Arthur Paradise Ford lantern slides of New South Wales lighthouses, ca.1897-1930

SLIDES 221

fonds

ca.1897-1930

Graphic Materials, Photographs

913675

5 boxes (50 slides) - lantern

Arthur Paradise Ford was born on 29 August 1865 in Nupend, Horsley, Gloucestershire, England. He was apprenticed as fitter with James Platt, James & John Fielding, engineers of the Atlas Ironworks, Gloucester, in 1882 and emigrated to Australia in 1886. In 1887 he was employed as an engineer with the firm Ryland & Morse building the first Hawkesbury River Railway Bridge and later worked for the Mildura Engineering Works, Mildura Irrigation Co. Ltd. and on steamers of the Murray River Steam Navigation Coy. Ltd. He returned to Sydney in 1895 and secured a position at Fitzroy Dock, Cockatoo Island, and in 1897 was transferred to the Government Architect’s Branch, Public Works Department as Lighthouse Mechanician. In 1904 he became Lighthouse Mechanic and Inspector to the New South Wales Navigation Department. With the transfer of control of lighthouses to the Commonwealth in 1913-14, he was given the rank of Assistant District Officer. He retired from the Lighthouse Service in 1930 after 33 years' service. During this time he had erected optical apparatus and lanterns at Cape Byron and Norah Head Lighthouses and invented the Smith-Ford incandescent kerosene vapour burner in partnership with Mr Joseph Smith of Young, NSW. He originated the use of Morse light signalling on light stations and designed the electric signalling lamps used. Arthur Paradise Ford died in March 1947. -- Source: Memories of Arthur Paradise Ford 1965-1947 and Marian Ford 1867-1946 / narrated by their children Margery and Arthur Rex, 1975 (MLMSS 3855 ADD-ON 1419)

The donor, Mr Arthur Rex Ford, was the son of Arthur Paradise Ford.

BOX 1
Twofold Bay to Barrenjoey on lid; label inside box inscribed Green Cape-Point Perpendicular incl. Crookhaven (Greenwell Point) (10 slides)

Montague Island L.H. (2)
Point Perpendicular L.H.
Point Perpendicular lantern [reproduction of printed plan entitled ‘Jervis Bay Lighthouse New South Wales]
Crookhaven L.H.
Green Cape [lighthouse and quarters] (3)
Twofold Bay L.H. (2)

BOX 2
Label inside box inscribed Warden Head L.H. (Ulladulla) to Barrenjoey (9 slides)

Warden Head L.H. (Ulladulla)
Kiama L.H.
Wollongong L. House
Wollongong [distant view]
Macquarie L.H. Sydney
Hornby L.H. Sydney (2)
Barrenjoey L.H. [man and child in one view] (2)

BOX 3
Norah Head to Smoky Cape on lid and on label inside box (10 slides)

Norah Hd L.H.
Newcastle Breakwater [wooden belltower]
Nobbys Newcastle
Point Stephens L.H. and quarters (3)
Seal Rocks Light House (2)
Crowdy Head L.H. [cracked]
Smoky Cape L.H.

BOX 4
Smoky Cape to Fingal Head on lid, South Solitary Lighthouse to Fingal Head on label inside box (10 slides)

Smoky Cape L.H.
S. Solitary I. Lighthouse
Clarence Riv. L.H. (2)
Cape Byron L.H.
Fingal Head [lighthouse]
S. F. [?] burner [pair of boilers connected to light?]
Group Fl. Optic (Chance) [reproduction from printed book of photographic detail of light]
Flashes on mercury [reproduction of diagrams from book]
Flashes on Rollers [reproduction of diagrams from book. Slide cracked]

BOX 5
“Burke [i.e. Bourke] & Darling River, French Island lighthouses” on lid, “Various, “De Burgh” bridge, Lane Cover R.” on label inside box (11 slides)

[6 reproductions of views of lighthouses:]
Roches Douvres L.H., Cordouan L.H. (1600), Cordouan L.H. (1896), Ile Amadee, Noumea [lighthouse], Penmarch (Phare d’Eckmann?], Solo L.H. Fiji.
Photographs:
Bourke. Steamers on Darling R.
Lock & weir, Bourke
Darling R. Weir, Bourke
Darling Riv. Bridge, Bourke
“De Burgh” Bridge, Lane Cove River

Out of copyright: Created before 1955
Please acknowledge:: Mitchell Library, State Library of New South Wales

Forms part of Memories of Arthur Paradise Ford 1965-1947 and Marian Ford 1867-1946 / narrated by their children Margery and Arthur Rex, 1975 (MLMSS 3855 ADD-ON 1419).

Though the authorship of the slides is not explicitly stated on the slides or on ML file, the donor, Mr A. R. Ford presented them as relating to his father's career with the lighthouse service (note on ML file). The Field Librarian noted that Mr Ford had never viewed the slides when he donated them to the Mitchell Library in July 1981. A viewing was arranged for Mr Ford and his sisters in August 1981. This would suggest that all the slides were by Arthur Paradise Ford and not by the donor, Arthur Rex Ford.

Dated from Ford's period of service with the lighthouse service. Burke Weir was built in 1897 and de Burghs bridge in 1899 (Box 5).