A portable note taker that allow the operator to input either Grade 1 or Grade 2 Braille and have the information read back to you. It holds up to 640K of RAM or 600 Braille pages.Cardboard box containing a cream coloured plastic rectangle device with 7 black keys, 1 carry bag, 1 adapter, 1 computer cable, 1 x 3 1/4 in. Blaze demo programs disk, 1 x 3 1/4 in. Resource disk, 2 cassette tapes "Braille'n'Speak manual" by Olga Espinola, 1 print book "Quick Reference: Braille'n'Speak command list", 2 Braille books "Braille'n'Speak Quick Reference" and "A user's guide to Braille'n'Speak" both by Olga Espinola.braille equipment, assistive devices

This lifebuoy is part of the lifesaving equipment that would be carried on vessels in the late 19th and early 20th century. The strips of cork wood have been joined together to make the ring shape. The broad arrow symbol indicates that it was once the property of the British or Australian defence force. A lifebuoy, or life-preserver, is used as a buoyancy device to keep a person afloat in the. It is usually connected by a rope to a person in a safe area such a nearby vessel or on shore. The lifebuoy is thrown to a person in distress in the water, allowing the rescuer to pull the person to safety. The lifebuoy is a made from a buoyant material such as cork or rubber and is usually covered with canvas for protection and to make it easy to grip. The first use of life saving devices in recent centuries was by the Nordic people, who used light weight wood or cork blocks to keep afloat. From the early 20th century Kapok fibre was used as a filling for buoys. Light weight balsa wood was used as a filler after WW1. In 1928 Peter Markus invented and patented the first inflatable life-preserver. By WW2 foam was combined with Kapok. Laws were passed over time that has required aeroplanes and water going-vessels to carry life-preservers on board. The lifebuoy is an example of equipment carried on vessels in the late 19th and early 20th century to help preserve life. There were many lives lost in Australia’s colonial period, particularly along the coast of South West Victoria. The lifebuoy was once the property of the British or Australian defence force.Lifebuoy, round cork object with canvas wrapped around it and rope attached to one side. Broad arrow mark and other red marks indecipherable. Painted white.Symbol of broad arrow. indecipherable markings.flagstaff hill, warrnambool, shipwrecked-coast, flagstaff-hill, flagstaff-hill-maritime-museum, maritime-museum, shipwreck-coast, flagstaff-hill-maritime-village, life rings, lifebuoy, safety ring, life-saving buoy, ring buoy, life preserver, personal floating device, floatation device, safety equipment, government lifebuoy, broad arrow

The Logic Analyser was purchased by the Ballarat College of Advanced Education Physics Department in the early 1980s. At the time it was a state of the art piece of test equipment used for fault finding and programming diagnostics for 8 bit computers. It was later used by the Electrical Engineers, after Physics merged with Engineering in the mid 1990s. The device monitored the 16 bit Address buss and 8 bit Data buss of an 8 bit computer. This device continually samples the 24 bits simultaneously and looks for a preset pattern. When the pattern is matched the logic analyser continues for a set number of steps thus allowing an operator to examine the data and address information both leading up to and after an event. This was particularly useful for diagnosing unusual programming and hardware errors. Logic analyzers are used in debugging and troubleshooting in mini- and microcomputers. The HP analyzers collect information through 24 (1615A) or 32 (1610B) inputs leads, connected to the computer's address, data and/or control lines. The logic state flow is shown on a display in a number of traces, a single data line or an appropriate combination of data lines providing a trigger signal. Captured data can be stored for detailed analysis. (http://http://www.science.uva.nl/museum/hp1610.php)Grey Analog computer. Includes keys and small screen.computer, logic analyzer, physics

A foghorn is a device that uses sound to warn of navigational hazards like rocky coastlines, or boats of the presence of other vessels, in foggy conditions. The term is most often used with marine transport. When visual navigation aids such as lighthouses are obscured, foghorns provide an audible warning of rocky outcrops, shoals, headlands, or other dangers to shipping. An early form of fog signal was to use a bell, gong, explosive signal or firing a cannon to alert shipping. From the early 20th century an improved device called the diaphone was used in place of these other devices, The diaphone horn was based directly on the organ stop of the same name invented by Robert Hope-Jones, creator of the Wurlitzer organ. Hope-Jones' design was based on a piston that was closed only at its bottom end and had slots, perpendicular to its axis, cut through its sides, the slotted piston moved within a similarly slotted cylinder. Outside of the cylinder was a reservoir of high-pressure air. Initially, this air would be admitted behind the piston, pushing it forward. When the slots of the piston aligned with those of the cylinder, air passed into the piston, making a sound and pushing the piston back to its starting position, whence the cycle would be repeated. This method of producing a low audible sound was further developed as a fog signal by John Northey of Toronto and these diaphones were powered by compressed air produced by an electric motor or other mechanical means that admitted extremely powerful low-frequency notes. The example in the Flagstaff collection is an early cased and portable diaphone used on pleasure or sailing craft. By manually turning the crank handle air is produced and fed into valves that direct air across vibrating metal reeds to produce the required sound. in foggy weather, fog horns are used to pinpoint a vessels position and to indicate how the vessel is sailing in foggy conditions. One blast, when sailing on starboard tack and two blasts, when sailing on a port tack and three dots, when with wind is behind the vessel. Since the automation of lighthouses became common in the 1960s and 1970s, most older foghorn marine installations have been removed to avoid the need to run the complex machinery associated with them, and have been replaced with an electrically powered diaphragm or compressed air horns. The example in the collection is significant as it was used in the early 19th century for sailing vessels was important but these portable crank fog horns have also been superseded by modern electric varieties. Therefore the item has a historical connection with sailing and maritime pursuits from our past.English Rotary Norwegian Pattern nautical foghorn within a boxed pine varnished case with exposed corner dovetailing, original leather carrying strap, brass side crank, and original copper trumped horn. Card accessory with Directions for Use in both English and French.Noneflagstaff hill, warrnambool, shipwrecked coast, flagstaff hill maritime museum, maritime museum, shipwreck coast, flagstaff hill maritime village, great ocean road, foghorn, maritime technology, maritime communication, marine warning signal, portable foghorn, bellows foghorn, crank handle, robert hope-jones, john northey

This is a simple household labour-saving device. The box was fitted to the end of the table and knife polish was sprinkled on the cloth inside. The knife was then placed in the centre of the box and clamped in tightly. The knife was then pulled backwards and forwards several times (three seconds was the suggested time) and the object was then deemed to be polished. All households had cutlery of some sort and many had good silver pieces that were meant to be kept in a sparkling polished condition. This cleaner would have assisted those in a household assigned to the care of the cutlery. These would have included the women of the household, the children or domestic employees. This item is retained as an interesting example of a household labour-saving device from 100 years ago. This is a circular wooden box with an extra piece at one end of the base and a sliding top lid with a wooden knob. The lid lifts up and the inside of the box and the lid is covered with rough cloth. Some of this cloth has rotted away. The top of the lid has a printed label pasted on. This is torn and soiled. ‘Patent The Magic Knife and Fork Cleaner’ ‘I am handy and useful where’r I am used, To clean knives and forks brightly I never refuse, In mansion or cottage to both I do go, So buy me, and try me, my worth you will know.’ household devices, history of warrnambool

A Neil Robinson stretcher is a lightweight carrying device modelled on Japanese bamboo litters, the Neil Robertson rescue stretcher was developed in the early 1900s by John Neil Robertson. Used for lifting an injured person vertically. The stretcher is made from stout canvas reinforced with bamboo slats. The stretcher is designed for removing an injured person from spaces wherein access, doors or hatches are too small to permit the use of regular stretchers. Spaces such as ship engine room spaces, cargo holds, pump rooms, boiler rooms etc. are a few examples of such compact spaces.An item designed to transport injured personnel from tight places, either at sea or on land.A rescue stretcher made from white canvas reinforced with bamboo slats and adjustable canvas straps. The canvas straps are secured with metal buckles and there is a metal ring attached to lengths of ropes at both ends. Noneflagstaff hill, warrnambool, flagstaff hill maritime museum, maritime museum, shipwreck coast, flagstaff hill maritime village, great ocean road, stretcher, neil robertson, neil robertson rescue stretcher, rescue equipment

The kerosene lamp is a type of lighting device that uses kerosene as a fuel. Kerosene lamps have a wick or mantle as light source, protected by a glass chimney or globe; lamps may be used on a table, or hand-held lanterns may used for portable lighting. There are three types of kerosene lamp: traditional flat wick, central draught (tubular round wick), and mantle lamp. The side screws adjust the length of the wick and hence the strength of the flame / light produced. Prior to the introduction of gas and electricity these lamps provided light in households after sunset.Prior to the introduction of gas and electricity these lamps provided light after sunset for the early settlers, as they established their farms and businesses, in Moorabbin Shire.A Victorian kerosene banquet lamp, with a gilded metal quad footed base, cranberry glass oil reservoir with geometric patterns, original etched, yellow, glass globe shade and clear glass chimney. There are 2 side screws for adjusting the flame.early settlers. pioneers, follett w, moorabbin, bentleigh, brighton, ormond, market gardeners, kerosene, paraffin, lights, lamps, candles

The kerosene lamp is a type of lighting device that uses kerosene as a fuel. Kerosene lamps have a wick or mantle as light source, protected by a glass chimney or globe; lamps may be used on a table, or hand-held lanterns may used for portable lighting. There are three types of kerosene lamp: traditional flat wick, central draught (tubular round wick), and mantle lamp. The side screws adjust the length of the wick and hence the strength of the flame/light produced. Prior to the introduction of gas and electricity these lamps were used for lighting in all households after sunsetPioneers and early settlers relied on kerosene lamps for lighting their homes after sunset.A 19th Century kerosene chamber lamp, with clear, plain glass shade and reservoir, circular metal base and 1 side screw for adjusting the flameearly settlers, pioneers, market gardeners, moorabbin, brighton, bentleigh, ormond, cheltenham, candles, lights, lamps, kerosene, paraffin, oil

This type of pessary was used in the treatment of retroflexion of the uterus. Thomas’ Retroflexion Pessary is narrower in proportion to its length, while the greater bow is enlarged to a bulb-like form. It enjoyed great popularity and as such was manufactured in a great variety of sizes. Comprised of hard rubber because of its lightness and the high polish that may be given it. The shape can be adjusted by covering the device in petrolatum and heating it with a spirit lamp or immersing it in boiling water. Manufactured in three sizes, and could be combined with a cup and stem external support. See Allen & Hanburys Gynaecological instruments catalogue, page 707.Vulcanite pessary. Pessary is loosely horseshoe shaped, tapering to a point at the proximal end. The curve of the pessary at the distal end thickens and is rounded. Majority of the pessary is concave.intrauterine device, pessary

In 1913, Mark Cowley Lidwill designed a machine for the purpose of mechanical or insufflation anaesthesia. The Lidwill machine was a portable machine weighing 7kg that could easily be packed into two small bags. The machine involved compressed air being delivered to an ether vaporiser. An ether/air control device allowed varying concentrations of ether to be delivered. The ether vaporiser could be immersed in hot water to prevent cooling and the ether temperature was measured. From the vaporiser, the ether/air mixture went through a trap bottle, then to a crude mercury blow-off valve and subsequently to the patient.Large leather suitcase style bag divided into two levels containing and insufflation anaesthesia machine.insufflation, mark cowley lidwill, thoracic surgery, positive pressure

Braille Scrabble was first produced in 1954, not long after the game was 'discovered' and popularised by Macys department store in the U.S. Braille letters and numbers are located on the left-hand side of the tile, with the large print letter in the middle. Scoring was kept through the use of metal pins which could be placed into slots located behind racks that hold each player's tiles. According to the printed booklet that forms part of the set, the Scrabble board had moulded ridges to hold the tiles and had a turning device that allowed the board to rotate easily between players. Cylindrical container containing 101 braille letters with 4 black plastic trays, box containing 16 metal pins and 11 page booklet. recreation equipment, games

A plastic device to enable a sighted person to communicate with a person who is Deaf-Blind in either standard Braille or Moon. The centre radius of the disc has the ordinary alphabet printed in black. Moving outwards from the centre, are the corresponding letters embossed in Braille, then on the outer edge are the corresponding letters in Moon. The user moved the indicator arm around the disc until the desired letter and corresponding symbol was positioned under the cut-out in the centre of the arm. The deaf-blind person could then touch the disc to determine the letters being communicated. Numbers and punctuation are not included.White plastic disc with black indicator armbraille equipment, assistive devices

A megaphone or loudhailer is usually portable or hand-held, the cone-shaped acoustic horn used to amplify a person's voice or other sounds and direct it in a given direction. Used to communicate with others over distances. In Greek mythology, "Stentor" was a Greek herald during the Trojan War. His name has given rise to the adjective "stentorian", meaning loud-voiced, for which he was famous. The large funnel-shaped device is made of recoated cardboard that is riveted together. It has a metal mouthpiece at the narrow end and a metal edge at the wide end, and a metal handle. The design indicates that it is a ‘Stentor Megaphone’ patented on 4 April 1899 by a company in Boston. Stentor brand megaphones were manufactured by Merriman Brothers, in Boston. In 1898 the brothers specialised in hardware for yachts their workshop was at 139 Border St. East Boston, Mass. They also made other equipment, which included pulley blocks, winches and fittings, and were well-known worldwide before the company closed in 1995. Merriman megaphones, including the familiar cheerleader megaphones, came in different sizes, Their patent for the device, dated April 4, 1899, specified details such as the 'rivets, metal mouthpiece, and adjacent parts, and an undated pamphlet promoting the Stentor Megaphone emphasizes its 'highly finished' appearance 'with nickel mouthpiece, rim and other fittings'. The Stentor Megaphone has significance for its provenance and historic value, and also as a relatively rare item of equipment once used worldwide in marine situations, such as light stations and many other similar applications where a person voice needed to be amplified.Megaphone conical shape cardboard with riveted seam, nickel plated reinforcing ring, mouthguard Made in the USAflagstaff hill, warrnambool, shipwrecked-coast, flagstaff-hill, flagstaff-hill-maritime-museum, maritime-museum, shipwreck-coast, flagstaff-hill-maritime-village, megaphone, loud hailer

A clamp is a fastening device to hold or secure objects tightly together to prevent movement or separation through the application of inward pressure. The tool is for temporary use for positioning components during construction and wood working. There are many types of clamps available for many different purposes. Some are temporary, as used to position components while fixing them together, others are intended to be permanent. A C-clamp or G-clamp is a type of clamp device typically used to hold a wood or metal work piece, and often used in carpentry and welding. C-clamps or G-clamps are typically made of steel or cast iron, though smaller clamps may be made of pot metal. At the top of the "C" is usually a small flat edge. At the bottom is a threaded hole through which a large threaded screw protrudes. One end of this screw contains a flat edge of similar size to the one at the top of the frame, and the other end usually a small metal bar, perpendicular to the screw itself, which is used to gain leverage when tightening the clamp. When the clamp is completely closed, the flat end of the screw is in contact with the flat end on the frame. When the clamp is actually used, it is very rare that this occurs. Generally some other object or objects will be contained between the top and bottom flat edges. A steel ‘C’ or ‘G’ Clamp used to hold a wood or metal work piece, used in carpentry and welding.L.W.BANKtools, woodwork, metalwork, welding, carpentry, pioneers, market gardeners, early settlers, bank w.l., moorabbin, cheltenham, bentleigh, ormond

This device was used to measure surface wind speed and direction. This anemometer was located on a concrete pad outside room 2.15 on a steel pole. The pole was considered unsafe and the anemometer was relocated to it's current position. When lowering the pole it fell over and was badly damaged. The Bureau of Meteorology donated it to the museum. It was then repaired and restored. The central pole on which it is mounted is galvanised iron pipe painted black. The anemometer, a portable device that manually measures wind speed, was a necessary instrument once common to all weather stations. The arms are attached to a vertical rod and as the wind blows, the cups rotate, making the rod spin. The stronger the wind blows, the faster the rod spins. The anemometer counts the number of rotations, or turns, which is used to calculate wind speed, surface wind and direction. They were designed to be durable to withstand the corrosive environment and strong winds expected at coastal sites such as those at Gabo Island. Anemometers existed in the nineteenth century and their design was improved by various experts including John Robinson in 1846, John Patterson in 1926, Brevoort and Joiner in 1935 and Derek Watson in 1991 who added wind direction measurement to its functions. This example was made for the Bureau of Meteorology by the Melbourne instrument company, Synchrotac, which became registered and incorporated on 26 July 1966. It is now displayed inside the building. A good example of its kind, the anemometer has first level contributory significance for its historic value and provenance to the lightstation.Anemometer and tripod stand. Three cupped brass discs on rotating arms fixed to turned brass cylinder shaped shaft. Beneath discs is a lead directional wind arrow attached to a rotating arm. A wooden three legged stand with central supporting pole of black painted hardwood and attached to a white painted marine ply circular base.Under wind cups: " SYNCHROTAC / MELB. / ser.no.70/372 / MADE IN AUSTRALIA." Above wind direction arrow: "C.OF.APT..../ SYNCHROTAC / MELB ? MADE IN AUSTRALIA / ser.no.70/372"

The Memory Printer MP20 is a telecommunication device for the deaf (TDD or text telephone) with a 20-column LED display and a 20- column built-in printer. The MP20 has an 8,000 character memory for saving and sending messages, upper and lower case printing to distinguish incoming from outgoing messages, and four message buffers. The MP20 uses standard Baudot TDD code. OPTIONS: Time/date stamping and ASCII capability are available. POWER: Rechargeable battery and AC adapter. DIMENSIONS: 9.5 x 12.5 x 2.75 inches. WEIGHT: 5.75 pounds. Instructions for printer and keyboard, etc. " KROWN / Research / PORTA PRINTER PLUS® MP 20 / The Memory Printer" on screen

A wooden racquet with a brown leather handle grip. Decal inscription across base of head on obverse: AUTOGRAPH. Wooden badge adhered to stem on obverse features a company logo comprising of dog standing above a radiating diamond device, within a circular frame. Inscription: DRAPER-MAYNARD/D&M/MADE IN U.S.A./"THE LUCKY DOG KI[ND]". Inscription across left side of stem: HALL PAT[ENTED] CONSTRUCTION/"THE ORIGINAL LAMINATED RACKET". Materials: Wood, Leather, Nylon, String, Ink, Metal, Paint, Glue, Lacquertennis

Black and white print of a donated negative. Print made 8/1998. Photo of SEC tram at the Sebastopol terminus with the Royal Mail Hotel in the background. Photo taken during 1968. Tram still has destination of Sebastopol on north end, Fosters Lager sign on hotel and Twin Lakes sign on the tram. Tram overhead has the sheet metal device to assist in putting the trolley pole back on. Two parked cars in the photograph. Photo shows ground conditions at the terminus. Negative rescanned 9-5-2020 and image updated.tramways, trams, sebastopol, royal mail hotel, ballarat, 33, tram 33

Yields information about the vicinity of the Sturt St city loop and the buildings on the south side of Sturt St.Black and White photograph mounted on heavy cardboard backing. Photo of Ballarat No. 12 with destination of Victoria St., westbound in Sturt St, passing the City Loop. No. 12 has a "Twin Lakes" sign on the back of the tram. In the background is the T&G Assurance Society building, the Vegas cinema and other buildings on the south side of St. St. Has many Velcro dots on rear and left overs of mounting devices have been removed on the rear. Note image scanned in two runs through a scanner, resulting in the shading in the image file.trams, tramways, sturt st, city loop, town hall, tram 12

A Davis Imperial tennis racquet, with string whipping around shoulders, and leather handle grip with patterned perforations. Model name features across base of head, flanked by crown devices around the shoulders and an ornamental swirl below. TAD "Kings of the Court" trademark features on lower shaft on reverse. Davis coat-of-arms "Duce virtute comite fortuna" trademark features on lower shaft on obverse. TAD trademarks feature on throat and rubber butt cap. Materials: Wood, Nylon, Ink, Glue, Lacquer, Metal, String, Leather, Adhesive tape, Rubbertennis

A Davis Imperial tennis racquet, with ribbon whipping around shoulders, and leather handle grip with patterned perforations. Model name features across base of head, flanked by crown devices around the shoulders and an ornamental swirl below. TAD "Kings of the Court" trademark features on lower shaft on reverse. Davis coat-of-arms "Duce virtute comite fortuna" trademark features on lower shaft on obverse. TAD trademarks feature on throat and rubber butt cap. Materials: Wood, Nylon, Ink, Glue, Lacquer, Metal, Ribbon, Leather, Adhesive tape, Rubbertennis

A Davis Imperial tennis racquet, with ribbon whipping around shoulders, and leather handle grip with patterned perforations. Model name features across base of head, flanked by crown devices around the shoulders and an ornamental swirl below. TAD "Kings of the Court" trademark features on lower shaft on reverse. Davis coat-of-arms "Duce virtute comite fortuna" trademark features on lower shaft on obverse. TAD trademarks feature on throat and rubber butt cap. Materials: Wood, Nylon, Ink, Glue, Lacquer, Metal, Ribbon, Leather, Adhesive tape, Rubbertennis

A Davis Imperial tennis racquet, with ribbon whipping around shoulders, and leather handle grip with patterned perforations. Model name features across base of head, flanked by crown devices around the shoulders and an ornamental swirl below. TAD "Kings of the Court" trademark features on lower shaft on obverse. Davis coat-of-arms "Duce virtute comite fortuna" trademark features on lower shaft on reverse. TAD trademarks feature on throat and rubber butt cap. Materials: Wood, Nylon, Ink, Glue, Lacquer, Metal, Ribbon, Leather, Adhesive tape, Rubbertennis

A Prosser Super Phenomenon tennis racquet with ribbon whipping around shoulders and shaft, cloth shoulder reinforcements, twine reinforcing around throat, rare angular shaft and leather handle grip. Model name features across base of head and throat on obverse, accompanied by a fleur-de-lis and trapezoid devices. Inscription along shaft on obverse: T.H. PROSSER + SONS LTD. Inscription across base of head on reverse: PROSSER'S. T.H.P. trademark features on butt cover. Materials: Wood, Nylon, Ink, Glue, Lacquer, Metal, Cloth, Leather, Ribbon, Twinetennis

.1 - Badge - Manufactured - brass? with stippled gold plate finish on the rear and sides with a green and gold glazed paint finish with the words "Tramways Board Traffic Officer" in gold on the front and the number "30" stamped into the badge. Has the word "Taiwan" on the rear. Does not have a clip or holding device on the rear. Use to be clarified - could have been a wallet badge. .2 - as above - No. 66 .3 - as above with two metal lugs soldered onto the rear - No. 159 .4 - as above - No. 97 See Reg Item 6011 for another example.trams, tramways, mmtb, badges, officers

To be used for shaping butter into a cube. Mould is constructed of four pieces of wood joined together to form a rectangular central hollow. Small pieces of timber have been nailed in to reinforce the joins. The hollow would be filled with butter, then either the mould would be tapped sharply on a hard surface to remove the square of butter, or a plunger or other device used to push the butter from the mould. Note: Mould is fairly roughly made, suggesting it is home-made, and the absence of grease etc on inside of mould suggests it may never have been used.butter mould

A Vesta case is a small, portable box / safe to carry matches that came into use around the 1830s and was produced extensively between 1890 and 1920. During this period, almost everyone carried strike-anywhere matches, so they could light stoves, lanterns and other devices. Early matches were unreliable and prone to ignite from rubbing on one another or spontaneously. Accordingly, most people carried a match safe / box to house their matches. Wealthy people had match safes made of gold or silver, while common folk had ones made of tin or brass.C 1900 A small silver vesta case, with a roughened strike plate, to hold matches for lighting fires, lamps, cigarettes or pipes. The tin case has been embossed with a bird and floral design on the front and back Embossed with bird and floral design on the front and back .jewellery, personal effects, craftwork, vesta case, lights, candles, safety matches, moorabbin, brighton, bentleigh, cheltenham, early settlers, pioneers

This tester was used between 1950 and 1980's. As part of the Occupation, Health and Safety requirements, equipment used to monitor the performance of electricity producing generators, regularly, hand held testers were used to check the insulation and the "earth" pin were up the the required operational levels. As the generators and their ancillary monitoring equipment was spread over a large area and cumbersome to service small hand held devices were required. These had to always be safe for the user to operate. A selected range of high quality meters were recalibrated every two years in the Meter and Calibration Laboratory at Yarraville(near Melbourne) This meter is very significant to The Kiewa Hydro Electricity Scheme because it was an integral part of maintaining the electricity producing water driven generators of the power stations. The reason why this meter was so essential is that provided the safety check on equipment used to monitor each Hydro Generator that they were complying within the grid network parameters. Grid parameters are set so that if there is an electrical fault on the system, that fault can be attended to with a very small change in the output stability of each generator. It is essential that the voltage of the network remain within the set limits. Generators are at Dartmouth, Mackay, Clover, West Kiewa, Yarrawonga, Cain Curran and three Power Stations in the Thornton area.This hand driven current generator produces 500 volts by winding the handle(on funnel curved side) to keep the voltage constant(one minute per test). The whole body is made from caste aluminium. One of the functions of this meter is to test the isolation resistance of any equipment being tested. This is to see if that equipment is safe to handle(no electrical shocks). The second function is to test the earth pin of any portable electrical equipment. The turn key on one side can direct which function is required(marked insulation or continuity). On the top side(enclosed in a glass fronted marked scale) is a continuity scale(top) and an insulation scale(bottom). This is covered , when not in use by "flip up" lid with manufacturer's details and name of the instrument. Opposite the winder are two screw tight knobs. One marked earth(left side) and one marked line(right side). On the top and next to the glass windowed scales in a post manufacture SEC Vic equipment equipment ID number. For carrying purposes there is chromed steel (fold together) handle.The bottom of the unit has two metal "feet" 150mm long by 114mm wideManufacturer's details on top side "MEG" underneath "INSULATION AND CONTINUITY TESTER" below this "constant 500 VOLT pressure" below this "REGISTERED MEG MEGGER TRADE MARK" below this "REG DESIGN NO. 690326" below this "UNITED KINGDOM PATENT Nos. 193746, 197178, 198182, 202062, 202398, 204649, 350715" below this "SUPPLIED BY THE GENERAL ELECTRIC Co. Ltd OF ENGLAND" below this "MAGNET HOUSE, KINGSWAY LONDON W.C.2" 'sec vic kiewa hydro scheme, alternate energy supplies, alpine feasibility studies temperature, rainfall

This case was used between 1950 and 1980's. As part of the Occupation, Health and Safety requirements, equipment used to monitor the performance of electricity producing generators, regularly, hand held testers were used to check the insulation and the "earth" pin were up the the required operational levels. As the generators and their ancillary monitoring equipment was spread over a large area and cumbersome to service small hand held devices were required. These had to always be safe for the user to operate. A selected range of high quality meters were recalibrated every two years in the Meter and Calibration Laboratory at Yarraville(near Melbourne)This leather case contains a meter which is very significant to The Kiewa Hydro Electricity Scheme because it was an integral part of maintaining the electricity producing water driven generators of the power stations. The reason why this meter was so essential is that provided the safety check on equipment used to monitor each Hydro Generator that they were complying within the grid network parameters. Grid parameters are set so that if there is an electrical fault on the system, that fault can be attended to with a very small change in the output stability of each generator. It is essential that the voltage of the network remain within the set limits. Generators are at Dartmouth, Mackay, Clover, West Kiewa, Yarrawonga, Cain Curran and three Power Stations in the Thornton area.This carry case is made from leather hide and cloth covered cardboard insert. The front side has a lockable English made suitcase fitting. It has a broken carry strap (leather) travelling from top and through leather strap holders both sides and on the bottom of the case. A State Electricity Commission of Victoria identification tag riveted onto the top lid "ELECTRICAL ENGINEERING SECTION No. 1483"sec vic kiewa hydro scheme, alternate energy supplies, alpine located electricity generators, mobile measuring equipment