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Valve covers in High St were surveyed in 2013 & early 2015. The area between Westgarth St in the south and Darebin Road in the north - Thornbury was included. The following suburbs are represented - Westgarth, Northcote & Thornbury.
Initially this study concentrated on Northcote plumbers located in High St. This has now expanded to included any Northcote plumbers. Thanks especially to the good detective work by Owen Genat.
Whilst there were many listed plumbers in Northcote in Sands & McDougall Directories - for example in 1915 there were 9 plumbers listed. There is little evidence of most of Northcote plumber's covers.
Below are the covers identified with Northcote.
Note advertisements button link. (Sadly many not identified with extant covers.)
Many plumbers / gas fitters had at least two styles of covers: H T Morris, W T Forbes & Shaw.
It is interesting to compare two covers - H T Morris (#866) and J Shaw (#978). Both featured a curved Northcote emblem. One the reverse of the other.
W T Forbes is listed at 9 Martin St, Northcote in 1925. By 1930 he has moved to 584 High St, Thornbury til at 1938. The advertisement from 1933 advises that A E Forbes (brother or cousin ? or son) running the business. Three addresses given: 584 High St, 6 Normanby Ave & 40 Darebin Rd. The business must have been quite successful.
John Shaw now has two covers identified. #566 though very worn and old shows curved id both above and below. Sands & McDougall Directories list him trading at 305 High St from at least 1910. By 1938 Shaw's listing is 3 Bastings St. Trading til at least 1965. (Possibly son take over business?)
The advertisement from 1920 shows a well outfitted shop with open truck at an additional address - 443 High St, Thornbury. The motto 'There is nothing in the Trade we cannot do - and do well'. Three covers now listed.
H T Morris traded from various addresses: From at least 1910 to around 1930 he listed at 2 Waterloo Rd, Northcote. Between 1920 and 1925 he has a Heidelberg Rd dress which may have been a shop. From around mid to late 1930s he is listed at 21 Waterloo Rd. Trading there til at least 1955. Three covers listed.
H T Angus was listed at 30 McCracken Ave. Carrying on business for at least forty years - around 1925 to at least 1965. Though maybe son carrying on business?
Northcote cover (#1527) - highly likely City of Northcote. Though no covers have been sighted with the insignia - NCC - Northcote City Council. Northcote was a city council from 1914-1994. Post that date merged with Preston form City of Darebin.
George Cheswass (#2549) has spelling issues. In advertisements (see button below) the spelling is Chess's. Sands & McDougall directories confuses even more with 'Chesswass'. George was actively trading from at least 1915 to 1944/5 from 612 High St, Thornbury. .
4 covers added - Cartledge, Denyer, Edwards & Langley.
Additional covers - #3800 Cartledge, #3805 Denyer, #3806 Edwards, #3821 Langley. Courtesy of Owen Genat.
Further contributions from Owen:
#3808 Stewart & Davies, #3815 Denyer, #3816 Denyer (clearer copy), #3835 Richards, #3841 Shaw (clearer cover), #3853 - Wright, #3865 Edwards, #3866 Holdis, #3829 - Morris (now three versions), #3835 - Richards.
June - #4104, R H Nelson, Plumber added & #4109 - E J Cartledge.
Note: Hover mouse on newer images for id.
Featured Image:
#1000 - Henry J P Dight was active between 1910-1925. In 1910 the business was at 110 High St, Westgarth. By 1915 had moved to 66 High St. The cover is thus near 90 years old.
page updated 30 June 2018