Taking a sample of T. N. T.

Trinitrotoluene (or TNT) was the most commonly used explosive by the Allied forces. It had a high blast effect and had the advantage of being handled in liquid form for filling purposes, later cooling to a solid. Curtis captured workers in the proccess of taking samples of the dangerous material during his visit to the Commonwealth Explosives Factory at Maribyrnong, Melbourne. He described the explosive works as '...five to six hundred separate buildings, each designed for some special purpose...divided by concreted walks, tunnels, gates or high earthen mounds. There were sections devouted to the manufacture of nitroglycerine, gun cotton, propellants such as cordite and high explosives like T.N.T. There were pyrotechnics, detonators, cartridge bundling shell filling and assembly houses - all part of an amazing crosshatch pattern of building strung out over the flats of the Maribynong River.' By 1940 the Explosives Factory was employing more than 3000 men and Curtis noted the ever present 'element of risk' due to the dangerous nature of the work.