Accession No

2005

Brief Description

Macalaster Wiggin type X-ray tube, by Newton and Wright Ltd., English, c. 1912

Origin

England; London; 72 Wigmore Street

Maker

Newton and Wright Ltd.

Class

physics

Earliest Date

1912

Latest Date

1912

Inscription Date

Material

glass; metal (brass, copper, tungsten, at least two other metals); paper

Dimensions

height 500mm; breadth 225mm; depth 130mm

Special Collection

Cavendish collection

Provenance

Transferred from Cavendish Laboratory, University of Cambridge, 1974.

Inscription

‘MACALASTER WIGGIN TUBE
Sold by
British Manufacturers & Wholesale Agents
NEWTON & WRIGHT LTD.,
72, WIGMORE STREET, LONDON, W.’ (paper label on cathode tube)
‘BRITISH
NO
1784
M
MADE.’ (anode)
‘PATENT NO. 5350 OF 1912’ (target)

Description Notes

Glass tube with central spherical chamber, tinged purple from gas. White metal anode in side arm ending in disc. Long tube from sphere containing white metal cathode ending in concave disc at top of short cylinder. Opposite the cathode is a long glass tube containing the connection for the target, which consists of an open white metal ring, linked to a copper (?) cylinder cut at an angle with a central mica (?) disc. Side arm evacuation tube. Copper section of target carries serial number and patent details. Brass caps on electrodes to aid electrical connection; spiral brass wire connects anode and target.

Condition fair (corrosion to brass); complete.

References

Events