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Lamp - Handmade, Archibald Gordon Maclaurin, circa 1940s-1950s Reg. No: HT 8340

Summary:: Handmade Lamp, made by Archibald Gordon Maclaurin at home from 'found objects', probably during the 1940s or 1950s. Archie liked to experiment and was a handyman. This lamp is an example of making do at home and Archie's own resourcefulness and inventiveness.

Archie was born in 1904 in Westham London. He trained as a printer and sought work in Australia as there were few opportunities in England; he migrated on the 'Jervis Bay' in 1928. Before migrating he commenced negotiations with the general manager of the Commonwealth Bank Note Printing Branch Fitzroy, who assisted Maclaurin in securing employment at McLaren & Co Pty Ltd Colour Printers in Fitzroy. He then moved to Spicers & Depmont Printers and Stationers before an opening came up for a machinist at the Note Printing Branch, where he worked for 32 years.

He married Constance Duffell in 1934, who had migrated from England on the 'Narkunda' with her parents and brother in 1927. Her father and brother worked for the Note Printing Branch which facilitated their meeting. They had two children, Roger and Jocelyn and lived all their lives in Essendon.
Description:: Cream painted wooden box torch, with metal carry handle, switch and glass lens with metal surround. Back lifts and extra piece of board and folded paper inserted to keep batteries in place. Contains 2 Eveready '9 lives' batteries. Under lends has been screwed a metal Eveready trademark label.
Acquisition Information:: Donation from Mrs Jocelyn Maclaurin, 2004

Discipline:	History
Dimensions:	90 mm (Height), 100 mm (Width)

More information

Tagged with:	immigration, lamps, handcrafts, making do, settlement, british immigration
Themes this item is part of:	Domestic & Community Life Collection, Migration Collection, Transport Collection, Working Life & Trades Collection, Archibald Gordon Maclaurin, English Migrant, 1928
Primary Classification:	ENERGY TECHNOLOGY
Secondary Classification:	Illumination - Electric
Tertiary Classification:	electric torches
Inscriptions:	Metal label: REGD. TRADEMARK/"EVEREADY"/MADE IN ENGLAND
Maker:	Archibald Maclaurin, Essendon North, Victoria, Australia, circa 1940s-1950s
User:	Archibald Maclaurin, Essendon North, Victoria, Australia, circa 1940s-1950s