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History and Physics Instruments
electronic glassware
History and Physics Instruments
X-Ray tubes
Mysterious rays
Mysterious rays
Wilhelm Conrad Röntgen
1845-1923
1845-1923
The first X- Ray picture.
It's the hand of Röntgen's wife Anna Bertha, she lived from 1839-1919. The picture was taken on 22 December 1895. Click at the hand to visit the Deutsches museum for more Röntgen info.
It's the hand of Röntgen's wife Anna Bertha, she lived from 1839-1919. The picture was taken on 22 December 1895. Click at the hand to visit the Deutsches museum for more Röntgen info.
The X-Ray story in a nutshell.
In the early times Crookes or Hittorf tubes consists of a view simple electrodes projecting into a
glass bulb. With one of these tubes Wilhelm Röntgen made his discovery for which he was
awarded for the first Nobel Prize. The classic cold Cathode X-Ray tube was born, a tube with two
electrodes. The tube developed into a three electrode tube with a third anticathode and platinum
target (due to the high melting point of this metal). When in 1913 William Coolidge and Lilienfeld
made there first hot Cathode X-Ray tube, they replaced the cold Cathode with a heated spiral
filament Cathode and tungsten Anode. The third anticathode disappeared, the angle of the Anode in
his tube was set at 45º. X-Ray's could now be better controlled and were more reliable. The only
practical problem was cooling the Anode, (which got extremely hot) this was a huge problem due to
it's small size. New designs were developed, a heavy copper base to the Anode, sometimes with
water cooling, this conducted the heat away and therefore increased the capacity of the tube to
withstand a high current. Soon after the discovery of Conrad Röntgen the production of these tubes
started, not only in the German factories of Gundelach, Müller, Pressler and Siemens. But also
Andrews in England. In the US by Victor and General Electric. Philips joined in 1918 and developed
in 1924 the Metalix tube, the glass tube was fitted in a metal housing and also incorporated the
principle of line focus. The Anode face was changed at an angle of 19º in respect to the Cathode.
Finally the rotating Anode tube was developed. It was first sold in 1929 by Philips and called the
Rotalix tube. In the rotating Anode tube the target is a tungsten or wolfram disc that spins so that
the focal spot of the Cathode ray is changing and the heat is dissipated.
In the early times Crookes or Hittorf tubes consists of a view simple electrodes projecting into a
glass bulb. With one of these tubes Wilhelm Röntgen made his discovery for which he was
awarded for the first Nobel Prize. The classic cold Cathode X-Ray tube was born, a tube with two
electrodes. The tube developed into a three electrode tube with a third anticathode and platinum
target (due to the high melting point of this metal). When in 1913 William Coolidge and Lilienfeld
made there first hot Cathode X-Ray tube, they replaced the cold Cathode with a heated spiral
filament Cathode and tungsten Anode. The third anticathode disappeared, the angle of the Anode in
his tube was set at 45º. X-Ray's could now be better controlled and were more reliable. The only
practical problem was cooling the Anode, (which got extremely hot) this was a huge problem due to
it's small size. New designs were developed, a heavy copper base to the Anode, sometimes with
water cooling, this conducted the heat away and therefore increased the capacity of the tube to
withstand a high current. Soon after the discovery of Conrad Röntgen the production of these tubes
started, not only in the German factories of Gundelach, Müller, Pressler and Siemens. But also
Andrews in England. In the US by Victor and General Electric. Philips joined in 1918 and developed
in 1924 the Metalix tube, the glass tube was fitted in a metal housing and also incorporated the
principle of line focus. The Anode face was changed at an angle of 19º in respect to the Cathode.
Finally the rotating Anode tube was developed. It was first sold in 1929 by Philips and called the
Rotalix tube. In the rotating Anode tube the target is a tungsten or wolfram disc that spins so that
the focal spot of the Cathode ray is changing and the heat is dissipated.
Wilhelm Röntgens work room.
The first discoveries of the mysterious rays.
From as early 1897 several scientists were interested in the new discovered radiant matter (Cathode rays) by Sir William Crookes. Some of them may have witnessed X-rays normally produced by the Crookes tubes without knowing the existence of it. It was Ivan Puluj, a Ukrainian Scientist and researcher of cathode rays who discovered this new phenomena already in 1881 with his Puluj lamp, in fact a Crookes tube with a phosphor covered plate placed under an angle between the two electrodes, developed by him as a new light source. Puluj noticed an effect on photographic material when using his lamp and made photographs with it of a broken arm from a 13 year old boy, he even presented a lamp to Röntgen prior to his publication in 1895. Around the same time Prof. Herbert Jackson also noticed in London the same effect accidentally, no one of the researchers spend much attention on it except Wilhelm Conrad Röntgen. While working with a Crookes tube, a plate of Barium Platino-Cyanide (fluorescent crystals) on a table six feet away in his workroom glowed when he activated the tube. Even after covering the tube with black cardboard it kept glowing. Röntgen named this strange phenomena X-Rays. In the next experiments he used photographic material and made his first X-Ray picture, the hand of his wife Anna Bertha. Soon after the announcement of Röntgen in dec 28 1895, A.A. Campbell Swinton did the same experiments in England with an X-Ray tube made by A.C. Cossor (a famous producer of high quality Crookes tubes) after the description of Röntgen. It was a small pear shaped tube with two electrodes one in the form of a ring which can be seen against the wall on a photographic picture from The Windsor Magazine 1896 spring section. Despite all, the credits went to Röntgen who gave the name to this rays but he never patented the invention. In Germany a museum is dedicated to Wilhelm Röntgen and his work, including a complete biography (German) or here in English. The paper which Röntgen published in 1895 On a New kind of Rays can be found at the site of mindfully.org.
The first officially produced X-Ray tube for Röntgen was made by Greiner und Friedrichs in Stützerbach.
From as early 1897 several scientists were interested in the new discovered radiant matter (Cathode rays) by Sir William Crookes. Some of them may have witnessed X-rays normally produced by the Crookes tubes without knowing the existence of it. It was Ivan Puluj, a Ukrainian Scientist and researcher of cathode rays who discovered this new phenomena already in 1881 with his Puluj lamp, in fact a Crookes tube with a phosphor covered plate placed under an angle between the two electrodes, developed by him as a new light source. Puluj noticed an effect on photographic material when using his lamp and made photographs with it of a broken arm from a 13 year old boy, he even presented a lamp to Röntgen prior to his publication in 1895. Around the same time Prof. Herbert Jackson also noticed in London the same effect accidentally, no one of the researchers spend much attention on it except Wilhelm Conrad Röntgen. While working with a Crookes tube, a plate of Barium Platino-Cyanide (fluorescent crystals) on a table six feet away in his workroom glowed when he activated the tube. Even after covering the tube with black cardboard it kept glowing. Röntgen named this strange phenomena X-Rays. In the next experiments he used photographic material and made his first X-Ray picture, the hand of his wife Anna Bertha. Soon after the announcement of Röntgen in dec 28 1895, A.A. Campbell Swinton did the same experiments in England with an X-Ray tube made by A.C. Cossor (a famous producer of high quality Crookes tubes) after the description of Röntgen. It was a small pear shaped tube with two electrodes one in the form of a ring which can be seen against the wall on a photographic picture from The Windsor Magazine 1896 spring section. Despite all, the credits went to Röntgen who gave the name to this rays but he never patented the invention. In Germany a museum is dedicated to Wilhelm Röntgen and his work, including a complete biography (German) or here in English. The paper which Röntgen published in 1895 On a New kind of Rays can be found at the site of mindfully.org.
The first officially produced X-Ray tube for Röntgen was made by Greiner und Friedrichs in Stützerbach.
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Collection of English origin X-Ray tubes early 20th Century.
Pictures courtesy of Alastair Wright.
Pictures courtesy of Alastair Wright.
Andrew Rapids X-Ray tube with regulator
The regulator section can be clearly seen.
This regulator contains two mica disks.
Pictures courtesy of Alastair Wright.
The regulator section can be clearly seen.
This regulator contains two mica disks.
Pictures courtesy of Alastair Wright.
You can find more info about early X-Ray tubes at:
Oak Ridge Associated Universities
Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Agency
University of Queensland department of Physics
Electrotherapy museum
Dr. Hakim's X-Ray tube collection
Oak Ridge Associated Universities
Australian Radiation Protection and Nuclear Safety Agency
University of Queensland department of Physics
Electrotherapy museum
Dr. Hakim's X-Ray tube collection
Cuthbert Andrews (1882-1972) was a leading English
manufacturer of X-ray tubes in the early days.
C.H.F Müller a German X-Ray tube maker, wanted to
produce and sell X-Ray tubes in Britain. In 1909 Andrews
came in contact with Mr. Müller and by 1912 Andrews
started producing X-Ray tubes for the English market.
Andrews his company was virtual the only manufacturer of
conventional X-Ray tubes in Britain after 1930.
His company produced over more than 30.000 tubes of 75
different shapes. This text is extracted from an article
which can be found on site of RHHCT.
manufacturer of X-ray tubes in the early days.
C.H.F Müller a German X-Ray tube maker, wanted to
produce and sell X-Ray tubes in Britain. In 1909 Andrews
came in contact with Mr. Müller and by 1912 Andrews
started producing X-Ray tubes for the English market.
Andrews his company was virtual the only manufacturer of
conventional X-Ray tubes in Britain after 1930.
His company produced over more than 30.000 tubes of 75
different shapes. This text is extracted from an article
which can be found on site of RHHCT.
Early Villard X-Ray tube.
Probably from around 1900 with an osmosis palladium regulator (the small metal tube on the right). When this palladium tube was heated, hydrogen diffused through this small metal tube and regulated the pressure in the X-Ray tube.
Probably from around 1900 with an osmosis palladium regulator (the small metal tube on the right). When this palladium tube was heated, hydrogen diffused through this small metal tube and regulated the pressure in the X-Ray tube.
Two early Pressler demonstration X-Ray tubes.
The larger tube has a length of about 25 centimeter, the small one about 15 centimeter with 5 cm bulb.
The large one has a regulator, a small glass compartment on the tube with a piece of charcoal which could be heated to correct the internal gas pressure.
The larger tube has a length of about 25 centimeter, the small one about 15 centimeter with 5 cm bulb.
The large one has a regulator, a small glass compartment on the tube with a piece of charcoal which could be heated to correct the internal gas pressure.
Close up of the electrodes
Lodge X-Ray High Tension Valve
This rare rectifier tube invented by the
Physicist Sir Oliver Lodge prevented
reverse currents which sometimes occurred
with some early cold Cathode X-Ray tubes.
The Cathode inside the tube is an aluminum
spiral which creates a larger surface for
handling high currents.
The distinctive red colored glass is the result
of a specific exhaustion method which keeps
the vacuum stable under all conditions.
Physicist Sir Oliver Lodge prevented
reverse currents which sometimes occurred
with some early cold Cathode X-Ray tubes.
The Cathode inside the tube is an aluminum
spiral which creates a larger surface for
handling high currents.
The distinctive red colored glass is the result
of a specific exhaustion method which keeps
the vacuum stable under all conditions.
A small X-Ray tube early 1900.
bulb diameter 7cm
bulb diameter 7cm
The platinum foil inside the tube.
The foil is a little deformed due to the heat generated by the stream of electrons.
It actually burned a hole in the foil.
The foil is a little deformed due to the heat generated by the stream of electrons.
It actually burned a hole in the foil.
Pictures courtesy of Alastair Wright.
The concave cathode
To converge the electron beam to focus on the small platinum anode.
To converge the electron beam to focus on the small platinum anode.
This early X-ray tube late 19th century was developed
by professor Herbert Jackson (1863-1936) in 1895, he
worked at King's College in London and did research
on fluorescence and luminescence in vacuum tubes.
Jackson developed the typical concave cathode as
can be seen in the upper part of the tube. During his
research he accidentally discovered the X-Ray
phenomena prior to Röntgen, though he was not
aware of there significance. A small piece of
information is public at JSTOR.
by professor Herbert Jackson (1863-1936) in 1895, he
worked at King's College in London and did research
on fluorescence and luminescence in vacuum tubes.
Jackson developed the typical concave cathode as
can be seen in the upper part of the tube. During his
research he accidentally discovered the X-Ray
phenomena prior to Röntgen, though he was not
aware of there significance. A small piece of
information is public at JSTOR.
Jackson focus tube
Early X-Ray photography.
A.A.Campbell Swinton demonstrating an early X-Ray tube for the Royal Photographic Society 11 febr 1896.
This picture is coming from The Windsor Magazine 1896
On the white paper in the back left the first pear shaped X-Ray tube to the right a model after Hittorf. (picture courtesy Alastair Wright)
This picture is coming from The Windsor Magazine 1896
On the white paper in the back left the first pear shaped X-Ray tube to the right a model after Hittorf. (picture courtesy Alastair Wright)
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Large Early X-Ray tube
This early English tube has a length of about 50 cm with a simple tiny rod cathode and a heavy metal anode. the blue glass seals and platinum connections indicate a production date 1900 or earlier, so it is possibly an experimental tube from the time that the X-Rays were invented.
This tube is kindly donated by Ian Poole.
This early English tube has a length of about 50 cm with a simple tiny rod cathode and a heavy metal anode. the blue glass seals and platinum connections indicate a production date 1900 or earlier, so it is possibly an experimental tube from the time that the X-Rays were invented.
This tube is kindly donated by Ian Poole.
The heavy anode 15x15x15mm made to withstand the heat generated by the use had possibly an original a wedge or triangle shape and melted somewhat during all the years of use.
Looking at the deposit on the glass it could never had a focussed ray.
Looking at the deposit on the glass it could never had a focussed ray.
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See many moreX-Ray tubes on the next page!
The picture on the right shows Professor Röntgen
at work "in the midst of an experiment on the new
light" with a tube similar as shown above.
The drawing is made by Walter. E. Hodgson
in 1896 for The Windsor Magazine.
at work "in the midst of an experiment on the new
light" with a tube similar as shown above.
The drawing is made by Walter. E. Hodgson
in 1896 for The Windsor Magazine.