Difference between revisions of "Furphy"
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== The Furphy water cart == | == The Furphy water cart == | ||
| − | The company, which began in 1864, is most famous for their [[water]] cart, designed in the 1880s primarily for farm use, but | + | The company, which began in 1864, is most famous for their [[water]] cart, designed in the 1880s primarily for farm use, but was extensively used in Australian military camps, and on the battle fields of [[Europe]] and the [[Middle East]] in [[World War I]]. There the water cart drivers were sources of information and gossip for the soldiers, and the term ''furphy'' came to mean a rumor or unreliable information. |
John Furphy, who started the company, attended his local Methodist church and was a lay preacher there. His water carts are known for their cast-iron ends embossed with various wording, including a rhyme and a temperance message in shorthand. The rhyme reads: | John Furphy, who started the company, attended his local Methodist church and was a lay preacher there. His water carts are known for their cast-iron ends embossed with various wording, including a rhyme and a temperance message in shorthand. The rhyme reads: | ||
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:Till your Good is Better | :Till your Good is Better | ||
:And your Better - Best. | :And your Better - Best. | ||
| − | + | Another shorthand message has varied a little over the years, but one version of it was, ''Water is the gift of God, but beer and whiskey are concoctions of the devil, come and have a drink of water.''<!-- Can anyone read the shorthand on the accompanying picture? --> | |
| − | The water carts are still made, although the cast-iron ends were replaced with | + | The water carts are still made, although the cast-iron ends were replaced with galvanized mild steel in 1983. |
== Sources == | == Sources == | ||
Revision as of 23:44, May 5, 2016
Furphy is the name of a family and their company[1], based in Shepparton in Victoria, Australia. The name has come to mean a rumour or unreliable information.
The Furphy water cart
The company, which began in 1864, is most famous for their water cart, designed in the 1880s primarily for farm use, but was extensively used in Australian military camps, and on the battle fields of Europe and the Middle East in World War I. There the water cart drivers were sources of information and gossip for the soldiers, and the term furphy came to mean a rumor or unreliable information.
John Furphy, who started the company, attended his local Methodist church and was a lay preacher there. His water carts are known for their cast-iron ends embossed with various wording, including a rhyme and a temperance message in shorthand. The rhyme reads:
- Good - Better - Best
- Never let it rest
- Till your Good is Better
- And your Better - Best.
Another shorthand message has varied a little over the years, but one version of it was, Water is the gift of God, but beer and whiskey are concoctions of the devil, come and have a drink of water.
The water carts are still made, although the cast-iron ends were replaced with galvanized mild steel in 1983.
Sources
- The Famous Furphy's Water Cart
- An Engineering Icon
- Furphy, John (Australian Dictionary of Biography)
External Links
- J Furphy & Sons Pty. Ltd. Company site.
Notes
- ↑ The company name is actually J Furphy & Sons Pty. Ltd.