most need to be done towards show dateTrestles & chairs – Dave likes look of tables – clean and stable – all good; benches – will use outside for BBQ, etc; 70 at scout hall as back-upVenue – Contracts still yet to be received; we need to clean up pre-show and clean up post-show Sunday.Welcome note – Tracey has designed sheet; have added extra for each show space/sellerRosters – Two rosters to be drawn up; security (name & times); door. All hands on deck.Tags – Tracey has tags; Peter has spreadsheet for names; forum members have requested their “monickers” to be on their name tags.Layout – New layout to be sorted out to help with security in the hall Geelong Advertiser – Put garage sales notice in weekend prior (16 October) and show day (23 October), mention valuations being done; community notices to be put in too.Editorial – Put together an interview and article with a collector (Noel or Dave) and include the upcoming show.People’s Choice – A box and sign for box required; voting slip designed & typed up; voting to close at 2pm; 1st prize $20 Bunnings gift voucher & 1 year’s free membership and newslettersAnnouncements – Announcements of winners to be made at 2.30 pmDisplays – Put collectables together, put bottles together.Next meetings – 27 September (at club meeting); 5 October (Dave’s); 12 October (Dave’s); 19 October (Dave’s)

latest finds

OctoberErn Reciprocating 1889 No 50 FIRST

Alan Lifeguard condensed milk box Orient Steam Navigation Co ashtray Black & White Whiskey shot pourer History of Geelong Racing Club book

Tony Chas Cole codd and Nash patents, GAW codds SECOND 2 Coola St Arnaud ceramic labels

David 6 advertising milks = THIRD Hoys ruler

Cam Mini mouth organ Lord’s Prayer “telescope” Dixon torpedo MLC Insurance advertising ashtray

Jan & Ron Old parking meters

Kim Horse tins/ceramic cat = THIRD

Dot & Joe Donagy Rope sign = THIRD

GOT MILK: David didn’t have to go looking for these advertising milks. They came to him, courtesy of a post-show visit to his home that sealed the deal.

minutes

October committee meetingOctober 5, 2010

Meeting opened: 7.45pmApologies: Cam, Kim, BobPresent: Dave, Allen, Noel, Craig, Tracey, Tony, Peter

Minutes of Previous Meeting:Moved: CraigSeconded: TonyBusiness Arising from Minutes:General Business:Missing Members – Where are they? Is it because of winter? If you see an absent member, please have a chat and enquire reasons why they haven’t been coming to meetings. Antique Trails – Dave to draft letter to Ian Ballis’s accepting his offer to sponsor and print the flyers, and to finalise details of advertis-ing, etc. Tracey to type up and present to Ian PRIZES Peoples Choice – Noel has drafted notes/voting slips; lucky voter prize $40 Bunnings voucher & 12-month club subscription and news-letters.Junior Prize – Kim organisingBottles – Dave to follow up with Judith McGuinnessBollards – Unavailable from Leens; Alan has been manufacturing our own bollards (very good too) with cement bases and PVC pipe uprights; Alan to price out costs; Craig to forward 100m+ Telecom rope.PA system – Craig has asked Geoff at Mill Markets about using its system, all OK; speakers from Ian Ballis, Mill Markets, pick up 20 October.Posters – Dave has list of where posters have gone; Craig to re-do posters at MillSigns – 15 out on roads, three for Lara (per Craig), 2 for Alan, the rest to be allocated closer toward show time; 26 signs in total (might get a few extra as ‘bike race’ signs might migrate)Community announcements – Kim has organised them, most need to be done towards show date.Geelong Advertiser – Put garage sales notice in weekend prior (16 /October) and show day (23 October) with valuations; community notices to be put in too.Editorial – Put together an interview and article in about a collector (Noel or Dave) and include mention of the upcoming show.eBay – Tony has put up a swap & sell table under buy it now on Ebay; have had a couple of looks, but no takers.Promotions – Cam doing a promo article on the bottle show to forward on to local papers; Noel has suggested doing a table at West-field Bay City with a small display, some fliers and info on our show and club.Barbecue and meals – Tentative numbers please for Friday night barbecue; benches and tables to come from scout hallCoffee – Dave has booked CoffeeKart to be present on Saturday for people to get their caffeine fix; coffee/tea/urn OK for Friday night, Pam Bauer to set up and organise; Beany has cups/cugar/tea etc. left over from previous barbecue.Trestles/chairs – Benches will be used outside for barbecue, etc; 10-15 at scout hall, will need trailer/van to pick them up.Venue – Contracts still yet to be received, we need to clean up pre-show, and clean up post-show Sunday.Welcome note – Tracey has designed sheet and added extra for each show space/seller; all liked so will print out, perhaps on some nice paper?Rosters – two rosters drawn up for security (with name and times) and the door; many club members have signed and rostered and will be there for the day to help out; Dave will contact other people who we could ask to assist (such as Warrnambool club)Tags – Tracey has tags; Peter has spreadsheet for names; forum members have requested their “monickers” be on their name tags.Layout – Peter to look/discuss different way to set up layout of trestles, displays and swap & sell tables.Displays – Put collectables together, put bottles together; badge man Bill Miller has expressed interest in a non-competetive display, Noel to contact him.Swap & sell – Last years’s lists to be emailed to Noel for him to follow up to get late entries/missing people organised; Dave also has a list of potential sellers/people who could want swap & sell space to follow up.Goodies required – 2 A-frames for Kim’s signs (Tracey to source); pin boards for display (Peter); stationery (Tracey).Announcements – Announcements of winners to be made at 2.30 pmNext meetings – 12 October (Dave’s); 19 October (Dave’s).

Meeting closed: 9pm

Latest club find unearths link with the past

Nailing railway history downAt our September club meeting, Alan

Snowden displayed some railway sleeper date nails among his latest

finds. Many railway buffs and insulator collectors collect these date nails so I thought some further information on this subject may be of interest to our members.

Railway sleeper date nails are a funny looking nail with numerals in relief on the flat head of the nail. Such nails were used as a means of dating when the sleeper was laid on the track, thus giving railway authorities a means of telling how long the sleeper had been in use.

Ray Coventry, an insulator collector from Goolwa in South Australia, has a comprehensive collection of these nails and has nails from 1932 through to 1972 nicely displayed on a board. The nails are about 50mm long with a 15mm flat head that has two numerals to display the year date.

Ray was able to obtain some archival information from the office of the South Australian Railways chief engineer and the following are some extracts from these documents.

Memo from district foreman, •Adelaide: “I was under the impression an instruction had been sent that surplus stock of date nails from one year could be used in the early part of the following year but cannot find such circular but there was a circular from the chief engineer railways (CER) dated 6 October 1930 which read – ‘The Railways Storekeeper has 80,000 date nails in stock numbered 32. These are to be used for sleepers applied in 1931/32 and 1932/33. Sleepers for the year 1930/31 will be left unmarked’.”The CER issued another circular •dated 10 February 1933 which stated: “Dating nails numbered 33 have been received into store, these are to be used for sleepers applies in 1933.”This was followed by another •circular dated 14 February1933 from the resident engineer to all district foremen indicating: “Sleeper nails dated 33 are now available, these nails should be driven into sleepers during 1933. Of course if a 32 nail has already been used it may remain but 33 nails should be used in future.”On 22 December 1942 another •circular from the CER, writing to the comptroller, stated: “I do not think we waste many nails as I have no objection to carry over of nails to the following year of, say,

three months to use up previous year stock of dating nails.”Circular letter No.10A, dated 14 •March 1944 instructed forthwith when gangers remove sleepers from the track they must record: year sleeper was laid; kind of sleeper used; and line from which the sleeper was removed.Other records indicate the first date •nail was 29 for 1929.

To summarise the South Australian situation re sleeper nail dating:

Between 1901and 1920 sleepers •were dated by means of a single auger hole drilled into the sleeper and then, from 1921, by means of two auger holes in the sleeper. Unfortunately many sleepers were not dated between 1923 and 1928. Between 1929 and June 1930 the •29 date nail was used, while no date nail was used between July 1930 and June 1931.From July 1931 to February 1933, •the 32 date nail was used, then a

33 date nail between March 1933 and early 1934.Date nails then appear to have •been used to correspond to each calendar year until 1973 when the Australian National Railways took over operations.

This information may be useful for South Australian nail date collectors wondering why they appear to have some particular nail date years missing from their collection. It appears that nail dates for 73, 74, 75, etc, can be found on sleepers in Victoria and Western Australia.

In 2008 I was visiting New Mexico in the USA and while searching for insulators along an old railway track I picked up a sleeper date nail dated 38. The American date nails are longer (65mm) than ours (50mm) but have a similar head.

Date nails were also used on some of the old PMG wooden poles. These only have one digit on the head of the nail and they are shorter than the railway sleeper nails as they are only 35mm long but have a wider head.

Noel Dawson

BY THE NUMBERS: South Australian insulator collector Ray Coventry’s comprehensive display of railway sleeper date nails, above, and a comparison between a USA railway sleeper date nail (38) and a PMG pole date nail (6), below.

CLASSIFIEDSNOTICES

Need to e-mail a photo? Like to post a photo online to sell an item? Have a

lend of the club’s digital camera.ASK PETER FOR DETAILS

Milk glass Vegemite/Marmite jars.Also screw top metal lids, any size.

Phone Bruce on 0408 527 741.

Editor wanted to take over this newsletter from 2011 AGM to oversee production of six issues a year. Must be passionate and computer literate.

Phone Cam on 0430 369 146.

National Geographic magazines 1920s-2000s. Classic stories, great

ads. $1 per issuePhone Cam on 0430 369 146.

WANTED TO BUY

WANTED TO BUYAnything to do with Jim Beam, Coca Cola, ceramic Garfields

and Ned Kelly. Collectables collector.Phone Len Ellmer on 5224 1469.

Royal Doulton whisky flasksKingsware/Old electric jugs

Blowtorches, clean or dirty and any spares.

Phone JIM HUNTER on 5127 6420. Member of the Gippsland club.

SINGER SEWING MACHINESAnything to do with Singer.

Phone Bruce or Elsie on 5275 5450.

Matchboxes, labels, vesta boxes, match grips and Meakin china.

Phone 5276 1267.Any old newspapers and documents.

Prefer Geelong and areas but will consider anything.

Phone Peter on 5275 3411.

Geelong street guides and business directories.Phone 5266 1126.

Any Scouting memorabilia.Phone Shane on 5229 6469.

Pre-1956 telephone directories.Geelong & District or MelbournePhone Cam on 0430 369 146.

Any old newspapers and documents.Prefer Geelong and areas but will

consider anything.Phone Peter on 5275 3411.

Victa logo plateFor original model

Phone Alan on 5255 4773 or 0403 160 336.

Embassy branded items.The old GJ Coles home brand.

Will BUY anything.Phone Peter on 5275 3411.

FOR SALE

POSITIONS VACANT

Aussie fruit/preserving/jam jars Geelong bottles

Ceramic label milks and soft drinks David 0419 434 306/5243 4306