Blackblue Posted 2 September , 2015 Share Posted 2 September , 2015 I've got a reply from one of the family trees in the UK. They have passed me details of the Australian connection and have pm'd her. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blackblue Posted 2 September , 2015 Share Posted 2 September , 2015 I've been speaking to a descendant of Alfred Wilkinson and she is going to make some further inquiries. Apparently members the family did spend a lot of time travelling back and forwards to France on wine research trips....mainly the Cote D'Or Region. Unsure of the period, I've passed on the thread and she may add details here soon. Rgds Tim D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnboy Posted 2 September , 2015 Share Posted 2 September , 2015 Well done. Let's hope we have the right family for the bins. I am still thinking about the first letter in the inscription, It seems more 'flowery' than the rest I am wondering if it was added afterwards? Lets hope your enquiries are fruitful. [no pun intended]. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blackblue Posted 2 September , 2015 Share Posted 2 September , 2015 Let's hope. I think the H fits with that sort of script. Perhaps being Captain Obvious....but is there anything written into the case at all? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnboy Posted 2 September , 2015 Share Posted 2 September , 2015 .but is there anything written into the case at all? I am not sure what you mean. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blackblue Posted 2 September , 2015 Share Posted 2 September , 2015 Some of the photos have a leather case with the binoculars? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnboy Posted 2 September , 2015 Share Posted 2 September , 2015 I think the picture with the case is an example of a similar pair in good nick. It shows the eyecups which are missing on the pair that have been found. The case does not look like it has been in the ground. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blackblue Posted 2 September , 2015 Share Posted 2 September , 2015 Ack. Gotcha, Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnboy Posted 2 September , 2015 Share Posted 2 September , 2015 The by now Captain Wilkinson entrained at Middelberg on 25 February en route for Australia via Cape Town. Service and life after the Boer War: Lived in England with his wife, Madeleine. Descendant Details Name of Descendant: Bruce Tyrrell, Pokolbin NSW Relationship to Ancestor: He is my 2 nd cousin twice removed The Tyrrell family were also big in wine. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blackblue Posted 2 September , 2015 Share Posted 2 September , 2015 I did see that mate. Post #68. Bruce is still likely around if someone contacts Tyrell's? Bit of a legend in the wine industry in Australia. https://www.tyrrells.com.au/story/history Send them a message here: https://www.tyrrells.com.au/contact The relative I mentioned (Di) has joined the Forum and is waiting to be approved. She should be along shortly. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnboy Posted 2 September , 2015 Share Posted 2 September , 2015 One of the problems with a long thread. I have gone through the Wilkinson's on a list of those who fought overseas in WW1 but no HN. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blackblue Posted 2 September , 2015 Share Posted 2 September , 2015 Apparently the wine growing families in the Pokolobin area were quite intermingled. The link to the Tyrell family appears to be that Edward and Lovick married Hungerford women. Harry Noel's father also married a Hungerford (Jane). Rgds Tim D Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
FROGSMILE Posted 2 September , 2015 Share Posted 2 September , 2015 I've been speaking to a descendant of Alfred Wilkinson and she is going to make some further inquiries. Apparently members the family did spend a lot of time travelling back and forwards to France on wine research trips....mainly the Cote D'Or Region. Unsure of the period, I've passed on the thread and she may add details here soon. Rgds Tim D Good work Tim. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnboy Posted 2 September , 2015 Share Posted 2 September , 2015 No replies to my emails yet. On a brighter note I have found a forum member from Hunter Valley! Trouble is she is in England at the moment but will have a look at the thread and see if she can add anything. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
perejler Posted 2 September , 2015 Author Share Posted 2 September , 2015 I am waiting for permision to quote the answer I got, after I contacted one of, or proberly the most knowleagable specialist in Ross history and serial numbers. These binoculars are something special as they do not carry the useal writing on the back plates and have the serial number situated a place never seen before.. I responted with foto's of serial number, very difficult to make, -- beside foto's of back plates. The serial number are difficult to explain as if it is that, a serial number, the binoculars would have been manufactored long after the date on them. Beside those numbers were given binoculars of a very different new design. These are the main new facts. Im'e waiting for answer on my next mail. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnboy Posted 2 September , 2015 Share Posted 2 September , 2015 Thanks for the update. Would it be possible that Fairfax bought the body, added the lenses and numbered and dated them as their own? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
perejler Posted 2 September , 2015 Author Share Posted 2 September , 2015 "Blanks" was known to be sold from one firm in several contries, but I never heard Ross to be offered as blanks. In our collection there are some that were but not Ross. they even could be sold in france and germany under different names, but these was whole binoculars and even we today, don't think of manufactoring and working glass as a problem but back then, it was a major challance. Many Uk. binoculars were made with german glass causing a halt in production when that was not avaible anymore. Still ofcaurse it was not as simple as that, from what I know there were way's around. --- The possibility exist with designs that had become obsolute and before WW1, but I must say this can be guessing, I hope the specialist I wrote have a say about this, but much of that part of the history are not wrtten down, even issues like production numbers and production year are dull with many makers who did not make sure these informations was saved. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnboy Posted 2 September , 2015 Share Posted 2 September , 2015 Have they got Ross on them anywhere on the body? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
perejler Posted 2 September , 2015 Author Share Posted 2 September , 2015 No ! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnboy Posted 2 September , 2015 Share Posted 2 September , 2015 So could these have been made by Fairfax themselves? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
perejler Posted 2 September , 2015 Author Share Posted 2 September , 2015 No, very unlikely, but like "The folding Minin" were made by Barton who had a close relasionship with Ross, then Negretti & Zambra had sole distribution rights even Barton manufactored The Folding Minin.. Ross could have had a simular agreament as like you point to, the 8X in question are cirtainly a Ross, easy to see from the simular one also in our collection beside there are no way it can be a copy as the skills and whole technology were cutting edge such as manufactoring the glass and lenses. --- Details where I am not sure if Ross didn't get the prisms from Zeiss, anyway at the beginning of WW1, Ross was apointed to run the new Zeiss factory after the german workers left. I am sure the Ross specialist know more about this. --- So the writing on the bino's could have been made in Sydney. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest di2315 Posted 3 September , 2015 Share Posted 3 September , 2015 Here's the basics of my information about the Wilkinson history in the Pokolbin area of NSW: LIEUTENANT ALFRED. WILKINSON (1809 – 1896) 28 November 1826 Alfred enlisted as a Cadet in the Army of The East India Company. Was subsequently posted as an Ensign to the 33rd Regiment, Madras Infantry. 1835 in Irvine, India his wife Anne died and he returned to England and resigned his commission. Later he became a member of the Catholic Apostolic Church (sometimes referred to as Irvingites). 12 June 1836 Alfred became one of 20 Evangelists to the Nations, i.e. was given a world wide mission field and could be sent anywhere as directed by the Apostles. January 1838 married Jane Isabella Gillman and lived in UK until their departure for Australia. 14 February 1852 Alfred, his wife and 6 sons left UK and arrived Melbourne, Australia. 1866 with his sons, Alfred established a series of wineries in Pokolbin, NSW. By the end of this year, the property Cote d’Or was planted with vines. The property was heavily treed, so father and sons progressively constructed timber slab dwellings, the first being the family home at Cote d’Or, then a home for each son, including Coolalta for John Wilkinson. The family were all well-educated; among their library were books in Latin, German and French, including one in French about viticulture – this is among the books Audrey Wilkinson donated to the Sydney Mitchell Library Historical Collection. Many of the family winery records are also located in this library. Prior to leaving UK for Australia in 1852 Alfred had organised his sons to spend time in the Cote d’Or region of France to learn viticulture – his plan was for them to support the family in Australia while he toured with his evangelical responsibilities. I know the family travelled to Europe and remained in contact with France. The only tangible proof of this that I have is a souvenir from Paris - possibly the Expositions from 1878 or 1890. The current Audrey Wilkinson Winery is not owned by any of the Wilkinson family; some years back new entrepreneurs purchased his original property and revived the name. Audrey had built up a winery of high repute, and was greatly respected in the local and winery communities. He had been working the vineyard from the age of 14, when his father had died. Unfortunately I know nothing of the details of the lives of John Wilkinson or his son Harry Noel. My Dad is searching his family history files, so I’ll post here if any further information comes to light. The Wilkinson families did intermarry with the Tyrrell, Drayton & Lindeman families – these wineries are still in existence. T & D are still run by family members, so perhaps contact with them could help your search. Also Cessnock District Historical and Family History Society may know more about John & Harry Wilkinson’s branch of the family. Hope this is of some assistance in your quest! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnboy Posted 3 September , 2015 Share Posted 3 September , 2015 Harry Noel is the prime suspect but so far no links militarily. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Blackblue Posted 3 September , 2015 Share Posted 3 September , 2015 Many thanks Di, Fascinating story. If you are interested military history of family members circa Great War post a new topic in Soldiers. There is a lot of expertise and knowledge here. If you are interested in anything further that may be available on Alfred's service (as well any others who served through the 1800s) the Victorian Wars Forum is also a hive of knowledge. Rgds Tim Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Guest di2315 Posted 3 September , 2015 Share Posted 3 September , 2015 Thanks, Tim - will do! Di Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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