Australian Outback Canvas Filter Water Bag 'EC Biddulph, Springsure' | ||
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Posted 7 years ago
jearve
(103 items)
Great old Australiana item which I can remember seeing hanging off bullbars at the front of truck and utilities. The wind kept the water cool in the sweltering outback heat. EC Biddolph's I believe was a general store in the town of Springsure Qld
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Love it, NIGEL. MEMORIES !!!!
these work incredibly well! i'm surprised i never see them in use here in the american west.
I have 51 water bags in my collection (including the one above) most hold water and range from the 1930's to 1960's. I only collect Australian items generally pre metric apart from an American water bag I was given as a gift. You would be surprised how many different types and sizes there are, with glass, plastic and porcelain necks and caps, cork stoppers ti screw caps plastic clip caps. Some were designed to hang from the front of cars but most were hand width handles and hung (on trees or hooks) for shearer's farm workers etc. Included in my collection are two rare Verandah bags about 20 litres (5 gallons) in capacity and either a tap or tube to drink from and they were hung under verandahs. There are very few in Museums which is disappointing as they were an integral part of Australian life for so many years. It has taken nearly 12 years to acquire my collection mainly from 2nd hand shops, but also swap meets and occasionally on line.
I thought I would add a bit more information, the tin screw caps on the porcelain necks were often replaced by a cap from the Rosella sauce bottle which fitted well but are no longer made. The bags could be purchased from almost any hardware store but in early days eg 1930's they would also be bought from a hardware catalogue and posted out mainly to country customers. Some bags had a metal clip which slid across the top allowing the bag to open up as well as a pouring neck. At that time bags cost from one shilling and six pence (1/6) to four shillings and threepence (4/3) depending on size (usually 12 to 18). (Modern bags made up to the last few years cost $50 to $55) A metal bracket was also available to attach the bag to and this was fixed to the front or running board of the car to allow the air to cool the water as you travelled.