Brian's exhibition
A selection of Brian and Barbara's old grocery wares and toys was on show in the National Museum's Hall 8−21 January 2007.This slideshow highlights some of Brian's favourite pieces.
Cerix puffed rice box
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Photo: Dean McNicoll.
| Another distinctive piece of advertising now absent from Australian grocery shelves, this box claims puffed rice is 'The Perfect Food for Morning, Noon or Night'.
Cyclops poster
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Photo: Dean McNicoll.
| Brian's collection includes several Cyclops signs and he said this one, while on the smaller end of the scale, was in particularly good condition. 'There's a lot of pedal car collectors on the look out for signs and this one is of a very high calibre.' The sign depicts children playing a game of cowboys with their Cyclops bike, pram, scooter and pedal car. 'Nothing like riding the wide open spaces of childhood's boundless imagination on a Cyclops', the sign reads. 'These famous Australian made toys keep happy youngsters in the fresh air.' 'Cyclops toys remain a never-failing source of fun and pleasure throughout the whole of childhood because CYCLOPS Toys last for years.'
Small red pedal car
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Photo: Dragi Markovic.
| Brian acquired this car from a friend in Wagga, who restored it after finding it in a state of disrepair. Brian's collection includes other pedal cars sourced from Broken Hill in western New South Wales and Yea in Victoria. 'Most of the early ones were made by Cyclops or Peerless', he said.
Billy Tea tin
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Photo: Dragi Markovic.
| Brian said this tin was is in particularly good condition and was one of the most valuable in his collection. 'Billy Tea tins are very common but I was surprised by the condition of this one: it's retained its colour and is free of rust. I just love the extravagant design.' The tin depicts a swagman who meets a travelling kangaroo and says: 'Hello Mate! I always thought you were only a Billy Tea advertisement.' Brian acquired this piece from a woman in Cootamundra, NSW after advertising for old wares in a local newspaper about 20 years ago.
Yoga Tea tin
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Photo: Dragi Markovic.
| Yoga Tea six-pound tin, depicting a Sri-Lankan landscape. Brian's collection includes about 50 tea tins and various other tea packets. 'In the 1930s there were at least 82 major brands of tea in Australia,' Brian said. 'I much prefer the tins because they tend to be more elaborate and colourful.'
Arnott's Sao biscuit tin
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Photo: Dragi Markovic.
| Bearing the distinctive parrot symbol, this 3.5 pound tin of 'Arnott's famous biscuits' is one of many in Brian's collection.
