Category: Queensland State Archives’ Photostream About Fortitude Valley

Queensland State Archives posted a photo:

New Fire Engine for Inglewood

Inglewood: At a meeting of the Inglewood-Texas Fire Brigade Board, held in the Inglewood Council Chambers, it was decided to purchase a chassis for a new fire engine, the total estimated cost being £2900.

…
The meeting carried a motion to purchase a chassis of the type recommended by the metropolitan boards which has a quantity of spares for this type, the spares having been given to it by the American Army.

…
The Texas Chief Officer reported on drills held, and requested consideration to the purchase of breathing apparatus, and a “spurt” nozzle to avoid electrocution at fires near electrical mains.

…
It was decided to make inquiries regarding the equipment mentioned.

To continue reading visit:
Warwick Daily News, 9 April 1954

View the original image at the Queensland State Archives:
Digital Image ID 18778

See Full Post >>

Queensland State Archives posted a photo:

Old Fire Engine

An interesting relic of the early days still preserved in Brisbane is a horse-drawn fire engine, intimately known to the firemen of Brisbane as “Bobs.” The engine was purchased in 1898, and in the early days “Bobs,” drawn by two fine grey horses, was the pride of Brisbane. The services of “Bobs” were only utilised on one occasion; that was in 1904, and ever since “Bobs” has stood spotlessly clean in a corner of the Brisbane Fire Station.

Brisbane’s fire brigade was established in 1882, and for many years the brigade’s only equipment consisted of a small manual engine and a hand-reel with large wheels and 500ft of leather hose. Canvas hose was unknown in those days, so were telephones, and often before the brigade arrived at the scene of a fire the building or buildings had been burned down.

Outside the brigade’s headquarters was

See Full Post >>

Queensland State Archives posted a photo:

Fire Engine Display

The superintendent of the Charters’ Towers Fire Brigade, Mr J. Morrison, states that the new fire engine will give a display in Lissner Park on May Day.

Immediately the May Day procession arrives at the part the recently arrived fire engine, which will be included in the procession, will display its 35ft scaling ladders with one of the members of the brigade ascending with hose connections to the top.

Water pumping, which will be independent of the local reticulation supply, will also be demonstrated to the public. This should prove to be a welcome feature for inclusion in the May Day sports.

Description source:
The Northern Miner, 1 May 1954

View the original image at the Queensland State Archives:
Digital Image ID 18581

See Full Post >>

Queensland State Archives posted a photo:

The Fire Engine.

The value of the motor fire reel was demonstrated last week when a grass fire broke out on Mr. D. Fraser’s farm on Copeland’s road, for the warning fire bell had scarcely ceased ringing, when a full load of volunteers was aboard the engine and proceeding at a rapid pace towards the fire.

This early assistance was no doubt helpful in making an early attack on the fire possible, and as more men were required, and no creek water was available, the engine was despatched back to Warragul and brought out another batch of fire-fighters.

The ringing of the fire-bell on Friday evening also brought a rapid response for help, but the fire proved to not be very serious, some grass having caught alight near the engine sheds. The smart arrival of the brigade on the motor reel, however, soon put a stop to the

See Full Post >>

Queensland State Archives posted a photo:

New Longreach Fire Engine.

On Saturday last the Longreach Fire Board took delivery of the new Dennis Ace Fire Engine, which left the workshops of the body-builder and painter, Mr Roy Adams, that day.

The pump on this unit is rated at from 350 to 450 gallons a minute, and is capable of delivering four good jets of water at over 100 lb. pressure each.

Under the supervision of Mr. H. Austin, tests were carried and proved satisfactory. Queensland timbers were used in the construction of the body.

Description source:
Morning Bulletin, 17 August 1937

View the original image at the Queensland State Archives:
Digital Image ID 18614

See Full Post >>

Queensland State Archives posted a photo:

Efficiency In The Office.

It is somewhat strange that the office should be the last department of an industrial or commercial organisation to be affected by modern ideas of efficiency in method and equipment. From the offices have gone forth the orders and instructions which during the past few years have reorganised and renovated our factories in accordance with the latest discoveries of more effective systems and machinery. Yet the offices themselves have in a great number of cases remained unmoved by the great impulse which they passed on to the works. The head was too much engaged in looking after the efficiency of the hands to attend to its own well-being.

Bootmakers’ wives fo the worst shod, as the proverb has it; perhaps it is for the same reason that the office is so often as careless of its own efficiency as it is careful of

See Full Post >>

Queensland State Archives posted a photo:

Mainly For Women

Manners In The Office

To the well bred business girl courteous manners come so naturally that she does not always realise, perhaps, how much they contribute to her success. Her employer finds it pleasantly satisfying to work with one who is unfailingly civil spoken to everybody, good tempered, quiet in her movements and suitably dressed for the office. Even when her efficiency is not as great as that of others of less attractive demeanor, it is this attribute which carries her through.

When her duties include that of receiving and interviewing callers, she has plenty of opportunity to exercise tactfulness. Inquiries, complaints, or insistent demands to see her busy chief have to be treated with equal civility and attention. Anyone holding a post of this kind who is abrupt or inattentive to visitors creates a very bad impression, and the office earns a bad name

See Full Post >>

Queensland State Archives posted a photo:

American Office Workers Ban Long Hemline

Office girls working in New York’s Empire State Building have announced that they have formed an association, pledged not to wear the new long skirts that fashion dictators are foistering on women the world over.

The founder of the movement, gave various reasons for the stand the club is taking. Typical complaints from some of the members are: “I would feel just like a tent,” “I don’t want to look as though I am always sitting down,” and “Think of the dirt we would pick up riding to work on the sub-way.”

Economic reasons are the strongest however; to wear the new fashions they must junk their present wardrobe; they will ask for rises to cope with their buying and apparently if they do not get the rise they go on strike.

And so the association slogan is: “To save America, save the

See Full Post >>

Queensland State Archives posted a photo:

Slippers In The Office.

Has an employer the right to dismiss his typist because she wears slippers while working in his office? A young woman, at the end of January, told the judge in a Paris court that she had been in the employ of the manager of a bank.

Some time ago she was operated on for appendicitis. When she resumed work she experienced pain when she wore her elegant shoes. So, on arriving at her office, the first thing she did, following the advice of her doctor, was to put on comfortable slippers. This was noticed by her employer, who said he would not allow it.

As the typist refused to wear her shoes in the office the bank manager told her she had to choose between her post and her slippers. She selected the slippers, and was dismissed. The judge decided to think the matter

See Full Post >>

Queensland State Archives posted a photo:

Fresh Air For Office-Workers

A sedentary office life means, as a rule, insufficient fresh air during the hours of daylight, slackness of the muscles of the frame and especially the abdomen, and frequently eyestrain caused by close work by poor artificial light.

Fresh, pure air can be assured by proper ventilation and office discipline in the way of keeping windows open. In addition, there is a growing tendency towards the adoption in office and shops of some form of control of ventilation in the way of “conditioned air.”

Air conditioning is objectionable to many, because it means sealing all windows, and removes the possibility of arranging the temperature and especially the humidity of the air to suit the individual taste. Most people like to have the management of the windows under their control. It is true that one would become accustomed to sealed windows, and predetermined air, but

See Full Post >>