We chose the pictures in the presentation because the items were used in Australia in the 1900s. They were used to make housework and life easier. By Tim F., Daniel T. and Michael N.

The need for a cleaning device was great in the late 1800's. Up until that time the only way to clean carpets was to take them outside and

beat them and this was only done once a year during the spring clean.

We chose this picture because it shows us what the first Vacuum Cleaners were like and a vacuum cleaner is used a lot in homes now.

Photo circa 1907

Until the start of the 20th century, toasting was carried out by holding the bread on a long fork over an open fire. The first electric toaster was released by the General Electric Company in the United States in 1909. The early toasters did not have a thermostat and the toast was often burnt.

We chose the Toaster because it made breakfast different, the way it is now.

Date Unknown

The Maestrophone table top gramophone designed and manufactured in Sydney from 1900-1920.

We chose this because it was developed in Sydney. And it was a common music playing device.

Date unknown

Phonograph from around 1900 made by Pathe Freres Ltd., used for playing cylindrical records.

We chose the Phonograph because it was the first real media device it played music not in just one sound, it also played voice recording making it the first invention to do so. From its cylindrical records came flat disc on the gramophone then the CD player making it an important invention of the 20th century

Date Unknown

The washing machine was a wine barrel that you filled with water, soap and then put the clothes in shut the lid and turned the handle, it acted a bit like washing machines today with the swirling of the clothes but it wasn’t a machine.

This was chosen because it showed how clothes were washed without electricity

Photo from 1911

One kind is the wall telephone where there is a ear peace that you would pick up and then wind the handle to dial then speak in to the microphone that was connected to the body of the telephone. This then lead on to the home phone that we know today.

Photos from 1911

This is an open view of the wall telephone.

These three types of radiators all work the exactly the same way.

The radiators have gas taps attached to a main in the wall and was burnt by a flame that was hand lit and the heat was radiated by black cylinders.

Pictures from 1911

These were designed to heat water for showers, bathing and tap water, you had 2 options gas and wood.

The wood one was the safest and most popular of the 2 but both of these eventually ended up becoming electric.

Photos form 1911

This used a candle (despite the fact electric light were available) and was adjustable in height and it used silver and nickel-plated reflectors to direct the light.

We chose this because it was a reading light and it wasn’t electric because electricity wasn’t widely available yetPhoto from 1911

The iron is Heated on the stove and then placed on the clothes

The different weights determine how pressed you want them.

Photos form 1911

These simple hand operated machines do the irritating jobs that people didn’t like doing these were:

Apple parers

Cherry stoners

Fruit and jelly press

Peach parer

Raisin seeder Photos form 1911

Here are 5 mincing machines that all work the same put the meat in the top turn the handle and it pops out all chopped up. These were chosen because now we don’t mince up meat at home we buy it at the butchers or shops

Photo form 1911

The most obvious change from the beginning of the 20th century to the end was the ever-increasing use of electricity. At the beginning most machines were either driven by hand or by steam. This was because people did not want complicated machines that they could not repair easily. Eventually people came to care for this less and began using more electrical appliances. The most evident example of this is the computer, which not many people would know how to repair but use non the less.

At the turn of the century many families had servants, still there were many poorer families who did not have servants. For these people the obvious alternative was any sort of machine that would make work easier. This inclined most machines to be as simple as possible so almost everyone could afford them. Today not nearly as many people have servants and people rely heavily upon machines to do work for them compared to machines being an alternative.

One thing that did stay the same was the need for household communication devices. At the beginning of the century telephones and radios had been invented to try and help keep people in touch with each other. Today we have mobile phones, e-mails and television all readily available so we can stay informed.

Around the 1900’s the market for household appliances grew strongly and this is still evident today as appliances are being upgraded from their original designs. The increase in designs shows that people then and now still want a household that is very easy to run.