Australian Volunteer Fire Company and Andrew Torning Ephemera
c1863-1881. Silver gelatin photograph and two letterpress brochures with wood engraving cover illustrations, each annotated in ink in various hands, accompanied with portion of typed letter postmarked “San Francisco, Calif. 8. Jun 16, 1959”, 14.7 x 10cm (photograph), 18 x 10.7cm, 18 x 11.3cm. Creases, slight tear, discolouration and embossing to photograph, foxing, stains, folds and wear to brochures, 1863 edition with duplicate front cover, and missing portions and pages. Title pages read “Constitution and Bye-laws of the Australian Volunteer Fire Company, no. 1. Sydney. F. Smith, Printer, 405, George Street. 1863” and “By-laws and Rules and Regulations of the Royal Alfred Australian Volunteer Fire Company, no. 1. Sydney. Samuel Edward Lees, Printer, 134 Pitt Street, Sydney. 1881.” The 1863 edition of the by-laws is annotated “Superintendent [Brody]”, and the 1881 edition and photograph are annotated “Andrew Torning.” The accompanying letter describes Torning’s involvement in San Francisco Volunteer fire companies in the 1870s. He then apparently brought the first fire engine to Australia, and was a founding member of the Royal Alfred Australian Volunteer Fire Company. In the photograph, he is shown wearing a belt buckle with the text “Royal Alfred AVF Co. 1. Captain.”
Item #CL169-23
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