BLADES & SHEARS NEWSLETTER

General Information / Combs / Cutters / Downtubes / Grinders / Handpieces / Handpiece Tools / Hand Shears / Manufacturers / Overhead Gear / Overhead Gear Electric / Portable Plant / Portable Plant Engine Driven / Portable Plant Hand Powered / Woolpacks / Woolpress / Woolwashers

   Most of the material on this page is provided courtesy of Jim DONALDSON, the editor of the Blades and Shears newsletter. Except where noted otherwise, all material is from Blades and Shears. Dates and volume numbers included where known.
    This newsletter is a compendium of advertising and articles on the sheep industry in general and shearing in particular.
    The newsletter is no longer published.

GENERAL SHEARING INFORMATION

BACKGROUND

• Records of a shed at "Springfield", NSW. 1870 [1 page]
• Article. 'The wool traffic on the New South Wales Railways'. [The Sydney Mail, 30 January 1886] [1 page]
• 'Some Notes on Ensay Station 1870 - 1909' by Lyle RUDDELL. 200? [3 pages]
• 'The Use of Newspaper Advertisements and Company Catalogues as Helpful Tools to Determine the Dates of our Sheep Shearing Gear'. 200? [1 page]
• 'Some Additional Sheep Shearing Terms and Phrases'. [Vol.2 No.2][2 pages]
• Article. 'More wonderful materials on the relationship between shearers and bicycles'. [Vol.2.No.24] [2 pages]

BOOK REVIEWS

• 'The Great Days of Wool 1820 - 1900' by Joan PALMER & David SYMES. [1 page]

BRANDING

• 'Some Additional Notes on the Fire-Branding of Sheep (including extract from Inverness Shire book)' by Jim COOK. [3 pages]
• 'Sheep Branding with Tar' by Lyle RUDDELL. [Vol.2 No.2] [1 page]

EAR MARKING

• '"Bit Marks", "Smit Marks", or "Lug Marks". 18?? [2 pages]
• Illustrated earmarks. 1810. [1 page]
• Illustration of Welsh earmarks hand drawn by William JONES. 1868. [1 page]
• Notice of Meeting of the 'Farmers Protection Association'. 25 March 1868. [1 page]
• Owners ear and brand marks from Westmoreland in 'Gates Shepherds Guide', pp. 340 - 341. 1879
• 'The Grazier' by Lana. [The Sydney Mail, 27 October 1900] [1 page]
• 'Some Additional Illustrations of Earmarks' by Jim COOK. 200? [1 page]

MISCELLANEOUS EQUIPMENT

• Advert. Wet sheep indicator. [The Pastoral Review, 15 May 1909] [1 page]
• Advert. Lamb marking knives and clamps. [The Pastoral Review, 16 June 1914 p.31]
• 'Glass needle lubricators' by Lyle RUDDELL. 200?[2 pages]
• Sheep shearing stool. [No.9, August 2003] [1 page]
• Castration clamps etc. [No.9, August 2003] [1 page]
• Advert. Kleanflok Dipping Bath. [1 page]

SHEARERS CONDITIONS

• Certificate of discharge from Ensay Station. [1 page]
• Certificate of competency. ['The Pastoral Co-Operative Sheep Shearing Company of Australia'. 1912. [1 page]
• Shearing pen application from Murrey River Station. 1914. [1 page]
• Rations. Application for tobacco for shearers ca.WWII. [1 page]

WOOL WASHING

• 'The washing and sheep shearing process in the 1840's'. [Vol.2 No.2] [3 pages]
• 'More thoughts on sheep washing'. [Vol.2 No.2] [2 pages]

BLADES AND SHEARS MAGAZINE Editorial pages

• Index to Volume 1 No's 6 - 11. [2 pages]
• Vol.1. Nos. 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16.
• Vol.2. Nos. 1, 2, 3, 4, 9, 15, 20, 21, 22, 24.

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SHEARING EQUIPMENT MANUFACTURERS -GENERAL INFORMATION

BARTON - GILLETTE HORSE CLIPPING AND SHEEP SHEARING Co. Ltd.

• Article. [The Sydney Mail, 15 September 1900] [1 page]

BURGON & BALL LTD

• Advert. ca.1902. [1 page]
• Advert. '250 Years of 'Sound' Progress'. 1980. [1 page]

CHICAGO FLEXIBLE SHAFT Co.

• Advert. [American Sheep Breeder, Jan 1898, p.324]
• Advert. [American Sheep Breeder, March 1898] [page 399]
• Advert. [American Sheep Breeder, April 1912] [1 page]
• Advert. [American Sheep Breeder, June 1914, p.347]
• Advert. ca.1927. [Catalogue, pp.16 - 17]
• 1937. [Catalogue No.137] [2 pages]

COOPER BUTTON HOLE BADGES

• Article. [Vol 1. No.10.] [1 page]

COOPER ENGINEERING Co.

• Advert. ca.1912. [Cooper Shearing Machinery, p.20]
• Advert. [The Pastoral Review, 16 June 1914, p.2]

COOPER SHEEP SHEARING MACHINE PROP. LTD.

• Advert. [The Pastoralists' Review, 16 December 1907, p.86]

GILLETTE CLIPPING MACHINE Co.

• Advert. [American Sheep Breeder, January 1899, p.325]

LISTER

• 'Record of the development of Lister shearing gear in Australia 1909-1965.' [1 page]
• Advert. [The Pastoral Review, 26 April 1919, p.24]
• Advert. [The Western Mail, 24 July 1941]

MARTIN

• Adverts. Wizard and Standard. [Unknown source p.143]

WOLSELEY SHEEP SHEARING MACHINE Co. Ltd.

• Advert. [The Sheep breeder and Wool-Grower, 15 June 1890, p.245]
• Illustration of the early Southern Cross symbol used by the company. [Vol.1.No.8.] [1 page]
• Article. 'The Prairie Farmer; Some additional materials on the development of the Wolseley Company in the U.S.A.'. [1 page]

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COMBS

• Article. 'A note on wide combs' [Vol.2.No.20] [1 page]
• Article. 'New Zealand cover combs : some shearing experiments'. [Vol.2.No.24] [1 page]

COOPER PATENTED BENT TOOTH COMB

• Advert. [The Pastoral Review, 16 April 1921, p.1]

COOPER TRIUMPH (thin)

• Illustration from a Cooper book. 1941-42. [1 page]

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CUTTERS

COOPER CUTMASTER

• Illustration. Flat pack packet. [1 page]

COOPER EB

• Illustration. Flat pack packet. [1 page]

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DOWNTUBE

• Notes. 'Short tube extensions' - by - Lyle RUDDELL. [Vol.1.No.7.] [1 page]

FALKINER, Ralph

• Patent drawings etc. 16 May 1908. [3 pages]

R.A. LISTER, & Co.

• Brochure. A new and important safety factor in shearing. Lister safety clutch. [4 pages]

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GRINDERS

BURGON SHEEP SHEARING MACHINE COMPANY

• STANDARD PATTERN DOUBLE ENDED. Parts diagram. [Vol.2.No.1. p.8] [1 page]
• STEWART - Hand operated grinding machine. Patent drawing. 21 Feb. 1905. [1 page]

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HANDPIECES

• 'Type 5 forks with a lever'. [1 page]
• Early handpiece forks. [Vol.1.No.7.] [1 page]
• Article. Possible EB handpiece. [Vol.2.No.3.] [1 page]
• Unidentified handpiece drawing. [Vol.2.No.3.] [1 page]
• Picture of various early air powered handpieces. [Vol.2.No.20] [1 page]

ASHBURY - BARNES

• 'Notes on the 1890/1 handpiece and patent information. [Vol.2.No.4.] [1 page]

AUSTRALIAN SHEARER COMPANY

• Advert. Australian compressed air shearer. Illustrated. [1 page]

BARQUAND

• Patent application No. 5689. 1 Feb 1888. [Vol.2 No.2] [2 pages]

BARTON - GILLETTE

• Illustrations of handpieces. [Vol.1.No.8.p.2]
• 'Detail of Barton - Gillette Drive Spindle.' [Vol.1.No.8.] [1 page]

BARTON - GILLETTE TRIPLE - TOOTH SHEAR

• Advert. [1 page]
• Advert. [The Pastoral Review, 15 April 1914. p.5]
• Advert. [The Pastoral Review, 16 January 1915, p.48]

BURGON, Charles

• Patent Drawings. [17 February 1890] [1 page]

BURGON, Frederic

• Patent drawings etc. [27 August 1898] [4 pages]

BURGON & BALL

• Article. The Burgon Sheep Shearing Machine. [New Zealand Farmer, 1891] [1 page]
• Patent drawings etc. [8 May 1891] [1 page]
• Article. [Poverty Bay Herald, 17 December 1891] [1 page]
• Patent drawings. [16 March 1892] [1 page]

BURGON & WILKINSON

• Illustrations. 'A look at a rare Burgon - Wilkinson shearing handpiece'. [1 page]
• Illustrations. 'More on the rare Wilkinson Shearing handpiece.' [1 page]

BURGON SHEEP SHEARING MACHINE Co.

• Advert. [The Pastoralists Review, 15 Jan 1907, p.23]
• Advert. [The Pastoralists' Review, 15 May, 1907, p. 23]
• Advert. 1898 MODEL. [The Australasian Pastoralists' Review, 15 November 1898, p.459]
• Advert. DAISY. [The Pastoralist's Review, 15 August 1901] [1 page]
• Advert. DAISY. [The Pastoralist's Review, 15 January 1902, p.798]
• Advert. DAISY. [The Pastoralist's Review, 16 June 1903, p.273]
• Parts Diagram. WOLSELEY PATTERN. [Vol.2.No.1] [1 page]

CHICAGO FLEXIBLE SHAFT Co.

• Article. 'Putting the Stewart No. 4 handpiece into perspective' by Ron WILEY. [Vol.2.No.3.] [1 page]
• Article. 'The Stewart Cooper Development of the Handpiece.' {Vol.1.No.11.] [1 page]
• USA Patent 1,727,330. [10 September 1929] [3 pages]
• No.7. [Catalogue 1928, p.25.]
• STEWART E-B. [Catalogue 1928, p.25.]
• STEWART GREYHOUND. [Catalogue 1928, p.24.]
• STEWART No.4. [Chicago Flexible Shaft Catalogue 1906, p.31.]
• STEWART SHEAR. Advert. [The Pastoralists' Review, 16 June 1904, p.34.]
• STEWART SHEAR. Advert. [Unknown source, 19 July 1905, p.140.]

COOPER ENGINEERING CO.

• COOPER AIR COOLED. From Murrey River Station to Cooper. [10 August 1914.] [1 page]
• COOPER AIR COOLED. Advert. [The Pastoral Review, 16 February 1915, p.2]
• COOPER E-B. [No 8] [1 page]
• COOPER E-B. Instruction book. 'Instructions for the use and care of Cooper E-B Handpiece.' [6 pages]
• COOPER SHEEP-SHEARING MACHINE. [The Pastoralists' Review, 16 July 1904, p.34]
• STEWART CLIPPING HEAD. [Vol.2.No.3][page 3]

COOPER SHEEP SHEARING MACHINE CO. CHICAGO

• COOPER STANDARD. [Catalogue 1915, p.15]
• STEWART No.4. [Cooper Sheep Shearing Machinery Agency - Auckland, March 1907.][1 page]

FORD, Michael

• Article & Notes. FORD's Compressed Air Shearer. [The Australasian Pastoralist's Review, November 1898] [2 pages]

HIGHAM, James Andrew Bolton

• Patent. 2 March 1868 [1 page]
• Notes on. by Lyle RUDDELL. [Vol.2.No.9] [1 page]

HOWARD, John

• March 2004. [2 pages]

HOWARD - GEDDES

• March 2004. [2 pages]

INVICTA

• Patent. 12 March 1890. [1 page]

LISTER

• No. 3. Advert. [The Pastoralists' Review, 15 July 1909, p.26]
• BLACK TALLYGRIP. 1980. [Brochure, pp.2 - 5, & 8 - 11]
• BLACK TALLYGRIP. Notes. February 2004.
• GOLDEN LISTER. Notes by Eldred JOHNSTONE. 2004. [1 page]
• S. Advert. [Catalogue ca.1920] [1 page]
• TALLYGRIP. Advert. Includes shearing tips from Godfrey BOWEN. Ca 1954. [3 pages]

MARTIN, JAMES & Co.

• MARTIN'S COMPRESSED COLD AIR SHEEP SHEARING MACHINE. Advert. [The Australasian Pastoralists Review, 15 November 1898, p.x]

MARTIN, T. A.

• Patent drawings. 10 March 1903. [1 page]
• Patent drawings. 29 October 1907. [1 page]
• Patent drawings. 24 December 1907. [1 page]

MOFFAT - VIRTUE

• MOFFAT VIRTUE SHEEP SHEARING MACHINE. Advert. [The Pastoralists' Review, 15 July 1901, p.296]
• NEW MODEL SHEEP SHEARING MACHINE. Advert. [The Pastoralists' Review, 15 January 1907, p.26]

NEWALL ENGINEERING Co.

• SMOKO. Advert. [The Pastoralists' Review, 16 September 1901, p.480]

PARKE ROTARY SHEARS AUSTRALIA Ltd.

• 'The Parke Rota-Shear - have we come to the end of the shearing'. March 2004. [5 pages]

RYLEY, William

• 1887. [1 page]

SUNBEAM CORPORATION Ltd

• EB SPECIAL. Parts diagram. [1 page]

UNAIPON, David

• [No.9] August 2003 [1 page]

UNASSIGNED STEWART

• E-B Parts diagram. [1 page]
• Catalogue. Stewart Ball bearing No. 7, No. 4 & No. 4. [page 28 - 29]
• Stewart E-B Parts Diagram

WARD & PAYNE

• Article.'The "Argentina" Sheep Shearing Handpiece.'by Lyle Ruddell. [Vol.1. No.18.] [1 page]

WOLSELEY ENGINEERING Ltd.

• Patent application. 1891 [1 page]
• Article. [Town & Country Journal, 15 April 1893] [1 page]
• [The Pastoralists' Review, 15 August 1901, p.XXIV]
• Article. Forks by Lyle RUDDELL. [Vol.1.No.7.] [1 page]
• Article by Jim COOK. [Vol.1.No.10.] [page 2]
• Advert. CLIPVAC. [1 page]
• Advert. No.3. [The Pastoralists' Review, 15 January 1902, p.XXIV]
• Advert. No.3. [The Pastoralists' Review, 16 November 1908, p.28]
• Advert. No.3. [The Pastoral Review, 15 April 1916][1 page]
• Advert. No.3. [The Land, 31 July 1925] [1 page]
• No.3. [Sydney Mail, 4 April 1930] [1 page]
• Article. 'The 1912 Wolseley - No 3 Shearing Handpiece - No 23308 A Vital Clue to an Accurate Dating'.[Vol.1.No.10.] [2 pages]
• Article. No.3. [Vol.2.No.1] [4 pages]
• Article. 'More Queries on Wolseley No.3. [Vol.2.No.4] [1 page]
• Notes. No.3. March 2004 [1 page]
• No.4. Parts diagram. [1 page]
• Article. 'The Wolseley No 4 - The discussion continues.' [Vol.1.No.8.]
• Article. 'Taking a closer look at the No.4 Wolseley handpiece forks.' [Vol.1.No.8.]
• No.5. Notes. March 2004. [1 page]
• No.5. Notes. [Vol.2.No.9]

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HANDPIECE TOOLS

• Article requesting help to identify two screwdrivers. [Vol.2.No.24.] [1 page]
• Article on WOLSELEY tools by Eldred JOHNSTONE. [Vol.1. No. 8.] [1 page]

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HAND SHEARS

• Article. A pair of French sheep shears: a souvenir of rural life. [Vol.1.No.24.] [1 page]
• Article. [The Australasion Ironmonger, August 1887] [2 pages]

BAKER, W. Jno

• Advert. THUMB GUARD SHEARS. [The Pastoralists Review 15 April 1914, p.43]

BURGON & BALL

• Notes & illustration. [No.9. August 2003] [1 page]

BURGON & WILKINSON, Ltd.

• GIDGEE. Advert 1897. [1 page]

BURGON, H. PATENT SHEAR Co.

• Advert. DETACHABLE BLADE SHEEP SHEAR. [The Pastoralists' Review, 16 October 1903, p.3]

WARD & PAYNE

• [pp. 339, 342 - 343]

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OVERHEAD GEAR

BARIQUAND

• Historic article. [1 page]

BARTON - GILLETTE

• Illustration. MODEL C BELT DRIVEN POWER BRACKET. [Company catalogue 1910] [1 page]

BURGON SHEEP SHEARING MACHINES

• Burgon Cog Joint shafts. [Parts Diagrams Downtubes and Straight and Angle pattern overhead gear, p.3]
• ANGLE PATTERN. [Parts Diagrams Downtubes and Straight and Angle pattern overhead gear, pp.1-3]
• STRAIGHT PATTERN. [Parts Diagrams Downtubes and Straight and Angle pattern overhead gear, pp.1-3]

COOPER ENGINEERING CO.

• Advert. Silent Belt Driven Gear. [The Pastoral Review, 15 May 1914, p.3]
• Advert. Silent Belt Driven Gear. [The Pastoral Review, 16 July 1914, p.3]

FALKINER ELECTRIC COMPANY

• Advert. TUBULAR SHEARING PLANT. [The Pastoral Review, 16 December 1916, p.31]

LISTER

• Advert. [Dangar Gedye catalogue pre 1836] [1 page]
• Advert. SUPER DUPLEX. [The Countryman, 15 September 1949, p.17]

NEWALL ENGINEERING Co.

• Advert. SMOKO. [The Pastoralists' Review, 15 February 1902, p.715]

WARD & PAYNE

• Article. Belt drive - bevel gear. [The Implement and Machinery Review, 1 March 1891, p.13947]
• Article. ARGENTINA. [The Implement and Machinery Review 1896, p.16709]

WOLESLEY

• Article. Extract from Melbourne Argus 30 January 1889 [2 pages]
• Article. Sheep shearing demonstration and notes on Wolesley Sheep Shearing Machine. 1889. [1 page]
• Advert. [The Pastoralists' Review, 15 February 1902, p.XXIV]
• From 'Welch Perrin & Co' to Savernake Station re equipping shed. 12 August 1912. [4 pages]

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OVERHEAD GEAR - ELECTRIC

FALKINER - BOLL PATENT ELECTRIC SHEARING MACINE Co.

• Patent drawings. 14 January 1908. [3 pages]
• Advert. [The Pastoralists' Review, 15 July 1909, p.24]
• Advert. [The Pastoralists' Review, 15 December 1909] [1 page]

FALKINER ELECTRIC CO.

• Advert. [The Pastoral Review, 16 July 1915, p.31]

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PORTABLE PLANT

COOPER ENGINEERING Co.

• Advert. [The Pastoral Review, 16 June 1914, p.3]

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PORTABLE PLANT - ENGINE DRIVEN

BARTON - GILLETTE

• Advert. [The Pastoral Review, 16 June 1914, p.31]

BURGON

• Advert. 2 stand. [The Pastoral Review, 16 October 1923, p.7]

COOPER ENGINEERING CO.

• Advert. COOPER IMPROVED 4 STAND. [The Pastoral Review, 16 January 1915, p.3]
• Advert. COOPER 2 STAND PORTABLE SHEARING PLANT. [The Pastoral Review, 16 October 1917, p.1]
• Advert. IDEAL. [Western Mail, 12 June 1941]
• Advert. LITTLE MAJOR [The Pastoral Review, 16 July 191?, p.2]
• Advert. LITTLE WONDER. [The Pastoral Review, 15 May 1914, p.2]
• Advert. LITTLE WONDER. [The Pastoral Review, 16 September 1914, p.2]

FALKINER - BOLL PATENT ELECTRIC SHEARING MACHINE Co.

• [The Pastoralists' Review, 15 December 1910, p.28]
• 4 STAND PORTABLE SHEARING PLANT. [The Pastoralists' Review, 15 March 1910, p.26]

LISTER

• [The Pastoral Review, 15 December 1917, p.26]
• Advert. 2 STAND PORTABLE CRUTCHING PLANT. [Dangar Gedye catalogue pre 1936] [1 page]
• Advert. 3 STAND PORTABLE CRUTCHING PLANT. [The Pastoral Review 15 July 1914, p.32]
• Advert. 3 STAND PORTABLE CRUTCHING PLANT. [Dangar Gedye catalogue pre 1936] [1 page]

MOFFAT - VIRTUE

• Advert. BALL - BEARING PORTABLE SHEARING PLANT. [Western Mail, 24 July 1941, p.66]

MUNRO, George

• KANGAROO. [No.8. July 2003] [1 page]

RONALDSON - TIPPETT

• Advert. [Western Mail, 26 June 1941]
• The Ronaldson - Tippett Type "B" & "F" shearing machines directions for use. [2 pages]

STEWART

• Patent for the jointed shaft of the LITTLE WONDER. 20 March 1906. [1 page]
• Patent. 24 July 1906. [1 page]

WOLESLEY

• Advert. 2 STAND CRUTCHING MACHINE 3 1/2 H.P. [The Pastoral Review, 16 January 191?]

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PORTABLE PLANT - HAND POWERED

BROWN, C. & SONS

• Advert with detailed illustrations. EMPIRE PATENT POWER SHEEP SHEARING MACHINE No. 4. [Unknown source p.4]
• Notes and illustration. [1 page]
• EMPIRE FLAT BAND TWIN SHEARER MODEL No. 6. [Company catalogue 1910, p.4]

CHICAGO FLEXIBLE SHAFT CO

• 1902 CHICAGO CLIPPER. [Catalogue 1906, p.32]
• STEWART BALL BEARING MACHINE. [The Pastoral Review, 15 April 1914, p.2]
• STEWART No.6. [Stewart catalogue ca.1915, p.7]
• STEWART No.66. [Stewart catalogue ca.1915, p.7]

COOPER SHEEP SHEARING MACHINE Pty Ltd

• COOPER HAND - POWER SHEARING MACHINE. [The Pastoralists' Review, 15 Mat 1909]
• STEWART NEW MODEL SHEEP SHEARING MACHINE. [Catalogue 1915, p.23]

DAKOTA

• Advert. Dakota Horse Clipper. [Sears & Roebuck 1906, p. 245]
• Advert. Montana Sheep Shearing. [Sears & Roebuck 1906, p. 245]

MARTIN

• Advert. Wizard & Martin Standard Horse Clippers. [Sears & Roebuck 1908] [1 page]

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WOOLPACK & BAG SINGER

DONALD & SONS

• Advert. [The Pastoralists' Review, 15 May 1909]

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WOOLPRESS

DONALDS

• Advert. AJAX. [Western Mail, 1 May 1941] [1 page]
• Advert. No. 1 & 2. [The Pastoral Review, 15 April 1914, p.43]

HARRIS, GEO P. SCARFE & Co Ltd

• Advert. ADELAIDE PATENT LEVER. [The Pastoralists' Review, 16 October 1903, p.3]
• Advert. ADELAIDE PATENT LEVER. [The Pastoral Review, 16 January 1915, p.48]

HUMBLE & SONS

• Advert. FERRIERS. [The Pastoral Review, 16 June 1914, p.28]

KOERSTZ, C.

• Advert. [The Pastoralists' Review, 15 July 1901 p.IV]
• Advert. [The Pastoralists' Review, 15 May 1909, p.38]

RITCHIE Bros.

• Advert. [The Pastoralists' Review, 15 February 1909] [1 page]
• Advert. IXL WOOLPRESS. [The Pastoralists' Review, 15 July 1901] [1 page]

ROBINSON, T. & Co. Pty Ltd

• Advert. ROBINSON - FERRIER. [The Pastoralists' Review, 15 July 1901] [1 page]

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WOOLWASHERS

HALL Bros & Co

• Advert. Dag crusher and wool teaser.[The Pastoralists' Review, 15 Dec 1908, p.36]

McNAUGHT, John & Wm.

• Advert. [The Pastoral Review, 16 Feb 1916, p.7]

WILLIAMS PATENT SELF ACTING WOOL - WASHER

• Advert.[The Pastoralists' Review, 1899, p.7]

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