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The Hills Hoist rotary Clothes Line was invented by Lance Hill , and is a common sight in Australia n and New Zealand backyards. It is considered one of Australia's most recognisable icons, and is used frequently by artists as a metaphor for Suburbia in Australia. The product saves time and effort in drying clothes. FEATURES Features of the Hills Hoist clothesline include the following:
The clothesline solved problems that were emerging in Australian backyards after the war, including:
HISTORY Invented in 1945 in the suburban Melbourne suburb of Murrumbeena by Lance Hill , one might imagine the Hills hoist to have been the only rotary clothes hoist in the world such is its fame in Australia. However, other Australian and American precursors existed at least a decade earlier. The Adelaide ironfounders and blacksmiths company A. C. Harley advertised an ‘Improved Rotary and Tilting Clothes Drying Rack’ in the Sun Foundry Illustrated Catalogue in 1914. A slightly different looking model was offered for sale in America by an American firm, the Hill Dryer Company, and was also advertised for sale in 1914. (Despite its similar name, this American company had no connection with the Australian Hills company.) Another American hoist, holder of US patent 434921 of 26 August 1890, is the earliest known patent for a ‘rotary clothes line’. Australian Lance Hill holds the Australian Patent (215772 lodged 22 March 1956) for the crown and pinion winding mechanism only. Despite this rather minor addition to an existing American design, the jingoism surrounding the Australian company’s version of the hoist is amazing. Harold Ling, who was Hill's brother in-law, assisted Lance in starting the Hills Industries business; Ling had returned from the war and could not readapt to his old job and approached Hill to see if he had a job available. Ling and Hill then became partners in 1946 . Alf Hill, who was Lance Hill's father, provided the startup capital for the business, which has been successful. EXTERNAL LINKS |
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