City of Armadale - History House > Records

BRANDING TOOL - LIVESTOCK LANOLINE BASED EMULSION

c. 1953
Overview

Aluminium tool, remains of a white coating. Tool features a rectangle frame that is bolted to a handle that hits into the frame. Frame and handle held in place by metal screw flat head bolts in each corner. the flat head of each bolt is on the underside of the frame. Rising up from the top quarter of the handle is a hollow rectangle tower. Coming out of the tower near the top, at a right angle back over the base of the handle is a shaped handle grip with text moulded on both sides.
The tower part of the handle is open at the top and has a patrician that runs across the length of the tower forming two rectangle shoots that run down to the base of the handle.
On the outside of the left side of the tower is raised moulded text [ARMADALE / WA]. Raised moulded text on the opposite side [FOUNTIAN / BRAND].
Remains of rubber pad between the handle and the rectangle frame.

Historical information

This livestock brand was uncovered in September 2021 when Matthew Lindsey was doing some grading in one of his paddocks in the Great Southern. Matthew had had grown up in Kelmscott, so when he was Armadale on the side of the item he gave it to his brother-in-law Jeff Walker who lived in Armadale as an item of curiosity.
This 'Fountian' brand livestock brand was invented in Armadale and patented by Denzel Roy Fletcher, or Roy as he was known, in 1953 at his Williams Road home. The brand was designed to brand livestock using LBE (lanoline based emulsion) branding fluid. The brand would contain a half-pint of the solution which would then soak down into a sponge rubber pad. A brand stencil would be placed over the pad allowing for the quick and easy marking of livestock. Roy advertised that 400-500 sheep could be branded before a refill was required. Roy claimed that this tool made branding 50% quicker than existing methods. An extension handle could also be added to the handle.
Roy enjoyed inventing things and had a number of patents. In 1943 Roy received news coverage for his invention of an automated page turner for a paralysed man living at the Subiaco Home of Peace. The device, which sat on the man's chest allowed him to turn the pages of a book using his teeth. The devise also featured a small lamp, a buzzer and a fan to keep the flys off his face.
Roy, a World War One veteran, moved to Armadale from Mosmon Park in 1939 to take up the position of the local police officer. He served there for 10 years, retiring from the police force in 1948. After a brief time working on Garden Island, Roy and his family returned to Armadale and settled into their new home on Williams Road.

Details

Details

Registration number
cwa-org-33-COA2022.56
Material
Aluminium
Metal
Rubber
Inscriptions and markings

Text on handle grip, repeated on both sides [DENZEL]

Keywords
William Street Armadale
Armadale
FLETCHER Denzel Roy
Great Southern District Western Australia
Year
c. 1953
Statement of significance

This object is part of a collection of items associated with a person or family who have played a significant role in the economic, community or social development of the City of Armadale. This can include holding key political or social positions within the community, being a key contributor or member of a community organisation, a strong contributor to improving the well-being of the local community, a prominent figure in a local business or industry, developer of new industries or activities or someone who grew up in the area and moved away and had a noteworthy career or life.

City of Armadale - History House

City of Armadale - History House

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