Australian Automobiles - The Ivan Hoffmann Collection

This web-site presents the Ivan Hoffmann Collection of research materials about Australian Automobiles - clippings, brochures, diagrams, photos, articles etc., from early days until more recent. It qualifies as Australian if one or more components - body/engine/chassis were either prototype, designed, built, assembled, manufactured or made for use, only in Australia, (we also adopted a few New Zealand cars as Australian!). THIS SITE IS UNDER CONSTRUCTION - SO COME AGAIN SOON.

Friday, May 17, 2024

Furphy

OK, Furphy is a water cart and it's NOT motorised, but it is a good Australian story, so it has been included!

Furphy was made by John Furphy of Shepparton, Victoria about 1880 and also used in World War 1 for water cartage. (Telling a "furphy" relates to the talk/gossip that took place around the water carts.) The slogans on the on the tanks help to date them, prior to 1980 it was "Furphy"; post 1890 versions added "Made by John Furphy of Shepparton"; post 1895 versions added "Good, Better, Best, Never let it rest Till your good is better - and your better, Best"; in 1910 versions added (in Pitman shorthand) "Water is the gift of God but beer and whisky are concoctions of the devil - come and have a drink of water".

Also part of the Ivan Hoffmann Collection, but not appearing here are copies of articles; photos.

Also see Furphy Foundry