One of the rare Furphy water carts owned by Ray Broughton, of Sunbury, that was on show at the Furphy Festival at Barellan, NSW, on October 1 and 2.
Some of the rarest and most collectable Furphy water cart ends were on display at the Furphy Festival, a part of The Good Old Days Festival at Barellan in the NSW Riverina on October 1 and 2.
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Furphy tanks are part of Australia’s history and even part of the slang language.
They were used as horse-drawn water tanks for livestock and firefighting on farms from 1864, as well as watering points for soldiers in World War I.
Victorian Furphy enthusiast Ray Broughton, of Sunbury, had some of his collection on display including a big range of cast iron Furphy taps.
“I began with my first piece over 25 years ago but began serious collecting 10 years ago,” Mr Broughton said.
“I now have about 30 tanks and 75 ends — there are a few one-off ends making them extremely rare dating from 1885.
“The latest models were made in 1964 and commemorative ends numbered one to 20 were made in 1998.
“I almost have the full set of taps but am missing one and no-one wants to sell.”
Mr Broughton said a 1977 cart designed for a half tonne ute recently sold for $35,000.
“I would love to get one of the ends made from 1886 to 1893 before the stamp bore just the Furphy name rather than J. Furphy & Sons,” he said.
“It is the early and later made ends that are rare — there are plenty about from those middle years.”
Matthew and Peter Irvin use water to cool the steel bands clamping the cast iron ends to a Furphy tank during a re-barelling demo at the Good Old Days Festival at Barellan, NSW.
Mr Broughton was bowled over by the interest shown in the Furphy memorabilia by visitors to the festival.
The Furphy Festival was initiated by Barellan farmer David Irvin who uses his grandfather’s steel-wheeled tractor to pull a Furphy water cart train in the grand parade.
Relatives Peter and Matthew Irvin used two tanks donated by the Furphy family, Shepparton, for the re-barreling demonstrations.
The re-barreling involved heating two large steel bands in a campfire and hammering them into place around each cast iron end, using water to cool and shrink the steel bands creating a watertight seal.
