Information from Norman F. Dalton: Ballarat had a reticulated DC supply in the early part of last century and in 1905 had sufficient generating capacity to enable the trams to be changed from horse drawn to DC electricity. The use of electricity increased with the main power station located on Wendouree Parade, near Webster Street, under the ownership of The Electric Supply Company of Victoria. AC generating plant was installed in 1925 and conversion to AC proceeded. In 1934 the company was taken over by the State Electricity Commission Victoria (SECV) and more AC generation was installed and the changeover of customers was accelerated. This is around the time that the Synchronome Frequency Checking Mast Clock was installed at the Wendouree Parade Power Station. The SECV Annual Report of 1921 states: ::Section 11 of the act directed the COmmission to enquire into the question of securing the adoption of such standards of plant and equipment of a system, frequency and pressure for the generation and distribution of electricity as will admit of the efficient interconnection of undertakings throughout the State. In 1934 when the SECV took over the Ballarat operations the question of linking with the State grid had been a planned operation for some years but due to financial considerations had hindered it and in fact would continue to do so for a further 10 years. So while the need for close frequency control for interconnection was hardly an issue, the need to keep electric clocks correct was important, particularly as this item was a frequent sales point to cover the inconvenience and sometimes expense of converting from DC to AC. The clock is a very accurate pendulum clock with provision for varying effective length during operation for precise time regulation. There are two normal time dials and one is controlled by the pendulum and the other is operated by the system frequency. When the clock was in use it was installed by the MEter and Tests Laboratory and the time was checked daily by radio time signals. The two dials were repeated in the operators control panel in the Power Station. A maximum deviation between the two dials was set in the operating instructions (eg 5 seconds) and the operator would correct this when necessary by remote manual alteration of the turbine governor set point. The clock was used to drive and regulate a system of "slave" clocks which were used to display the time in various locations around the power station. A slave clock is a simple clock which is driven by a small electric motor, its accuracy is regulated by the master clock every 30 seconds to ensure that it and all the other slave clocks in the station are on exactly the right time; slave clocks were placed in various locations, from common rooms to workshops. A master clock could potentially run thousands of slave clocks at one plant. The clock also contains a rectifier. A rectifier is a device that is used to convert AC power to more stable DC current.Two clocks in a timber case. Both are electric, one is powered by the main pendulum mechanism, the other is a self contained electric clock. The main mechanism is of the gravity arm and roller type, which sends an impulse to the slave clocks every 30 seconds. The This Synchronome Frequency Checking Master Clock was used at the Ballarat Power Station. Below the main section of the case is a smaller cabinet containing a rectifier to provide consistent DC power for the clock. The rectifier was made by the Victorian company Hilco, which was located in Burwood. There is a high chance this is not the original rectifier from this clock as there appears to be brackets to hold a larger device in the space the rectifier occupies.Front below main clock face on front of case: "Patented Sychronome Brisbane" Lower left-hand clock face: "Frequency time" Lower right-hand clock face: "Standard Seconds" Synchronous electric clock mechanism on door (Frequency time clock): >200/250 V. 50~ >"Synchronomains" Made in England >Direction indicator for clock starting switch >"To start move lever in direction of arrow and release" >"Patent applied for" Mechanism for "standard seconds" clock: >"English Made" >"Patented" >Serial number "321" >0 above right-hand pillar on front-plate Mechanism for "standard seconds" clock: >"English Made" >"Patented" >Serial number "321" >0 above right-hand pillar on front-plate Mechanism for main clock face: >"English Made" >"Patented" >Serial number "8751" >0 above right-hand pillar on front-plate Inside case, back panel, top enamel plate: >Seconds Battery + Pos. > Battery Common or - Neg. >1/2 min dials Inside case, back panel, bottom enamel plate: external seconds dial Inside case, right hand side, electrical knobs: two switches, both "A.C. mains" Pendulum rod, below suspension spring: Serial number (?) 0000005 Rectifier in bottom cabinet: >"Hilco Rectifier" >"A.C. Volts 230/240" >"Model 1060/S" >"A.C. Amperes" >"Serial No. 1060/S >"Phases 1" >"D.C. Volts 6" >"C.P.S. 50" >"D.C. Amperes 1" >"Made in Australia by Hilco Transformers McIntyre St., Burwood, Victoria." Bakelite electrical plug: makers mark Lower cabinet, RH side panel, pressed tin plate: "AC" (upside down) Brass speed adjustment, outer right RH side: "S" and "F" Ivory and wood pendulum beat ruler: >Ruler, with 0 in centre and numbers 1-5 in ascending order from centre on left and right. > "Synchronome Patent." Steel plate, back panel, inside case, right hand side: >N R A" (descending) >"2191" serial number/part number Face of main clock: "Synchronome Electric" synchronome frequency checking master clock, electricity, state electricity commission, wendouree parade power station, secv, clock, time, pendulum, electric supply company of victoria, norman f. dalton, ballarat power station, rectifier, slave clock

Set of three colour slides of the demolition of the former ESCo.SECV Wendouree Parade Power Station - slides dated Sept. See also item 1140 for other photos. Photos by David Frost 1993.Yields information about the demolition of Ballarat A Power station.Colour Slide - Kodak plastic mounts - set of 3tramways, btps, esco, power station, ballarat "a" power station, demolition

Photograph of No 21 in Ripon St near the intersection with Wendouree Parade. Tram has the destination of View Point. Ballarat A Power Station buildings are in the background. Photographer and date unknown.Yields information about SECV Ballarat 21 running a View Point service.Copy negative on a heavy substrate.tramcars, tramways, view point, tram 21, wendouree parade, ballarat a power station, ripon st

B&W photograph of the interior of the Wendouree Parade power station boiler house of ESCo, at the time of its opening. Photo shows boilers and furnaces, pipe work, coal hoppers and some control equipment. The print for this photograph made from a copy negative of page 454 of the Australasian, August 19, 1905 in 1993. Print includes caption "BOILERS AND FURNACES". See Reg, Item No. 763. See Alan Bradley, draft Chapter 3 of the history of Ballarat Tramwaystramways, trams, esco, power station, boilers, ballarat

B&W photograph of the interior of the Wendouree Parade power station of ESCo, at the time of its opening. Photo shows the switchboard on the left side, with its elaborate handrail and the DC current generating equipment on the right hand side. Also shows the travelling gantry crane. The print for this photograph made from a copy negative of page 454 of the Australasian, August 19, 1905 in 1993. Print includes caption "ELECTRIC - POWER HOUSE". See Reg, Item No. 763. See Alan Bradley, draft Chapter 3 of the history of Ballarat Tramwaystrams, tramways, esco, power station, ballarat "a" power station, ballarat

Photocopy of a transcript prepared by Lloyd Jenkins and draft copy with corrections in blue and black ink of an interview with Mr. Sam Clack at 116 Victoria St. Ballarat, 22 January 1987, who was 88 at the time of the interview. Mr. Sam Clack, was a boiler cleaner with the ESCo in the Wendouree Parade power station, the takeover by the SEC, working conditions, Creswick Road (B station), wages, details of the equipment, air raid shelters, WWII, Social activities, and job satisfaction. Interview comprises 9 sheets of A4 paper. The draft copy comprises 17 pages.trams, tramways, oral history, audio tape transcripts, sec, esco, boiler cleaner, power station

Has a strong association with some of the Ballarat SEC workers.Hanimex colour slide, white cardboard mount of a SEC worker in grey overalls at the SEC depot in Wendouree Parade - Ballarat A power station. Photo from the collection of Lilian Butler. ballarat, tramways, trams, ballarat a power station, maintenance

Yields information about a piece of the original equipment from the ESCo Ballarat power station.Colour photograph of the ESCo Wendouree Parade power station - DC face plate starter for one of the rotary converters - DC hand operated drum and multiple lever panel" - see Jan. 1998 issue of Fares Please! for details of the donation and a copy of the photograph as used. Photo taken by Warren Doubleday. Printed on Kodak Paper. Photo taken mid Dec. 1997. Photos of cabinet with doors opened and signs added 2/4/2018. Images .1 - Brookhirst makers plate with Patent Nos. .2 - Machine with doors open .3 - wiring diagram .4 - Brookirst cabinet latch at the bottom of the machine. .5 - Safety sign re opening the doors. .6 - bottom section of cabinet with cable found in machine .7 - top half of machine .8 - similar to .6 .9 - close up of the cable. See January 1998 Fares Please!esco, power station, rotary converters

Yields information about the demolition of Ballarat A Power station.Set of three colour photographs of buildings and demolition of the former ESCo / SECV Wendouree Parade Power station sent to the Editor of Trolley Wire - used in the November 1997 issue of Trolley Wire. All photos by Alan Bradley. Photos taken during November 1993 or March 1994. All photos on AGFA paper. 1140.1 - The gate house building in Wendouree Parade - Nov. 1993 - used on page 21 of Nov. 1997 Trolley Wire. 1140.2 - Foundation stone - 23/8/1904 - of the ESCo power house. Gives names of people involved and contractors etc. - used on page 20 of Trolley Wire. Taken during November 1993. 1140.3 - Demolition work well advanced showing foundations and basement areas of power station - taken during March 1994. Used on page 25 of Trolley Wire. See also item 10286 for other photos.All have yellow stickers with photo number for magazine printer, and white sticky labels with photo number and words "same size" written on black ink. 1140.1 and 1140.2 have pencil cropping marks.trolley wire, esco, power station, demolition

Yields information about trams using the Ripon St line and the then former Ballarat A Power Station.Kodak Kodachrome cardboard mount, colour slide of tram 26?, in Ripon St, bound for Lydiard St North, at Wendouree Parade, with the SEC Power Station A in the background. Taken 5/68."5/68" in ink.tramways, trams, lydiard st north, ripon st, ballarat a power station, tram 26?

Set of four black and white photographs of interior and equipment of the former ESCo / SECV Wendouree Parade Ballarat A power station sent to the Editor of Trolley Wire - used in the November 1997 issue of Trolley Wire. All photos by Richard Gilbert. Photos taken on 20/8/1971. All photos on Kodak paper. 1144.1 - Looking along building at main distribution switch panel - used on page 24 of trolley wire. 1144.2 - a view across the main steam generator section of the power station - and AC plant - used on page 23. 1144.3 - of the British Thomson Houston rotary converters in used at the time of the photo - used on page 23. 1144.4 - a view from the opposite end of the building shown in 1144.1 - showing the rotary converters are in the front of the photo, AC generators in the middle and foreman's cabin - used on page 22. All have yellow stickers with photo number for magazine printer, and white sticky labels with photo number and words "photo xx same size" written on black ink and photo numbers in pencil from Richard.trams, tramways, trolley wire, esco, power station, ballarat a power station, rotary converters

Set of 3 photos of the interior of the Ballarat A power station showing generation equipment and one of the rotary converters. The station equipment was removed after the SECV system closed.Yields information about the equipment installed at Ballarat A power station.Set of 3 Kodachrome colour slides - cardboard mountsHave the photographer's slide numbers written on them.trams, tramways, closure, secv, ballarat "a" power station, rotary converters, electricity generation

Set of four photographs showing the MESCo/SECV power station with a chimney. Photos taken on the TMSV tour to Geelong, Queenscliff and Belmont Common on 21/6/1970 - tour No. 37 - see item 6589. The group of patrons are looking inside the tramway entrance archway with their bus, Benders, alongside. There is a Auction notice on the wall just behind the back of the bus with a "sold" sign on it. See also item 8333 for photos with the chimney and one taken in April 1971 without the chimney.Yields information about the former Geelong A power station prior to its partial demolition and incorporation into a shopping centre. Portions of the original brick buildings have been retained.Set of four black and white photographs with a plain back.geelong, geelong a, power station, mesco, secv, tramways

Photograph of former SECV tram 30 being loaded at Ballarat B Power station for Kaniva on 10/2/1972 - see item 2177 for the published photograph. Photo shows three cranes loading the tram onto the truck at the SEC's Ballarat North yard where it had been stored. Yields information about tram 30 and its stay at Kaniva following the closure of the SEC operated Ballarat Tram system.Black and White photograph with The Courier Ballarat stamp on the rear.tramcars, kaniva, transporting trams, disposal, tram 30

Photograph taken of former SECV Ballarat trams 30, 31 and 32 stored in the yard at Ballarat B Power station yard following the closure of the system. Photo taken early Oct. 1971. Has the Power station in the background. Dates based on the arrival of the trams from the SEC Ballarat depot by 6/10/71 and the departure of No. 31 for Perth on 11/10/1971.Yields information about the three trams that were stored at Ballarat B Power station yard following the closure of the Ballarat system,Colour photograph with a plain back.tram disposal, ballarat b power station, tram 30, tram 31, tram 32, sale of trams

Photograph shows a painted tram stop sign adjacent to the Power Station (Wendouree Parade and Rippon St.) that trams only went to View Point terminus from this point. Photos by Mal Rowe, 1/1/70.Yields information about Ballarat Tram stops signage.Black and white photograph notes on rear.Mal Rowe copyright stamp with number 120,19 and "Adjacent Power Station 1/1/70"tramcars, tramways, tram stops, view point

The photograph shows the View Point route timetable board that was on the Power station wall in Ripon St. Photo Mal Rowe 1/1/70. The photo, cropped was used on page 55 in Keith Kings 1971 book "Ballarat Tramways." This timetable board is one that is not in the Museum's collection.Yields information about the timetable that applied for the View Point route, though by the end of the operations in 1971, View Point services did not operate.Black and white photograph notes on rear Mal Rowe copyright stamp with number "120,18" and "On Power station wall 1/1/70" and "No. 34 page 55"tramcars, tramways, signs, timetables, ballarat a power station, ripon st, view point

Photograph of Geelong No. 9 leaving the depot in the afternoon with the destination of Newtown. In the background is the MESCo-built depot building and Geelong Power station in Corio Terrace. Photo by Hugh Ballment 25/5/1954Yields information about the Geelong tram depot building and tram No. 9Slide - Kodak Cardboard mount with photographer's notes.In ink "25/1, 25/5/54 #9, SEC Geelong" and Hugh Ballment stamp.tramways, geelong, depot, corio terrace, tram 9

Digital image of a Photograph of SEC Geelong, No 28 on the depot fan, 21/8/1955. Tram showing the destination of "City". Has depot buildings and power station walls in the background. See item 1930 for a black and white version and 426 for another colour image at the same time.Yields information about Geelong 28Digital image of a colour slide - Keith Kings K(a)(57)jtrams, tramways, geelong, depot, tram 28

A report - possibly to investors about the performance of the State Electricity Commission of Victoria, in 1959. Reports on power production, brown coal production, opening of the Richmond control room, power sales, number of consumers, new power stations - Morwell and Kiewa McKay Creek. Gives Income and profit details. On the last page bottom right hand corner is a paragraph about the financial loss of the Ballarat and Bendigo tramways and the cost of operation per passenger. Yields information about the SEC for 1959 and tramway losses.Two colour folded publication, four sheetssecv, reports, power stations, electricity supply, tramways, finances

The photo shows the construction of the first part of the Geelong tram depot, digging trenches for power cables or drainage, some track, wheel sets delivered possibly mid-1911. The power station chimney can be seen on the left-hand side. Many workers, horse-drawn carts, and materials can be seen.Yields information about Geelong late 1930s and tramway operations.Black and white photograph - plain back.geelong, tramways, mesco, construction, geelong depot, new tramways

Photograph shows Geelong power station after completion. Power house building on the SW corner of Corio Tce. and Yarra Sts, Geelong, with new furnace room on the left, turret removed from the corner of the building, a third floor added on the Corio Tce. side but offices and concreted company name above where the trams entered the depot from the street not yet built. Date between 1924 and 1928 (based on photograph of Pengelly tramcar arriving and recently received, secondhand Melbourne tramcar). The ground floor offices facing Corio Tce. appear to be boarded up.Yields information about the Geelong Power station c1926Black and white print on paper.Plate number 1-8 in ink on back of photo.tramways, geelong, mesco, power station

Photograph shows Geelong tram depot under construction. (Later 1 road). Corio Tce. (Renamed Brougham St.), 1911Yields information about the Geelong Tram depot c1926Black and white print on paper.Plate number 2-1 in ink on back of photographtramways, geelong, mesco, power station

The MESCo's tower trailer, photographed in Corio Tce. The building in the background is Blakiston's, immediately west of the tram depot. Smoke from the power station chimney is in the top left of the photo. The trailer was used for tramway overhead, shown in action in photos 9272 and 9273. Early 1910s.Yields information about the Geelong MESCo tower trailer c1926Black and white print on paper.Plate number 2-2 in ink on back of photographtramways, geelong, mesco, power station