Knapsack Sprayer, 1940s

This metal knapsack sprayer, made by REGA, was used by Geraldton tomato growers in the 1940s to combat black spot, a fungal disease that could ruin entire crops. Farmers would fill the tank with a mix of lime sulphur or Bordeaux solution and spray it over their plants.

Worn like a backpack, it was a vital tool in the fight to keep crops healthy, yields high, and tomatoes ripe and red.