Accession No

2045.1

Brief Description

Coolidge type X-ray tube, by General Electric Company, U.S.A., 1917-1920 (c)

Origin

U.S.A.; New York; Schenectady

Maker

General Electric Company

Class

physics

Earliest Date

1917

Latest Date

1920

Inscription Date

Material

glass; metal (brass, copper, at least two white metals)

Dimensions

length 470mm; maximum diameter 95mm

Special Collection

Cavendish collection

Provenance

Transferred from Cavendish Laboratory, University of Cambridge, 1974.

Inscription

‘PAT. NOV. 8, 04 SEP. 5, 11, FEB. 27, 12
APR. 16, 12 DEC. 30, 13 JUNE 23, 14
MAY 18, 15 NOV. 30, 15 OCT. 31, 16 JAN. 2, 17
PATENTS PENDING
THIS TUBE IS NOT TO LICENSED TO
BE RE-EXHAUSTED OR REPAIRED
NOR IS THE METAL HEREIN CON-
TAINED LICENSED TO BE USED EX-
CEPT IN THIS PARTICULAR TUBE.
GENERAL ELECTRIC CO
SCHENECTADY, N.Y., U.S.A.’ (etched into tube)

Description Notes

Purple tinted spherical glass chamber with opposing tubes carrying electrodes, Cathode is mounted with screw-fit brass fitting. Angled target on end of anode. At the end of the anode tube is radiator coil for air-cooling. Cavendish label reads ‘Coolidge Tube (Air cooled) Radiator Type 1913-1920 -30 Much used for field units in 1914-18 war, with lead glass protective sleeve. [earliest date must be incorrect because of the patent information]

Condition good; complete

References

Events