The Cathode Ray Tube site
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History and Physics Instruments
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History and Physics Instruments
Crookes tubes
Radiant matter
Radiant matter
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Crookes heating effect tube
vacuum regulator
Platinum foil
The Crookes heating effect tube (in fact an X-ray tube) shows the effect of
a stream of electrons creating heat when they hit a platinum foil. This foil has a
small hole burned in due to the extreme heat when used. The small regulator
tube mounted on the stem which contains small charcoal samples can regulate
the vacuum pressure inside the tube when heated by a flame. The charcoal
released gasses needed when the tube gets "hardened" due to the use over
time. When the tube hardened the X-Rays were less intensive.
a stream of electrons creating heat when they hit a platinum foil. This foil has a
small hole burned in due to the extreme heat when used. The small regulator
tube mounted on the stem which contains small charcoal samples can regulate
the vacuum pressure inside the tube when heated by a flame. The charcoal
released gasses needed when the tube gets "hardened" due to the use over
time. When the tube hardened the X-Rays were less intensive.
Two very early Crookes tubes.
With envelope diameters of about 6 centimeters, one with metal electrodes, the other with pyramidal shaped carbon electrodes. One tube will light as seen in the picture left. The tube with the small ball electrodes seems to be a tube with an absolute vacuum, this tube will not glow even at high tensions, that even after all those years! There is not even a spark to be seen. darkening on the glass suggests restoring the vacuum due to heat in the past. A similar tube can be found in the Muller-Uri catalog from 1909 called 'a tube with absolute vacuum'.
With envelope diameters of about 6 centimeters, one with metal electrodes, the other with pyramidal shaped carbon electrodes. One tube will light as seen in the picture left. The tube with the small ball electrodes seems to be a tube with an absolute vacuum, this tube will not glow even at high tensions, that even after all those years! There is not even a spark to be seen. darkening on the glass suggests restoring the vacuum due to heat in the past. A similar tube can be found in the Muller-Uri catalog from 1909 called 'a tube with absolute vacuum'.
Activated tube
Very odd electrode shapes.
A small phosphorescent Crookes tube.
Height 22 cm incl. stand.
Height 22 cm incl. stand.
Phosphorescent ornamental Crookes tubes can be found in many
forms like flowers, bugs, bird or human figures. In this tube a metal
figure is mounted on the stem and is covered with colored
phosphorus material. Sadly this old tubes lost their vacuum.
forms like flowers, bugs, bird or human figures. In this tube a metal
figure is mounted on the stem and is covered with colored
phosphorus material. Sadly this old tubes lost their vacuum.
A piece of Crookes Radiometer History.
William Crookes (interested in spiritualism) did many experiments with the medium Daniel Douglas Home next to al his other Physics work.
Crookes was so fascinated that he, as a scientist, wanted to measure this "new force". He believed that every human must have this
kind of Physic force. Crookes developed a sensitive "indicator" in order to work without (the strong force of) D.D. Home, in fact this was the
beginning of the radiometer. He had some information from James Emerson Reynolds professor of the Royal Dublin Society who had
constructed a little instrument which would turn to the hand, fire, or another source of heat. [It consisted of a thin slip of deal suspended by a
filament of spiders web and enclosed in a thin glass flask.....] all of this in 1871. After this experiment Crookes was so obsessed by this new
discovered phenomena that he soon constructed many types of radiometers, otheoscopes and did great research of the behavior in vacuum
to eliminate the resistance of air molecules.
In 1876 produced Crookes assistant Charles Henry Gimingham, a skilled glassblower, for the Physicist William Grove the first electrical
radiometer with metal vanes which Crookes developed further into the yet well known form. Geissler however, made better evacuated tubes
due to his own developed vacuum pump which irritated Crookes, his produced electrical radiometers glowed faint due to residual gas.
This was the start of a new race to produce the perfect vacuum sealed in glass. Crookes patented his radiometer on 5 Nov 1875 under patent
number GB 3860. On 13th of may 1876 the Queen opened the Special Loan Exhibition in London, where both Crookes and Geissler showed there
radiometers to the public. William Crookes presented here also his flask with "nothing" (vacuum tube) in which the Queen was not interested....
Source: Gasentladungsforschung im 19 Jahrhundert by Falk Müller.
William Crookes (interested in spiritualism) did many experiments with the medium Daniel Douglas Home next to al his other Physics work.
Crookes was so fascinated that he, as a scientist, wanted to measure this "new force". He believed that every human must have this
kind of Physic force. Crookes developed a sensitive "indicator" in order to work without (the strong force of) D.D. Home, in fact this was the
beginning of the radiometer. He had some information from James Emerson Reynolds professor of the Royal Dublin Society who had
constructed a little instrument which would turn to the hand, fire, or another source of heat. [It consisted of a thin slip of deal suspended by a
filament of spiders web and enclosed in a thin glass flask.....] all of this in 1871. After this experiment Crookes was so obsessed by this new
discovered phenomena that he soon constructed many types of radiometers, otheoscopes and did great research of the behavior in vacuum
to eliminate the resistance of air molecules.
In 1876 produced Crookes assistant Charles Henry Gimingham, a skilled glassblower, for the Physicist William Grove the first electrical
radiometer with metal vanes which Crookes developed further into the yet well known form. Geissler however, made better evacuated tubes
due to his own developed vacuum pump which irritated Crookes, his produced electrical radiometers glowed faint due to residual gas.
This was the start of a new race to produce the perfect vacuum sealed in glass. Crookes patented his radiometer on 5 Nov 1875 under patent
number GB 3860. On 13th of may 1876 the Queen opened the Special Loan Exhibition in London, where both Crookes and Geissler showed there
radiometers to the public. William Crookes presented here also his flask with "nothing" (vacuum tube) in which the Queen was not interested....
Source: Gasentladungsforschung im 19 Jahrhundert by Falk Müller.
Crookes radiometer
The radiometer invented by William Crookes in 1875 stood at
the base of his later developed railway tube. The four vanes are
spinning in a glass envelope with a pressure of 1 Torr, when
exposed to light the vanes turn. Due to heating of the vanes
which are black on one side there is movement, this is called
thermal creep. The black side of the vanes are a little hotter than
the silver side so the gas molecules pushing to the black side
turning the vanes.
the base of his later developed railway tube. The four vanes are
spinning in a glass envelope with a pressure of 1 Torr, when
exposed to light the vanes turn. Due to heating of the vanes
which are black on one side there is movement, this is called
thermal creep. The black side of the vanes are a little hotter than
the silver side so the gas molecules pushing to the black side
turning the vanes.
Crookes dark space tube
Probably made by Pressler mid 20th century.
Probably made by Pressler mid 20th century.
activated dark space tube
The Crookes dark space tube shows the dark space
on the left and right side of the round metal plate in the
middle of the tube. In this case the metal plate must be
negative and the two side electrodes must be connected
to the positive side of the source. The size of the dark
space depends on the amount of pressure (vacuum).
on the left and right side of the round metal plate in the
middle of the tube. In this case the metal plate must be
negative and the two side electrodes must be connected
to the positive side of the source. The size of the dark
space depends on the amount of pressure (vacuum).
phosphorescent bird figure
An early small 16 cm height
Crookes phosphorescent tube.
Crookes phosphorescent tube.
The Cross vacuum scale demonstrates the phenomenon
of discharge at different pressures (vacuca) inside the tubes.
The pressures varies between 40 Torr (mm/Hg) lowest vacuum
(left tube) to 0.03 Torr the highest vacuum. (right tube) In this high
vacuum, used in many Crookes tubes, X-Ray's are produced,
only the glass emits here the distinctive apple green glow.
Below you see a large model made by NARVA the successor of
the Pressler company. If you click on the picture you see it
working. You also see the stratification effect in one tube which
appear at low pressures around 0,75 -0,05 Torr.
This effect which depends on different variables like pressure,
gas composition and the amount of tension applied to the tube.
This phenomena is extensively researched by people like Hittorf
and De La Rue.
of discharge at different pressures (vacuca) inside the tubes.
The pressures varies between 40 Torr (mm/Hg) lowest vacuum
(left tube) to 0.03 Torr the highest vacuum. (right tube) In this high
vacuum, used in many Crookes tubes, X-Ray's are produced,
only the glass emits here the distinctive apple green glow.
Below you see a large model made by NARVA the successor of
the Pressler company. If you click on the picture you see it
working. You also see the stratification effect in one tube which
appear at low pressures around 0,75 -0,05 Torr.
This effect which depends on different variables like pressure,
gas composition and the amount of tension applied to the tube.
This phenomena is extensively researched by people like Hittorf
and De La Rue.
Big Cross vacuum scale (NARVA)
It measures 35 x 45 cm. The tubes can easily be removed from the wooden stand.
It measures 35 x 45 cm. The tubes can easily be removed from the wooden stand.
Litho of discharge effects at different pressures.
(Litho Tillieux 1925) [55]
The upper tube displays the stratification effect.
These are tubes after-Gaede who developed a new type of vacuum pump in 1905 on which several different types of discharge tubes could be connected in order to exhaust them.
The most famous one is the Lenard tube. Many of these open tubes were sold by the Leybold company. The old catalog can be found at the Max Planck instititute library.
(Litho Tillieux 1925) [55]
The upper tube displays the stratification effect.
These are tubes after-Gaede who developed a new type of vacuum pump in 1905 on which several different types of discharge tubes could be connected in order to exhaust them.
The most famous one is the Lenard tube. Many of these open tubes were sold by the Leybold company. The old catalog can be found at the Max Planck instititute library.
The Crookes Y tube demonstrates that the electrons go in a straight line and won't go through the bent. This is an early model around or before 1900 with blue glass seals. The two exhaust pips indicate probably a repair in the past.
An early made Crookes dark space tube around or before 1900 with blue glass seals. The two exhaust pips indicate a repair in the past.