CSIR Electrotechnology Section (1939 - 1945)

Summary

The Electrotechnology Section, along with the Sections of Metrology and Physics, formed the National Standards Laboratory, established in 1939. In 1945 the Electrotechnology Section became a CSIR Division and operated until 1962 under the name Division of Electrotechnology when it then merged with the Division of Metrology to form the CSIRO Division of Applied Physics.

Details

From "CSIRO research fro Australia" (1962) pdf page 48:
" . . . it was not until 1937 that the report of a Secondary Industries Testing Research Advisory Committee (of which Sir John was a member) Jed to the setting up of a National Standards Laboratory within C.S.I.R. 1t was decided that the Laboratory should consist of the Section of Metrology, Physics, and Electrotechnology.

In 1938 leaders of the three groups were chosen. Mr. N. A. Esserman (later the first Director of the Laboratory) came from the Munitions Supply Laboratory to take charge of Metrology, and two Sydney University men, Dr. . H. Briggs and Dr. D. M. Myers, were appointed Officer -in-Charge or the Physics and Electrotechnology Sections. A year later, construction of the Laboratory began in the grounds or the University of Sydney.

When the war broke out in 1939, the three Officers-in-Charge were overseas, where they had been looking at standards research and seeking standards equipment. Fortunately, some equipment was obtained, and when the Officers-in-Charge returned from oversea it was possible for the Laboratory to commence functioning and devote its entire effort to defence work."

"The Electrotechnology ection worked on "degaussing" a means of neutralizing or counteracting magnetic fields, which was of great interest to the Navy. Another of the Section's projects was concerned with the prevention of deterioration in hot and humid climates of radios and optical and electrical instruments.

After the war, the Sections were raised to Divisional status, and for the first time the Laboratory was able to concentrate on its original objectives."

Related entries

Timeline

 1939 - 1945 CSIR Electrotechnology Section
       1945 - 1962 CSIR/O Division of Electrotechnology
             1962 - 1974 CSIRO Division of Applied Physics [I]
                   1974 - 1979 National Measurement Laboratory - CSIRO
                         1979 - 1996 CSIRO Division of Applied Physics [II]
                               1996 - CSIRO Division of Telecommunications and Industrial Physics

Published resources

Books

• CSIRO, CSIRO research for Australia: Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization (Canberra: Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Organisation, 1962), 64 pp, https://www.eoas.info/bib-pdf/ASBS15940.pdf. pdf page 48. Details
• Schedvin, C.B; Trace, K., Historical Directory of Council for Scientific and Industrial Research and Commonwealth Scientific and Industrial Research Organization, 1926-1976 (Canberra: CSIRO, 1978), 101 pp. https://csiropedia.csiro.au/wp-content/uploads/2019/04/csiro_historical_directory_1926_1976.pdf. Details
• Turner, J. S.; McLennan, Ethel I.; and Rogers, J. S., The tropic proofing of optical instruments (Melbourne: Ministry of Munitions, Ordnance Production Directorate, Scientific Instruments and Optical Panel, 1947), 80 pp. Details

Resources

• Trove, National Library of Australia, 2009, https://nla.gov.au/nla.party-1477021. Details

Resource Sections

• 'Primary description of agency CA 4377; CSIRO, Division of Applied Physics. Registration of entity: 23 September 1987', in RecordSearch, National Archives of Australia, 2000, https://RecordSearch.naa.gov.au/scripts/AutoSearch.asp?Number=CA%204377. Details