Antique radios, Old Time Radios

History of the manufacturer

Paton Electrical Pty. Ltd.(Palec); Sydney NSW

ID = 7565

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Name:

Paton Electrical Pty. Ltd.(Palec); Sydney NSW (AUS)

Abbreviation:

paton

Products:

Model types

Summary:

Paton Electrical Pty. Ltd.
90 Victoria Street, Ashfield, Sydney, NSW

Brand: Palec

Manufacturer of meter movements and electrical/electronic measurement instruments from 1935 until 1986 when the company was acquired by University Graham Instruments.

Founded:

1935

Closed:

1986

Production:

1935 - 1986

Documents about this manufacturer/brand

Paton Palec meter movements catalogue, Circa 1940.

554 KB

History:

Paton Electrical Instrument Company was established by Frederick Henry Paton (1895-1968) in May,1935.

In 1910 Fred trained as an apprentice in wireless for four years at the Maritime Wireless Telegraph Company . At the outbreak of First World War he joined the AIF as a field engineer and served at Gallipoli and in France. He was severely wounded and invalided to Sydney in 1917. Paton was interested in experimental radio and started making radio receivers and test equipment which he took up commercially in 1929, selling from his late father’s house in Ashfield. [1][2]

In the early 1930’s a partnership was established with Charles Slade of Slade Radio and they commenced manufacturing vacuum tube testers, oscillators and signal generators and multimeters.

The traded under the name Slade-Paton Radio Test Equipment at the Lang Street address of Slade Radio.[3]

Their partnership was dissolved in May 1935 and Fred started Paton Electrical Instrument Company in the same month and his small factory was expanded around his home in Ashfield and equipped with modern plant to produce various lines of equipment.[4]

Paton Electrical Pty. Ltd. was registered in May 1938 with Frederick Paton, his wife Bertha and M.G. Rose as First Directors. [5]

The company mainly produced Palec brand meter movements multimeters, valve testers, oscillators Circuit Tester (VCT) and signal generators.

After the second world war Paton expanded his product line to include [6]:

A range of electronic photoflashes, 60-1000W
Fan-shaped pyrometers and shield-shaped oven temperature gauges.
VTM vacuum-tube voltmeter and probe.
Dynamometer type power analyser.
Photographic exposure meter.
Hearing aid.

In 1954 the company manufactured a high quality, 240 Volt AC, 10 Amp rotary switch with either push on or solder connections. The switch was used in for AC switching in washing machines, air conditioners, etc. [7]

With the introduction of Television, they manufactured special TV servicing instruments such as VTVMs, the ET4 Tube tester and multimeters with high voltage probes.[8]

The main switchboard at the Lucas Heights Nuclear Reactor was fitted exclusively with Paton instruments in 1959.[9]

The company developed an Australian version of the “Taut Band” meter movement suspension system in 1962. This was applied to their heavy-duty range of meters offering better repeatability in reading and a more robust meter movement.[10]

In the 1970 production slowed and the company started importing and selling cheap overseas instruments.[11]

The company merged with University Graham in September 1986 to become University Graham Instruments Pty. Ltd. to become University Paton Instruments .[12]

[1] Radio Trade Annual 1936, Page 356.
[2] The Sydney Morning Herald (NSW) Nov 4, 1931, Page 9.
[3] The Bulletin Sep 26, 1934, Page 32.
[4] The Bulletin, May 1, 1935, Page 33.
[5] Daily Telegraph(NSW) May 14, 1938, Page 15.
[6] Electrical and Radio World, Sep,1951.
[7] Radio & Hobbies, 1954, Page 39.
[8] Radio TV & Hobbies July 1959, Page 2.
[9] Radio TV & Hobbies, Dec 1959, Page 14.
[10] Radio TV & Hobbies July 1962, Page 76.
[11] Electronics Today International Nov 1982, Page 64.
[12] Electronics Today International Sep 1986, Page 10.

This manufacturer was suggested by Wolfgang Scheida.

Some models:

Country	Year	Name	1st Tube	Notes
AUS	35	Palec Valve Tester VCT		The Palec VCT is a portable combination valve (tube) & circuit tester. It was avail...
AUS	48	Palec Valve Tester (Tube) VCT-2		Valve/Tube Tester combined with Multimeter for AC/DC voltage and current. Ohmmeter an...
AUS	39	Palec GB		This is a modulated oscillator for service work.
AUS	55	Palec Volt-Ohmmeter TV-M	12AU7	This is an electronic volt-ohmmeter mainly for television service work. It has seven volt...
AUS	46	Palec Signal Generator SG1	6SN7GT	This is a signal generator for service or laboratory work and covers 6 bands. They are A,...
AUS	47	Palec Electronic Multimeter VTM		This was a probe type vacuum tube multimeter. On AC with the probe it was usable up to 30...
AUS	56	Paton Valve Tester ET4a		Valve emission tester. This model was available with an optional adaptor cable for testin...
AUS	47	Palec Modulated Oscillator MO1		This was a modulated RF test oscillator for receiver alignment. It covers 150 kHz to 30 M...
AUS	47	Palec Modulated Oscillator MO		This was a modulated RF test oscillator for receiver alignment. It covers 150 kHz to 30 M...
AUS	39	Palec Modulated Oscillator GAV		This is a modulated oscillator for receiver alignment. It covers 160 kHz to 24 MHz in 6 b...
AUS	39	Palec Modulated Oscillator GBO		This is a modulated oscillator for receiver alignment. It is similar to the model GB but w...
AUS	39	Palec Modulated Oscillator GA		This is a modulated oscillator for receiver alignment. It covers 160 kHz to 24 MHz in 6 b...

[rmxhdet-en]

Further details for this manufacturer by the members (rmfiorg):

[1] Radio Trade Annual, 1936, Page 356.

[2] 1931 Radio advert from Patons home in Ashfield. The Sydney Morning Herald (NSW) Nov 4, 1931 Page 9 Image sourced & downloaded from Trove - National Library of Australia.

[3] Slade-Paton Test equipment. The Bulletin Sep 26, 1934 Page 32. Image sourced & downloaded from Trove - National Library of Australia.

[4] Slade-Paton partnership was dissolved in May 1935 and started Paton Electrical Instrument Company. The Bulletin, May 1, 1935, Page 33, Image sourced & downloaded from Trove - National Library of Australia.

[5] Paton Electrical Pty. Ltd. registered in May 1938. Daily Telegraph(NSW) May 14, 1938, Page 15.

[7] In 1954 the company manufactured a high quality, 240 Volt AC, 10 Amp rotary switch. Radio & Hobbies, 1954, Page 39.

[8] 1959 Manufacturing TV servicing instruments. Radio TV & Hobbies July 1959, Page 2.

[9] Lucas Heights Nuclear Reactor was fitted exclusively with Paton instruments in 1959. Radio TV & Hobbies, Dec 1959, Page 14.

[10] The company developed an Australian version of the “Taut Band” meter movement suspension system in 1962. Radio TV & Hobbies July 1962, Page 76.

[11] Importing and selling cheap overseas instruments. Electronics Today International Nov 1982, Page 64.

tbn_aus_paton_11_electronics_today_international_nov_1982_page_64.jpg

[12] The company merged with University Graham in September 1986. Electronics Today International Sep 1986, Page 10.

tbn_aus_paton_12_electronics_today_international_sep_1986_page_10.jpg

Advertisement from Radio & Hobbies, April 1940.

Paton volt meter ca. 1940

Advertisement from Radio & Hobbies, April 1940.

Frederick Henry Paton died on May 21, 1968. Government Gazette (NSW) Apr 18, 1985, Page 1784. Image sourced & downloaded from Trove – National Library of Australia

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