Monday Mural

Joining with Sami and others for Monday Mural. 

This is not really a mural but rather a building name, the building being encased by Brighton Antique Dealer's posh retirement home, although I can't understand how it doesn't show in my photos. It must be set back a bit further. 

My parents banked with ES&A Bank, English, Scottish and Australian Bank. At some point there was a merger and it became known as the ANZ Bank, Australia, New Zealand Bank. I've subsequently banked with the company for all of my adult years. In the 1980s we wanted to change our home loan from a building society to the ANZ. After an interview with a relieving bank manager at our local branch, we were denied the loan. This was wrong as we could clearly service the load repayments.

I wrote to ANZ head office and intimated that we were denied a loan because we were a male couple applying for a loan. That set a cat among pigeons. 

We were invited to meet an area manager at a drive through bank (what were they about?) in Hawthorn, who immediately apologised and approved the loan on the spot. He was a nice down to earth bloke.

So through thick and thin, we've stayed with ANZ Bank. It ceased making money from us for many years ago, but it used to do quite well out of us with mortgage and credit card interest. 

Well, that is more than you needed to know as I post this most unusual building sign. I've never seen a font like this. Have you?

Not Monday Mural

It's just a sign but a very famous neon sign at that.

Pellegrinis is a very well respected and popular coffee bar in Melbourne and opened in 1954 by two Italian immigrants, the Pellegrini brothers. It is said to have had the first Italian style coffee machine in Melbourne. Perhaps. Others claim the same honour. Its neon sign is very old and very much catches eyes when lit at night.

Initially its customers were Italian immigrants but it became part of the exploding Melbourne coffee culture and became very popular with many people.

The business was bought in 1974 by Nino Pangrazio and Sisto Malaspina. Tragically Sisto was stabbed to death out on the street when he intervened after two others were stabbed by as I recall, a man who had serious mental health and drug issues. He was shot dead by police. It was a shocking crime and Sisto was given a State Funeral, which is no small deal for as small business operator.

On the landing of our level is a photo of Pellegrinis interior. It is only meaningful to those who know Pellegrinis. The seats of the stools are red vinyl and it would have been nice if they could been red in the photograph while keeping it as black and white, but still it is a good photo.

Old Signs

Here are some old advertising signs I've recently come across to add to my already large collection. Some old signs I photographed have faded to become illegible, others that were uncovered by a demolition have now disappeared with a new construction  and some that were there for a long time have disappeared with a new construction.

This was a great find. We once had three airlines, our government owned flagship international Qantas, our also government owned domestic (edited) TWA TAA, later renamed Australian Airlines I think, and the privately owned domestic airline Ansett, which went broke in the late 1990s (edited) 2001 post 9/11 after being bought by a New Zealand company, I think.

Exposed by a demolition. Sadly I couldn't see any more.

This one says, United Paper Bag Co. of Australia. Pty Ltd.

I think at the top the sign says, W Rayner Tobacconist, and below, Dainty Maid Custard Powder.

This one is in South Melbourne.

I am not sure if I've photographed this sign before. As far as I know the company is now defunct but it is a bit special for me. 

When my maternal grandparents sold their market garden in Centre Road, South Oakleigh they had substantial amount of money. My father, his brother a plumber and my father's father built them a very nice new house in North Road, South Oakleigh in about 1958. The new house was completed furnished with brand new furniture by Mother. The Axminster carpet came from Malcolm Reid and lasted until my grandparents died, some twenty plus years later. Mother and my grandmother visited Malcom Reid. The furnishings were Mother's choice and she chose very expensive. I think my grandfather must have been presented with a bill, or a cheque was written at the time by my grandmother. What I do know is it was not itemised so my grandfather had no idea what was spent on what, just the total amount.

I know all of the furniture so well. We had the french polished four seat extendable to six Queen Ann reproduction dining table with the gold embossed fabric chairs for years before we went modern. The three piece lounge suite was re-covered by Mother when she took possession and before Mother died, she had chosen a new imported from England fabric to re-cover the suite again. It will soon be delivered back to ABI Brother's place where it has lived since Mother sold her house. The lounge suite will be about 45 years old. 

And here at home the 45 year old mirror from my grandmother's dressing table hangs on our hallway wall. The clips holding it to its original now painted timber frame are original as are the felt pads under the clips.

Thanks for the chills dude

Who invented refrigeration? An Australian of course, one James Harrison. He was Scottish born, a large regional town newspaper owner, The Geelong Advertiser now a Murdoch paper, and a member of Victoria's upper parliamentary house called  the Legislative Council.

I had no knowledge of this and I was surprised when I came across this plaque somewhere in the north in the city. 

You can read more about him here. It isn't too heavy.

Don't we have a lot to thank James for? Now, time for a glass of chilled and crisp sauvignon  blanc. Cheers James.  Set to publish at 5am, so clearly not written at 4.50am.