Crookes tube to demonstrate heating effect
Date: 1900-1920
Inventory Number: 1997-1-1307
Classification: Discharge Tube
Subject:
Attributed to: Richard Müller-Uri (1859 - 1929)
Place of Origin:
Dimensions:
27.3 x 13.5 x 13.5 cm (10 3/4 x 5 5/16 x 5 5/16 in.)
bulb: 13.5 cm (5 5/16 in.)
blue board box: 29.2 × 37.5 × 20.3 cm (11 1/2 × 14 3/4 × 8 in.)
Description:
This is a demonstrational replica of a Crookes tube that showed the heating effects that cathode rays had upon impacting metal. It consists of a large bulb that stands upright from a long side tube that connects to a turned wooden stand. There is a flat disc cathode on top and a concave anode at the bottom. There is a glass platform that comes from a sealed glass tube to the middle of the bulb which holds a small, thin sheet of metal foil which is partially burned.
In Collection(s)
Signedunreadable label, but most likely Richard Müller-Uri
FunctionThis tube demonstrates how cathode ray tubes generate heat when impacting a metallic target. When the electrodes were connected to a large voltage, one would see the thin metallic sheet glow from the generated heat. This tube in particular is demonstrational and one cannot replace the sheet, and was probably discarded once it was burned through.