The museum's plastics collection began in the 1930s with the acquisition of specimens of plastic raw materials and finished products. The collection was driven largely by Arthur de Ramon Penfold (1890-1980), a former industrial chemist, who worked as curator and later director of the museum from 1927 until 1955.

Between 26 and 28 of September 1934, Sydney Technical College's Chemical Society and the Sydney Technological Museum collaborated to develop what was advocated as the first Plastics Industry Exhibition in Australia. A permanent display of plastics was established at the museum, and was described by the Sunday Telegraph as 'the best display of plastics and fibres in the world ... show(ing) the complete history of plastics from first experiments to the latest developments' (Sunday Telegraph, 1945).

The exhibition label for these objects states that they are: 'Samples of the first plastic articles to be moulded in Sydney.' Though it could be disputed that Nally were the first to mould plastic articles in Sydney, they were pioneers in this industry. These objects document the range of applications of moulded plastics.

These objects are part of a large collection of plastics and plastic moulding powders acquired by the museum during Arthur Penfold's career. The collection gives insight into a period of great social, material, technological and scientific development, along with some of the aims and collecting practices of the museum at the time.

REFERENCES:

A. Penfold, News Bulletin of the Sydney Technological Museum, No. 6, September, 1941, p.4.
A. S. Harrison, 'The Plastics Industry in Australia', Australasian Manufacturer, August 30, 1944.
K. Fahey, 'An Island of Plastics': Australian Plastics Processing in the 1980s, The Editors Desk Pty Ltd, Melbourne, 1989.

Rachel Dowling / Erika Dicker
Assistant Curators, May 2008.

The objects were acquired in 1934. They were made using phenol formaldehyde moulding powders.

Acquired by a former Director, A R Penfold, for display in the plastics exhibition area of the Harris Street museum building.

Nally Pty Ltd made these objects. Les Dalton writes that, 'Nally products was born in 1923 when Nat Fienberg and Wally Wakeham imported 'Condensite' to make more reliable timers for the T-Model Ford.' Nally soon began moulding other items including the popular and bright range of kitchen wares. They were pioneers in the Australian plastics industry. Kevin Fahey wrote that they claimed several firsts: '... including being the first Australian company to install a "60 ounce" injection moulding machine ...'

All or some of these objects were displayed in an early 1940s plastics exhibition. One of their exhibition labels read:

'NALLY WARE
Samples of the first
Plastic articles to be
moulded in Sydney'

It could be disputed that Nally were the first to make moulded articles in Sydney. Kelvin Fahey writes that: 'The first Sydney moulding operation was most probably that owned and operated by Dalton Ltd.'

Nally Limited donated these moulded plastics to the Museum in 1934.

REFERENCES:

A. S. Harrison, 'The Plastics Industry in Australia', Australasian Manufacturer, August 30, 1944.
K. Fahey, 'An Island of Plastics': Australian Plastics Processing in the 1980s, The Editors Desk Pty Ltd, Melbourne, 1989.
L. Dalton, 'Australian Plastics Industry - the early days by Les Dalton (Part 1)', The PIMA Press, Volume 7 Issue 4 April 2005, p.3, available at http://www.pima.asn.au/newsletter.asp, accessed 22/02/08.

Collection of 'Nally Ware' household utensils, moulded phenol formaldehyde, made by Nally Ltd, Sydney, New South Wales, Australia, 1934

A collection of household utensils made from moulded phenol-formaldhyde synthetic resin. All with a high gloss, marbled Bakelite finish.

Designed: Nally Ltd; Glebe, New South Wales

Made: Nally Ltd; Glebe, New South Wales; 1934


Used: Museum of Applied Arts and Sciences; Sydney

See Parts

H3743A