Title

Engraving, photography etc. [Thomas Ham established in Brisbane.]

Author

The Courier.

Details

The Courier (Brisbane), 14 February 1862, page 2, column 6.

Publication date

14 February 1862

Type

News

Language

English

Country of context

Australia

Full text

ENGRAVING, PHOTOGRAPHY &c., - Seven months ago, it was announced by a contemporary that the services of a lithographic artist from Melbourne bad been secured to produce the first lithograph executed in Queensland, namely a plate of the well known racing mare, Zoe. Little did we imagine that. within a few months from that time, we should have in Brisbane a large establishment, with a first-class staff of artists and workmen employed in the various branches of the engraving and lithographic arts, and superior to any existing private establishment in Australia. Such, however, is the fact, and any of our readers who may pay the establishment of Messrs. Ham and Co., of this city, a visit, will there find a manifest proof of the rapid advancement of the colony. The pile of buildings recently erected in George-street, opposite our offices, by Alderman Stephens, have been erected principally for the special purposes to which they are for the most part applied. Feeling an interest, as we have always done, in every proof of colonial advancement, we paid a visit to the establishment a few days ago, and were extremely gratified. In the front office, we saw piles of plans and maps executed for the Tramway Company, who have, for economical reasons secured Messrs. Ham and Co.'s services. These plans comprise drawings of the bridge over the Bremer, the station at Ipswich, and the longitudinal and other sections of that portion of the line which will be first undertaken. Here also was the beautifully engraved seal of another of our local companies, the Queensland Steam Navigation Company, and impressions from the seals engraved by the firm for the municipalities of Ipswich and Toowoomba, besides a variety of specimens of commercial work in hand for our mercantile houses. The printing-room is replete with: every convenience, and is well lighted and ventilated. Here were being printed the maps of Queensland for the second edition of Pugh's Almanac, the green lines on which map are printed by the process of chromo-lithography. In addition to this work, the copper-plate printing-presses were also busy, and other lithographic presses were engaged with the Tramway plans, the printing of which has been proceeded with, both day and night, Sundays of course excepted, so that the Company will be enabled to call for contracts with a promptitude hitherto unattained in Australia. Ascending to the next storey, we come to the engraving room, where the scrip plate of the Tramway Company was in course of preparation, together with a variety of other work, among which we saw a most elaborate and intricate design for the prevention of forgery, pre- pared for a debenture plate for one of our public companies. On the same floor with the engraving room is the lithographic drawing-room, where the Tramway Company's plans again figured to a most puzzling and bewildering extent for the uninitiated. We next came to the photographic branch, which is ably superintended by Mr. Knight (a partner in the firm of Ham and Co.), whose reputation as an operator and practical chemist stands high in photographic circles in Victoria, In the waiting-room on the first storey are disposed a number of specimens, to which it is the intention of the firm to add most of our Brisbane notables. Ascending another flight of stairs, we come to the operating room, which is arranged in such a complete and efficient manner in every respect, as to render it one of the best photographic rooms in the colonies. Every thing that experience could suggest has been provided, in order to secure uniform and satisfactory results, and Mr. Knight has certainly been most successful not only in the production or correct likenesses, but also in the artistic arrangement and finish of his pictures. That the enterprising firm will meet with the success they so unquestionably merit, we do not for a moment doubt. Already each of the various branches of their multiform business is in full work, and, as it is a credit to the colony to have such an establishment existing hero, we trust that this may always prove to be the case.

[The Courier (Brisbane), 14 February 1862, p.2, col.6.]
 

Last Updated

12 Oct 2020