Poster, Lynch family, bellringers and glassophonists c.1914-18

Summary

The Lynch family began their career in Geelong in 1867 and continued to perform over three generations. Initially their act was confined to bellringing, but glassophony and other instruments such as a ‘Marimbula Resonator (the only instrument of its kind in the world)’ were added to the repertoire. One of the images shows Miss Ruby Lynch, probably the grand-daughter of the founder Henry Lynch. Ruby performs the ‘Great Allied Flag Dance’, thereby dating the poster. Francis Wilson Niven, a Ballarat goldminer who taught himself lithography from the late 1850s, established one of Victoria’s most enduring printing firms. In about 1900, the business re-located from Ballarat to Flinders Street, Melbourne. Following the death of the founder in 1905, his eldest son and partner, Henry Ninian, became the firm’s principal. The firm ceased trading in 1983, although ownership had long since passed from the Niven family.