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Title Metal Coffee Roaster
Date c.1920-1930
Document Type Object
Reference SH 850
Library / Archive Museums Victoria
Collection Name Personal Stories Collections
Description Iron coffee roaster with internal drum, hinged lid and a handle for rotating the drum. The handle is covered in black plastic.
Biographical Note / History The coffee roaster was brought to Australia by Vincenzo Candela and his wife Emanuela Nigro in 1920, although it may have been purchased in Australia by them. The Candelas made much of their own food including homemade pasta, tomato sauce, wine, sausages and they roasted their own coffee. Items that could not be purchased in Australia were often ordered by mail from the Italian manufacturer. This was a practice common in both Italy and Australia. Vincenzo also received catalogues from Italy after his migration to Australia. After his arrival in Australia from Italy in 1920 and, at the age of 47, Vincenzo established himself as a tailor, eventually establishing a successful 'Gents' High Class' tailoring business from his home in Melbourne. Vincenzo Candela was a man of many skills. He was a skilled clarinet player and like most itinerant musicians from the region of Basilicata, Italy, Vincenzo travelled the world. As this was seasonal work, when they returned home, these musicians practised other trades to support their families. Hence, Vincenzo was also a skilled tailor and photographer, as well as having a grocery and wine shop. Arriving in Melbourne in November 1920, at the age of 47, with a wife and a 10-year-old son to support, Vincenzo made an assessment of the opportunities for earning a living with one of his three trades. Unlike the other professions, tailoring, and Italian and European fashion in particular, was very much in demand. Vicenzo had learned the trade of dressmaking in Italy, most likely in Naples, a city at that time renowned for its tailors, many of who settled in Brazil, Argentina and the USA. He had brought with him many fashion magazines and patterns, and purchased a Singer sewing machine soon after he arrived. He kept up to date with current trends in Europe and continued to be a tailor until his death on 19 June 1943.
Theme(s) Permanent Settlement and Successive Generations
Country (from) Italy
Country (to) Australia
Nationality Italian
People Candela, Vincenzo
Keywords emigration, immigrant, food, object
Additional Information Please note: Some of the metadata for this document has been taken from the Museum Victoria catalogue.
Catalogue Link Museums Victoria Catalogue
Document(s) linked to Bellows Glass Plate Camera, Parisio Cantini Empoli
Italian Photography Company Leaflet [Fragment]
Singer Sewing Machine, No. 44-13
Set of Metal Thimbles
Wicker and Earthenware Demijohn
Sausage Maker, L. F. & C., 'Universal', No. 2
Copyright Museums Victoria