The Defence Standards Laboratory in South Australia, and CSIRO Woodville North, South Australia, used this alternating current (A.C.) stabiliser to provide a highly stabilised power supply for a range of high precision measurement instruments. A stabilised power supply was necessary to obtain very accurate, precise and repeatable readings to be taken for a variety of determinations. The stabiliser represents a high quality power supply of its period (1948-1970) and is an appropriate display companion for several precision electrical measurement instruments in the collection.

Using mains power as the input, the alternating current stabiliser produces an A.C. output which is highly stable (perhaps as much as 1 part in 10,000 over the range of 20v to 230 v). It is used to provide a stable power supply to various measuring instruments or other loads.

Alternating current stabiliser, metal / plastic / glass, made by H Tinsley & Co Ltd, London, England, c. 1948-1970, used by Defence Standards Laboratory, Adelaide, South Australia, c. 1950-1977, and CSIRO, Woodville North, South Australia, c. 1977-1990

The unit is encased in a grey metal box with light grey metal face. Chromed metal carry handles are mounted to the face at the middle of the left and right edges.

A glass fronted meter indicates the output voltage from 0-15 volts, a dial to adjust the output voltage, and a switch to select 2 or 4 amps output. There is a recessed three (round) pin plug for the mains input power and an Australian standard 3-pin socket for the output power. On/off switches labelled 'MAINS' and 'STABILISER'. Three coloured [plastic] covered indicator lights from the left, 'PILOT', 'LOW', 'HIGH'. The low and high lights indicate the output volt range. Four tunable pots are labelled 5 AMP, 2 AMP, 500 mA and 350 mA.

Made: 1943 - 1975

Engraved into the middle of metal surface of the instrument in black is:
'A.C. STABILISER
DR G.N. PATCHETT'S DESIGN
TYPE 5105 B
PAT No 814883'

Engraved or printed along the bottom edge of metal surface of the instrument in black is:
'No 147,501 H. TINSLEY & Co Ltd LONDON S.E. 25 SWITCH PAT No 616684'

Metal sticker attached to side of wooden box;
'THIS EQUIPMENT IS THE PROPERTY OF
COMMONWEALTH OF AUSTRALIA

PLANT
No.'

This label is engraved with a series of five numbers (mostly obscured by the CSIRO sticker) which appears to read
'31922'

Over this metal sticker is a white paper label typed
'C.S.I.R.O.
NM 46'

On the side of the stabiliser is a Richard Mitchell Removals sticker (blue writing on white background)

'RICHARD MITCHELL REMOVALS
ADELAIDE

Lot No. Item No.'

2008/174/2

1943 - 1975

310 mm

570 mm

375 mm