2009 Anniversaries

What does August 1974 have in common with August 1984? This was when Hewlett-Packard facilities in Australia and Great Britain received accreditation from their respective national organizations (NATA and BCS) for certain calibration activities. And what better way of marking the occasion than with than a delicious cake?!

Established in 1947, NATA is the world’s oldest such agency and our Melbourne service center is justly proud of having Agilent's longest longest term of accreditation – since 21^st August 1974.

Their celebration of this thirty-five year achievement includes a video (see link, right) which showcases their capabilities. Starting with HP/Agilent’s US corporate history, it then focuses on its foundation in Melbourne and the country’s premier commercial calibration facility that it has become. Be sure not to miss this opportunity to witness the antipodean interpretation of time-lord Doctor Who’s TARDIS in action!

Images taken from the video show our Australian lab in 1974.

In comparatively recent times, our Winnersh service center was granted British Calibration Service "approval" (as it was then termed) on 17^th August 1984. Based on the NATA model, BCS began in 1966, transforming into NAMAS in 1985 and finally UKAS in 1995.

It's the nature of metrologists to keep records which means we have the chance to look back at the original letters of approval, together with the published capabilities. Original NATA approval Original BCS approval
	Instruments like this resistance bridge, in wooden cases with many knobs and dials, still featured in standards laboratories until the 1980s.