This Babcock tester was used in the laboratory at the Kraft cheese factory, Allansford. When it was superseded it was passed to one of the users of the machine, Les O'Callaghan, president of the Warrnambool & District Historical Society who placed it in the historical society collection. In 2009 when the historical society premises were upgraded there was insufficient room to store the tester so it was donated to Cheese World Museum. The machine was used to test the butterfat content of milk. Prior to dairy factories coming into existence farmers made butter individually on farms. There was no need for milk testing until farmers supplied factories for payment. Payment was based on a gallon of milk weighing 10lbs (pounds) and this led to richer milk, containing a high degree of butterfat for use in buttermaking, being paid at the same rate as lesser quality milk. In 1890 Stephen Moulton Babcock, an American professor at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, developed a method of determining the amount of butterfat in milk, thus providing a standardised and fairer system for payment. Babcock Test Process 1. 18 grams of milk (17.6ml) was put into a test tube 2. The same amount of sulphuric acid was added 3. A centrifuge at 50ºC was rotated at more than 900 revs per minute 4. The fat floating on top of the liquid in the test tube was measured The Babcock Test provided fairer compensation to farmers and also helped produce a consistent product for consumers. It also allowed for selective breeding when dairy herd testing evolved. ‘The Babcock Test is so simple that it can be used by any careful person, and it is inexpensive to operate. From the very beginning it was so complete in every detail that no change has had to be made in it.’ (Babcock Test http://www.en.wikipedia.org/wki/Babcock_test 31 March 2009) Round green metal container with opening lid. Inside houses a spinning rotor with 20 test tube holders around the outside in two circular rows.7173 BABCOCKTESTER 190allansford, dairy manufacturing, milk testing, babcock test, babcock, stephen moulton, butter, warrnambool cheese and butter factory company

The Uebergang family came from Silesia to Australia in 1848 and were early settlers in the Allansford area. The sons and other descendants also purchased farms in the area. The Percy Uebergang family lived at Tooram Park, Allansford from 1912 until 1992. Percy and Myrtle Uebergang's children were twins, Ray and Joyce born in 1926 who lived at Tooram Park until their deaths, Ray in 1986 and Joyce in 1992 after which the property was sold. Neither Ray nor Joyce married and following the death of her brother Joyce set up the Ray and Joyce Uebergang Foundation which supports the local community. The collection of items from their property was put into store for a number of years before being given into the care of the Cheese World Museum. The family often re-used, recycled and repaired items and examples can be seen in the museum. This Babcock tester is part of the collection of items given into the care of the Cheese World Museum. The Babcock tester was used to determine the butter fat content in milk. Prior to the use of the Babcock test farmers were paid on volume and milk was sometimes watered down to increase the supply to the factory. Once the Babcock test was introduced it provided a consistent means of paying farmers for milk supplied to the factory. The Babcock tester is significant as a scientific means of testing fat content of milk and the subsequent consistent payment mechanism to farmers. This test also provided a means for farmers to identify poor performing cows and upgrade the quality of their herd and subsequent milk supply to the factory.Four tipping metal testing tubes which revolve on a brass base. A winding handle has a wooden grip. The base and arms holding the metal tubes is painted red.OFFICIAL BABCOCK TESTERallansford, dairy farming, dairy industry, dairy processors, babcock test

In 1890 D. Babcock invented a test for measuring the amount of butter fat in milk, either on the farm or in the dairy or creamery. Samples of milk were put in the glass vial and then spun (by cranking the handle) causing the cream to separate from the non-fat milk thus determining the percentage of cream in the milk. The product was then priced accordingly.Dairy farming in the Kiewa Valley was the main industry with farmers keen to test the quality of their milk before selling it. This centrifuge enabled them to test the amount of milk and cream being produced by their herd. This '1903 Butter Fat Tester' made 100 turns per minute. Early hand crank centrifuge for measuring the butterfat content of milk in the farm dairy or creamery. It has 4 brass / copper removable canisters with glass vials and tubes that fit inside. The glass vials bulge at the bottom and are marked with measurements 1, 2 etc.Numbers on the glass vialsmilk and cream tester, dairy farming, centrifuge

The Ballarat School of Mines Students' Magazine in 1905 was an unofficial journal edited by the students.Twenty-eight page booklet known as the Ballarat School of Mines Student's Magazine. Contents include: A jaunt to South Australia; Tests for the Assay Lab; Huntingdon-Heberlein Process; Slag Calculation; Electrical Laboratory; Hydrochoric Acod-Phenolph-thalein; Ballarat scientific Society; James W. Hawthorne; Maryborough Excursion; Prof Alexander Purdie; School Dirge; Compound Engines; Sister Institutions; Trafalgar, Acrobates Pymgaeus, Pigmy Flying Phalangerobituary for Alexander Purdie, Electric traction, Estimation of Fat in Milk by the Babcock Machine, first Ballarat School of Mines Annual Dinner; Crytallography Images include; Electrical Laboratory; Professor Dawbarn; James W. Hawthorne; Ballarat Rowing Eight on Lake Wendouree (H. Valentine, W. Pearce, W. Figgis, L. Seward, C. McGennis, D. Don, R. Nevett, M. Gaunt, N. Buley). Advertisements: Craig, Williamson Pty Ltd; Ballarat Baths (B. McCausland); W. Gribble & Co., H.B. Silberberg & Co; F. Jago - Ballarat Boot Palace; John Slater & Co., Kiels Motor & Cycle Stores; Alex Miller & Sons; Thomas McPherson & Son; W. Cornell; Brush Electrical Engineering Co; Ballarat School of Mines; Harry Davies & Co; Stansfield & Smith; Craig's Royal Hotel.ballarat school of mines, south australia; adelaide, valentine, pearce, figgis, seward, mcgennis, don, nevett, gaunt, buley, adelaide school of mines, kerr grant, arizona, jack adam, adam, j.a. reid, reid, jager, rowing, h. valentine, w. pearce, w. figgis, l. seward, c. mcgennis, d. don, r. nevett, m. gaunt, n. buley, cycling

This milk tester was developed by Stephen Babcock in 1890 to discourage milk adulteration. Some farmers would dilute the milk with water or skim off some of the cream. To undertake the test, milk was put into a special flask with a long neck, called a Babcock bottle, an amount of sulfuric acid was added to the milk. This would dissolve proteins and others components and leave the fat. The bottles were then placed on the tester. Heating and centrifuging would cause the fat to separate and float to the top in a layer free of bubbles. The centrifuging was done by speedily turning the handle (the handle is missing on this tester). The amount of fat could then be estimated from the volume of that layer. This Babcock Milk Tester was of the type used by previous owner of Churchill Island, Harry Jenkins, who owned a dairy farm.Slate steel hand operated centrifuge, with a long wooden crank attaching to the body. Eight uncoloured metal protrusions for attaching to the bottles/pipettes connect with the crank, and the feet of the machine have two holes for secure attachment to a surface. This object has been riveted to a wooden board. Babcock Tester, Officialfarm, machinery, dairy, equipment, babcock tester, hand operated, fat content, babcock, churchill island