Early Australian Silversmiths

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dognose
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Re: Early Australian Silversmiths

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PRIMUS DUFFNER

Albany


The Bankruptcy Act, 1892

Notice of Dividend

Debtor's Name: Primus Duffner
Address: Albany
Description: Watchmaker and Jeweller
Court: Supreme Court of Western Australia
Number: 73 of 1902
Amount per £.: Two shillings and sixpence farthing
First or final or otherwise: First and final
When payable: Wednesday the 14th day of January 1903


Source: Government Gazette of Western Australia - 9th January 1903

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Re: Early Australian Silversmiths

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Watchmakers' and Jewelers' Association of Queensland

Brisbane


NEW OFFICERS CHOSEN

Members of Watchmakers' and Jewelers' Association of Queensland Hold Annnal Meeting at Brisbane

Word has just reached this country that the annual meeting of the Watchmakers' and Jewelers' Association of Queensland had been held recently at Brisbane, Australia. The gathering took place at the Amateur Fishermen's Rooms, on Queen St., Brisbane, and was attended by many of the best-known watch and jewelry merchants in Queensland.

During the session President H. F. Smith delivered his annual address, which was listened to with keen interest. The secretary and treasurer also submitted their reports, both of which were received enthusiastically.

Before the meeting adjourned the members elected the following officers to serve for the ensuing year: President, H. F. Smith (for the third time); vice-president, A. Kent; treasurer, A. Kent; secretary, J. A. Miles; auditors, B. S. Worfold and E. Thurlow; general committee, W. Pratt, E. Thurlow, S. Knowles, Lewis Williams, W. F. Cole and Miss Thomson; publicity committee, T. Langford-Ely, B. S. Worfold and J. Allen; entertainment committee, Miss Thomson, A. G. Littleboy, Lesleigh J. Williams, E. J. Smith, B. S. Worfold andi J. Hendry Grice.


Source: The Jewelers' Circular - 17th December 1919

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Re: Early Australian Silversmiths

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SAMUEL COPPEL

Elizabeth Street, Melbourne


A young jeweller, named Bertram Coppel, aged 17 years, was arrested by Detectives Potter and Mahoney on board the steamer Konoowarra at the Queen's wharf, on Saturday afternoon, just as the vessel was about to take her departure for Sydney, on a charge of stealing sixteen silver watches and a quantity of jewellery, valued at £55, the property of his brother, Samuel Coppel. It appeared that the accused called at his brother's establishment in Elizabeth-street about midday on Saturday, and by means of a ruse induced the shopman to leave the premises. The latter on returning found young Coppel absent, and shortly afterwards the articles before mentioned were missed from the stock. The accused will be brought before the City Court this morning charged with the offence.

Source: The Age - 3rd July 1882

The above report may relate to the sons of Elias Coppel, who was recorded as working in Melbourne from c.1854 until c.1887.

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Re: Early Australian Silversmiths

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WIESENER

334, George Street, Sydney


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Wiesener - Sydney - 1890

A T.F. Weisener was recorded at 348, George Street, Sydney in 1876.

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Re: Early Australian Silversmiths

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WILLIAM HERBERT FORD a.k.a. CHARLES JACKSON

Walgett, NSW


In the intestate estate of Charles Jackson, otherwise known as William Herbert Ford, late of Walgett, watchmaker and jeweller, deceased.

All persons having claims against the above estate are requested to forward the same, verified by affidavit, to the undersigned on or before the 15th day of August 1906.

T.W. GARRETT

Curator of the above estate.
Chancery-square
Sydney

25th July 1906


Source: New South Wales Government Gazette - 1st August 1906

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Re: Early Australian Silversmiths

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JULIUS RASCH

Pirie Street, Adelaide


South Australia

Adelaide

Tuesday

At the City Police Court this morning, Carl Neumann and James Faulds, were charged by Julius Rasch, jeweller, with burglary, the value of the goods stolen being £250. The prosecutor, a jeweller in Pirie-street, had his premises opened during the night of the 13th, the safe being burst open and its contents removed. Neumann confessed he committed the burglary in company with another man, but asserted the innocence of Faulds, who was dismissed. Neumann offered to show the detectives where the articles were planted but so far the search has proved unsuccessful.


Source: The Sydney Mail - 25th July 1891


J. Rasch was recorded at Gawler Place, Freeman Street, Adelaide from 1883 to 1896.

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Re: Early Australian Silversmiths

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THOMAS GODSELL

Sydney


QUARTER SESSIONS

(Before Judge Barton)


Thomas Godsell, 68, Masonic jeweller, pleaded guilty to a charge of Breaking and Entering and Stealing at Narrabeen, he was remanded for sentence until this morning.

Source: Sydney Morning Herald - 21st February 1939

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New South Wales Watchmakers' & Jewellers' Association


Australian Jewelers May Invite Col. Shepherd to Attend Their Annual Conclave

It is possible that Col. John L. Shepherd, who is a member of nearly all State retail jewelers' associations and the perpetual guest of honor at the State conventions of our dealers, will be asked to add to his territory.

According to the 'Commonwealth Jeweller', the organ of the jewelry trade in Australia, there may be an attempt to get Col. Shepherd to visit the retailers in that country and tell them some of his famous stories, in addition to giving them some good advice on how to get over the abuses that grow up in the industry.

At a special meeting of the executive council of the New South Wales Watchmakers' & Jewelers' Association held some time ago, E. J. Coote suggested that the Federal Association of Australia invite Col. Shepherd to attend the next conference, which will be held in Brisbane. Mr. Coote told his brethren that Col. Shepherd was the best-known jeweler in the United States and that no conference was regarded as complete unless he was present. He felt that if Col. Shepherd could be induced to come to Australia that the visit would stir up much enthusiasm in the trade, result in an influx of members to the association, and also help in cementing the bonds of interest between the jewelers of Australia and those of the United States.


Source: The Jewelers' Circular - 23rd October 1918

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Re: Early Australian Silversmiths

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JOHN BURNEY

Sydney

The body of John Burney, the watchmaker, who it was supposed had been knocked off the railway bridge across the Yarra by a passing train last Monday night, was found in the river today. The only marks of violence on the body were an injury to his eye and a slight abrasion of the thigh.

Source: The Sydney Mail - 5th May 1883

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Re: Early Australian Silversmiths

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FREDERICK ROBERT CHAPPLE

Cromwell Buildings, Bourke Stret, Melbourne


MISSING GOLD

JEWELLER CHARGED WITH RECEIVING

Several days ago a complaint was received at the Criminal Investigation branch that £40 worth of gold had been stolen from the dental department of Glover and Goode, Little Collins-street. As a result of an inquiry into the robbery, Senior Detective Jones and Detective McGullie on Tuseday visited the premises of a jeweller at Cromwell-buildings, Bourke-street, and seized jewellery valued at £300 and a quantity of gold.

Later at the City Watch House, Frederick Robert Chapple, 30 years, jeweller, was charged with receiving.


Source: The Age - 20th October 1927

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Re: Early Australian Silversmiths

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JOHN DELLINGER

Darwin


ELDERLY MAN MISSING

Tragedy Feared at Tennant Creek

TENNANT CREEK, Thursday:- An elderly man, John Dellinger, formerly a watch maker in Darwin, has been missing for several days, and it is feared he has perished in the bush.

Dellinger left Tennant Creek on 8th June on a bicycle to go prospecting. He arrived at the Edna Beryl mine, about 17 miles away from Tennant Creek, on 10th June in an exhausted condition, and after resting for a few hours, left with the intention of returning. He has not arrived here, nor has he been heard of elsewhere in the field. Police are going out to-day with blacktrackers to search for him.


Source: The Age - 19th June 1936

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Re: Early Australian Silversmiths

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WILLIAM ROBERTS

Sydney


MISSING FRIENDS

If any of the sons of WILLIAM and CHARLOTTE ROBERTS, jeweller (maiden name, Gant), who arrived in Sydney from England, twelve or thirteen years ago, will communicate with the undersigned, they will hear of something to their advantage. E. Ackerman, Launceston.


Source: The Age - 19th September 1866

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Re: Early Australian Silversmiths

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JOHN POWELL

Russell Street, Melbourne


Thomas Cunningham, George Horne, and Patrick Roach, taken into custody on a charge of breaking into the shop of Mr. Powell, jeweller, Russell-street and stealing a quantity of goods, were remanded for a week.

Source: The Age - 30th December 1857

John Powell was recorded at 126, Russell Street from 1854 to 1859, 118, Russell Street from 1860 to 1868, 113, Bourke Street East from 1869 to 1879, 108, Russell Street from 1880 to 1885, and 166, Russell Street from 1886 to 1889.

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Re: Early Australian Silversmiths

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HENDRICK FORSTER

Melbourne

Exhibition report:

..............Hendrick Forster, a silversmith of extraordinary skill and elegance, introduces Australian timbers into his objects to add both warmth and texture to the immaculate silverware on display at Makers Mark, City.

Forster, already famous as the maker of the set of silver dinner plates sent to Prince Charles and Lady Diana as a wedding gift from the people of Australia, can be equally proud of these recent works.

His coffee-pot, teapot and a set of fine beakers best display his strength and skills; the coffee-pot, teapot and small boxes on show have clear angular lines and pleasing proportion. They display a strong affinity with the Art Deco style of the 1930's, which prided itself on clean, crisp design.

The set of beakers is almost mediaeval in appearance. These pieces, small and comfortable to grasp, are unfussily beautiful; modestly scaled offerings from a giant talent.


Source: The Age - 12th August 1982


Hendrik Forster graduated from the Academy of Fine Arts in Munich in 1973 and founded his studio in Melbourne in 1974. Amongst his more important commissions were church silver for St. Stephen’s Cathedral in Brisbane (1989) and St. Patrick’s Cathedral in Sydney (2002), also table silver for the New Parliament House, Canberra (1987), Prime Minister’s gift to the Emperor of Japan (1995), and the BMW Wine Trophy (2001). Hendrik Forster designed the first class In-flight Holloware for Qantas in 1996.

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Re: Early Australian Silversmiths

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ROYAL COMMISSION ON CUSTOMS AND EXCISE TARIFFS - JEWELLERY - 1907


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Source: Records of the Proceedings and Printed Papers of the Parliament - Volume 4 - 1908

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Re: Early Australian Silversmiths

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K.V.R. ALBERTSON

K. V. R. Albertson was noted as the Australian representative of the Meriden Britannia Co. in 1893.

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Re: Early Australian Silversmiths

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The Bibby’s of Tasmania

Below is a picture of a spoon made in Tasmania and marked ‘BIBBY STERLING’. The bowl is made from a Trigonia shell and is held in place by silver mounts. This is a style of spoon that was produced around 1900 – 1920 with different finials. Other makers included William Golding and Son. There are two examples of Trigonia souvenir spoons in the Powerhouse Museum collection in Sydney.

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Bibby was a watchmaker and jeweller based in Hobart, Tasmania. The first appearance I can find of him is at the Tasmanian International Exhibition of 1894-1895. I can’t say whether they were exhibiting there, but father, mother and son all had mug shots taken, as below (along with all the other visitors). I’ve taken these from the Tasmanian Government’s State Library site: http://catalogue.statelibrary.tas.gov.au/ with the following references: NS738-1-302, NS738-1-320 and NS738-1-358.

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Some ten years later Bibby released a series of adverts in Hobart’s The Mercury, apparently sporadically until 1915 (though we may have just a sample on-line). All were presented in a similar way, as per the example below, with just the details changing. On February 29th, March 31st, and April 4th 1904 Bibby was advertising a huge range of ‘Tasmanian Souvenirs for Visitors’ and is revealed as Leo H. Bibby of 90 Liverpool Street. On October 6th 1908, he advertises ‘Engagement and Wedding Rings’ and on April 14th, 19th and 21st 1915, ‘Tasmanian Souvenirs’ (including souvenir spoons). By August 9th 1915 we find him selling ‘Wedding Presents’. By now Leo was no longer mentioned and the address was instead 41 & 43 Liverpool St. Perhaps by then Master F. Bibby had taken over, but Mr and Mrs Bibby were a young couple in 1894 and 21 years later were likely still to have been in business. I’ve included below an example of one of these adverts. Source: The Mercury April 4, 1904 http://trove.nla.gov.au/ndp/del/article/9680224 .

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An article dated 16th July 1913 refers to a change of ownership of the Liverpool Street shop, having been taken over and greatly improved by another jeweller, Mr Flint. It’s quite long, but worth reading to get an idea of what a Tasmanian Jewellery shop was like at the time. Source: The Mercury July 16, 1913: http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article10292339).

It seems that Leo Bibby was also interested in football and was rather profitable in business, The Mercury running a report on May 2nd 1908 covering a 2ft high silver shield that he had presented to the league. A quick search on the web shows that it continues to be presented to this day. Source: The Mercury May 2, 1908: http://nla.gov.au/nla.news-article12685602

I’m sure that The Mercury has more to say about Mr Bibby and would be a very informative source for other Hobart silversmiths.
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Re: Early Australian Silversmiths

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W. GARTNER

107, Bourke Street East, later, Royal Lane, Little Collins Street, Melbourne


W. Gartner was recorded as a Watchmaker and a member of the British Horological Institute in 1865.

He is perhaps to be identified with Charles Gartner, who was recorded as a Chronometer and Watch manufacturer of 13, Lower Ashby Street, Clerkenwell, London, and Henry Gartner, a Watchmaker of Calcutta, all three being members of the British Horological Institute in 1865.

W. Gartner displayed mounted emu eggs and plated wares at the Melbourne Exhibition of 1880.

W. Gartner displayed mounted emu eggs, sporting cups, reflectors, and general gold and silversmiths work at the Centennial International Exhibition held at Melbourne in 1888-9 where he was awarded the Third Order of Merit for metal spinning.

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Re: Early Australian Silversmiths

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JOHNSON & SIMONSEN

285, Little Collins Street, Melbourne


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Source: The Australian Official Journal of Trademarks - 1907

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Re: Early Australian Silversmiths

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UNKNOWN

Hobart

Alleged Neglect by Medical Men

According to a report in the Tasmanian Mercury, the Hobart City Coroner last month held an inquiry into the circumstances concerning the death of a jeweller, who died at his residence in that city. Evidence was given by the Government Analyst and Dr. Campbell which disclosed the fact that death had been caused by the taking of chloride of potash. The story told by the dead man's relatives was that he informed them, as he lay on the sofa, that he had sent a message to his mother in Heaven, and receiving an answer was going there himself. On the night of his death he came home with two bottles, and after drinking some of the contents exclaimed, " Good-bye, I have taken poison; I have said good-bye to mother." His sisters started off at midnight to seek the aid of a doctor. The first medical man said he would not come unless they got a cab. They did not know where a cab could be got, and hurried off to another medical man. That gentleman said his cold was too severe to allow of his going out on such a night. A third doctor was out. A fourth was said also to be too ill. A fifth had a cold which prevented him accompanying the girls to their home. They returned without a doctor to find their brother dead. The verdict of the jury was death from poison, self-administered. To this was added a rider in which the jurymen expressed their disapproval of the course followed by the doctors upon whom the sisters had called.


Source: Australasian Medical Gazette - 20th January 1908

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