[Mercury House News]

The Mercury House News. Number 1, December 1936 to Number 14, March 1938 [all published]

Hobart, Davies Brothers Limited, 1936 to 1938.

Quarto, each number comprising 8 pages with illustrations (mainly from photographs).

Plain binder's cloth a little marked, flecked and rubbed at the extremities, with the rear cover heavily mottled; endpapers foxed; light tidemark to the bottom corner of three numbers (the first two and the last one); trifling signs of use; a very good run.

Published during the editorship of Frederick Usher (1931-1943), 'The Mercury House News' was 'published monthly by and in the interests of the employees of Davies Brothers'. In the first number, the Managing Director, C.B. Davies writes that 'There is no reason why this little sheet should not be a means of improving the mutual understanding between employer and employee, thereby creating a feeling of confidence and attaining the good fellowship and co-operation between the departments of the whole organisation of Davies Brothers Limited'. The end result is the desired 'blend of humour in general items' with departmental reports that are 'a serious record of the events of the month - improved plant, promotions, social items, sporting news and the like'. However, Number 14 is the 'Last Issue. Owing to the regrettable decision of the piece-workers of the Linotype Chapel "that they will not set the matter for HOUSE NEWS unless payment is made for same," and as the publication is entirely a voluntary effort on the part of all employees, in which considerable interest has been taken and pleasure derived, it is regretted that the publication will cease with this issue'. We thought complete runs of this in-house journal would be scarce, but we were very surprised to find no record of any issues at all in Trove.

Item #102433

Price (AUD): $550.00
other currencies