Accession No

2047.2

Brief Description

Macalaster Wiggin type X-ray tube, by Macalaster Wiggin Company, U.S.A., c. 1915

Origin

U.S.A.; Boston

Maker

Victor Macalaster Wiggin Company

Class

physics

Earliest Date

1915

Latest Date

1915

Inscription Date

Material

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

Dimensions

height 545mm; breadth 225mm; depth 145mm

Special Collection

Cavendish collection

Provenance

Transferred from Cavendish Laboratory, University of Cambridge, 1974.

Inscription

‘VICTOR
TRADE MARK
MADE IN BOSTON U.S.A.
TUNGSTEN’
‘MACALASTER, WIGGIN CO.’
‘PAT. SEP. 5:11 DEC. 30:13
JUN. 23:14 NOV. 30:15’ (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 good; complete.

References

Events