Hume Pipe Company, 1920-83

Component identifier:

Series 6

Content Summary:

The Hume Pipe Company (formerly Hume Bros and the Hume Bros Cement Iron Pty Ltd) was established in 1892 by W.R. and E.J. Hume. From the 1920s the Company specialised in the manufacture of steel and concrete pipes used for drainage, sewerage, irrigation and water supply. Pearce joined the Company in 1919 and in 1920 was put in charge of the Launceston factory. In 1922 he was the Foreman at the Hobart factory and in 1923 moved to Brisbane to start the S F pipe factory. From 1924-38 Pearce worked in New Zealand erecting, moving and reopening factories, installing plants, pipe laying, pipeline maintenance, reporting on difficulties and other tasks. In 1939 he returned to Melbourne where he requested to be relieved of his administrative duties and worked principally as a reinforcement maker.

The series comprises four letter books, 1931-38 containing letters written by Pearce in New Zealand to the Company Manager, NSW; notes and report on the operation of a continuous reinforcement machine, 1952-64; notebook, 1920-36; correspondence, cuttings, photographs, printed matter and other papers, 1926-83 (5 files + 4 volumes)

Immediate source of acquisition:

This collection is an amalgamation of material previously held at MS 2765, MS 6248, MS 1657, MS 1737, MS 1528 and MS 2563. The earlier components of the collection were received from Harry Hastings Pearce in seven instalments between 1965 and 1983. Pearce's library, comprising over 14,000 books, serials, pamphlets and manuscripts, was transferred to the Library in two instalments in 1984 and one in 1985 and has been held together as a collection. The manuscript component was separated from the published materials and transferred to the Manuscript Collection in 1986 and 1987. Loose cuttings were discarded from the collection.

Names:

Harry Pearce

Contents

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