it would seem counter-productive to test valves on a production line and then once more before fitting them

It would, unless the factory testing was found in Oz to be unreliable.

I've seen film of the Mullard UK factory in which you get the impression that every single valve was put through a range of tests. I find that hard to believe. Testing in a mass production process is usually done by sampling each batch and if the fault rate is too high then the entire batch is tested or scrapped (depending on the type of product).

"Never seen an STC valve myself"

I have a new in box British made STC 0D3 voltage regulator.

Australian made STC products were big on British made Brimar valves. I have seen Australian Miniwatts and AWV valve types rebranded as Brimars. The word Brimar derives from British Made American Types.

On the subject of STC, what became of 252-274 Botany Rd., Alexandria site?

EDIT: just been going through my STC data manuals. It seems that industrial/military valve types were branded STC & valves intended for domestic use were branded Brimar.

On the subject of STC, what became of 252-274 Botany Rd., Alexandria site?

It's all modern showrooms and commercial offices these days.

Yes, the building is still there. I only discovered it was previously owned by STC because the paint from their distinctive logo still shows on the brickwork.

A photo is on way soon.

I have seen Australian Miniwatts and AWV valve types rebranded as Brimars.

I've seen Kenrad valves shown as Australian made and have assumed that a similar situation arose with these.

Yes, the Ken-Rad valves as advertised on the front cover of Radio & Hobbies are re-badged AWV's.

The plot thickens...

http://museumvictoria.com.au/collections/items/411761/electronic-valve-standard-telephones-and-cables-triode-type-vt90-sectioned-1940s.

And:-

http://museumvictoria.com.au/collections/items/415431/electronic-valve-stc-triode-type-sy4104d-1930-1959.

And here's a page showing Brimar valves when the brand was owned by Thorn and then later STC.

http://www.vintage-technology.info/pages/ephemera/vebrimar.htm.

A few more factory addresses.

Admiral was for it's short existence in Gow St. Bankstown

Electronic Industries (Astor) by the late 1960's had four main production sites. Two factories in Sth Melbourne (Grant St and Nolan St), a complex in Oakleigh and the new complex at Centre Rd Clayton. Only the Oakleigh factory remains. It is the large building bounded by Parkside Drive, Edward Street and Hamilton Street. It is now home to World Series Paintball.
Astor also had a nine story administration office tower at 161 Sturt St Sth Melbourne which survives but is heavily modified to be used as residential apartments.

EMI Australia (HMV) was at 2 (later 6) Parramatta Rd Homebush. This location appears to be now the Kennards self storage building so it may be the original EMI factories have survived.

Email-Westinghouse was at Joynton Ave Waterloo which was still standing when I was there 10 years ago.

Healing had a head office at 167-173 Franklin St Melbourne which survives. I'm not sure of the factory address at this stage.

Kriesler has been well covered already but it should be noted that Alice St Newtown was badly damaged by fire in early 1960 and production was moved to Alexandria until the new factory complex at Caringbah was completed.

Philips was at the large industrial site on Tapleys Hill Rd Hendon S.A. from the late 1940's till the early 1970's when production was moved to the newly acquired Astor Clayton factory complex. There were also large administrative offices in both Sydney and Melbourne as well as smaller offices in the other capitals. The Melbourne office was diagonally across the road from Astor House in Sturt St Sth Melbourne and still exists with alterations. I haven't checked up on the Sydney office yet.

Pye had administration offices on the corner of Cary St and Carrington Rd Marrickville which survive. The factory itself may be gone but I'm not sure where it should be except that it was on Carrington Rd somewhere. Technico was taken over by Pye so I presume it was the old Technico factory.

Thom & Smith (Pope-Motorola) was at 919-929 Botany Rd Mascot.

The valve situation in Australia is complicated. AWA-RCA and Philips controlled all the patents for the local market along with steep import tariffs.

I would not be surprised if STC was manufacturing specialised valves locally but the common valves may have been rebranded AWA or Philips valves or English imports.

EMI Australia (HMV) was at 2 (later 6) Parramatta Rd Homebush. This location appears to be now the Kennards self storage building so it may be the original EMI factories have survived.

All buildings, including the staff carpark survive. I have photos that I took in the area a few weeks ago. I will publish these before the end of the week.

I would not be surprised if STC was manufacturing specialised valves locally but the common valves may have been rebranded AWA or Philips valves or English imports.

This looks a likely scenario. I think we can confirm STC did make valves here but the first one I linked to in my previous post is a transmitting valve and thus would have been made in small numbers and the second link appears to be a locally manufactured version of one of Western Electric's classic triodes. The local STC version would be extremely rare and quite collectable I would imagine.

I have photos that I took in the area a few weeks ago.

Oh good, I look forward to seeing them. I'm having a look now at the streetview imagery and it looks like the white building next door which is now a furniture outlet, is all part of the same complex.

Kriesler has been well covered already but it should be noted that Alice St Newtown was badly damaged by fire in early 1960

That may explain why there's no building at #43 anymore, just a park.

I think we can confirm STC did make valves here

Interesting, if those museum citations are correct.

There's an STC expert in the HRSA. I'll have to ask him about this.

According to "When Radio Was the Cat's Whiskers" (Bernard Harte), page 214, STC began manufacturing valves for PMG & military use in 1939 at Liverpool, NSW.

STC began manufacturing valves for PMG & military use in 1939 at Liverpool, NSW.

Well, there you go. I think that would fall into the "little known facts" category.