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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 rumour or unreliable information.

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 rumour or unreliable information.

The term and its origins are the Australian land bound equivalent of the nautical "scuttlebutt" describing gossip around the water keg (butt) on board ship in the days of sail. These days, the water cooler, tea urn or coffee maker serves the same purpose.

The term and its origins are the Australian land bound equivalent of the nautical "scuttlebutt" describing gossip around the water keg or barrel (butt) on board ship in the days of sail. These days, the water cooler, tea urn or coffee maker serves the same purpose.

John Furphy, who started the company, attended his local Methodist church and was a lay preacher there.  His water carts are known for round 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 round cast-iron ends embossed with various wording, including a rhyme and a temperance message in shorthand.  The rhyme reads:

== External Links ==

== External Links ==

* [http://www.furphys.com.au/index.html J Furphy & Sons Pty. Ltd.] Company site.

* [http://www.furphys.com.au/index.html J Furphy & Sons Pty. Ltd.] Company site.

 

== Notes ==

== Notes ==

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[[Category:companies]]

[[Category:companies]]