The Lampson Cash Machine

The Lamson Cash Conveyance System focuses on the store owners' desire to have the very best in equipment in the newly constructed Up-To-Date Store. An agent for the Lamson System was first appointed in Australia in 1889. The installation of the system in the Store in the early 1900s, demonstrated the proprietors wish to be ‘most up-to-date’ in retail technology. Designed to solve the 'problem of women being less numerate than men’ not only did the Lamson Cash Conveyance System provide the store personnel with the very latest advances in retail technology, but also provided the assurance of `customer care' to the Coolamon community, with this quick and efficient method of cash handling. Undoubtedly, the Store’s piece de resistance, this earlier form of cash carrier is gravity operated. Timber balls with money and docket safely tucked inside roll from counters to cashier’s office along little ‘railway’ tracks. Many of us have seen the spring-loaded “flying fox” cash conveyance systems and modern pneumatic tubes are commonplace in large shopping stores and hospitals around Australia, but the Coolamon community claims that this is: ‘the only known in-situ Lamson Cash Carrier System of its kind IN THE WORLD’.

The Reg Godde Collection

Reg Godde was born at Coolamon, he farmed the property ‘Hazeleigh’ at Berry Jerry. Reg Godde constructed his first model, a steam engine in about 1948 and subsequently went on to build the remainder of the collection through the 1970’s and 1980’s. Each of the models have been scratch built using parts manufactured by Reg or from recycled materials. Reg Godde built this collection without plans, photographs or drawings of any sort. Reg Godde built all of the items on display, including the steam traction engine, oil engine, twin cylinder stationary steam engine, the HV McKay ‘Sunshine’ reaper and binder and a complete chaffcutter. He did not only focus on constructing models of farm machinery and also constructed a working Ferris Wheel and merry-go-round. Models such as his immensely complex steam driven chaffcutter which actually cuts and bags the chaff in exactly the same manner as the larger version of the machine it was based on. The only concession made by Reg was to convert the models to allow them to be driven by compressed air or electricity, rather than by steam for safety reasons. A visit to Reg Godde’s farm became a must do activity during the 1980’s where he had set up his display in a shed on his farm. In 1988, as part of the Nations Bi-Centennial celebrations, Reg was invited to take his display on a national tour. Many more people were able to view the models at the Coolamon Show where Reg would setup his display each year. The intricacy of construction of the models is considerable and an amazing example of the mechanical skills of Reg Godde.