K.G. Luke Pty Ltd:
Photo from Carlton Football Club website.
From The Age, 1952.
Decoration and Glass, April 1938.
Advert in “Decoration and Glass” magazine, 1936.
Sir Kenneth George Luke (1896-1971) was a successful businessman and V.F.L. football administrator. He became a partner in a metal-spinning and silverware business in Carlton in 1921, becoming the owner by 1925. It would become a successful silverware and military accoutrement firm, also making hospital equipment. In 1930 it was listed as K.G Luke Pty. Ltd. then in 1953 became K.G. luke (A/Asia) Ltd. The name changed to Luke Ltd. in 1976 and was taken over by National Consolidated Ltd in 1983.
Published in The Age, 3rd July 1946.
From the Australian Women’s Weekly, 18th March 1950. Paramount was Luke’s trademarked silverware.
The Advertiser (Adelaide), 16th April 1953.
The Age (Melbourne), 16th May 1953.
From 1935 -1945 K. G. Luke made brass, copper, oxidised and white metal buttons for military needs, as well as brooches, badges, buckles, identity disks and heated food trolleys.
The button below is interesting: After the battle for Guadalcanal the First Marine Division came to Australia to be rested, particularly in Melbourne. They required warmer clothes for winter and so the ‘Australian Battle Jacket’ was made for them in 1943. It was referred to as the Vandegrift jacket.
Button for the First Marine Division. This style of button is known as a ‘Great Seal button’ and has been made by many different firms for the U.S. army since 1902.
Commonwealth Gazette: Contracts accepted 24th June 1943.
Top: two AMF buttons Bottom: NSW Police and Victoria Police.
TAA Captain’s epulette button.TAA was rebranded as Australian Airlines in 1986 and accquired by Qantas in 1992.
The AMF button below is a puzzle. The company changed its name to K.C. Luke (A/Asia) Ltd in May 1953, and yet the button features a “Kings Crown”. As King George VI died on the 6th February 1952, this crown should not have been used! I wonder if the button was made in 1953 but not issued.
