A black turned wooden base with a glass tube apparatus mounted on it. The glass tubing is approximately 25cm tall with a 3.5cm projection from the side of the tubing and this projection contains an electrode. At the top of the tubing there is also an electrode and inside the tubing there is a grey mineral piece supported near the electrode.
Accession Number: 2009.ph.208
Alternative Name: Crooke’s Tube
Primary Materials: Glass, Wood, Unidentified Mineral
Markings:
Height = 35.5, Width = 9.5, Length = 11.5
Function:
Condition:
Associated Instruments:
Manufacturer:
Date of Manufacture: Late 19th/ Early 20th c.
This artifact was part of a collection of electrical instruments (mostly brass electrometers and ballistic galvanometers) gathered by University of Toronto Professor of Physics Martin J.G. Lee (d. 2009). The collection was likely acquired from Dr. Lee’s office c. 2010 or 2011.
In October 1898, instructor and future professor J.C. McLennan visited the Geissler Establishment, in Bonn, Germany. The Geisslers were famous for the manufacture of Crookes Tubes. McLennan reported in a letter back to Professor James Loudon that he had purchased some of these for the Toronto physics laboratory, including at least one with a “phosphorescent mineral”, which, he reported, “gives the most beautiful effect that I have seen.” (McLennan, 1898)
There are numerous examples of phosphorescent mineral tubes in the collection. It is possible that one, or more, of these were purchased by McLennan during his 1898 trip to Bonn.
Letter from J.C. McLennan to J. Loudon, October 10, 1898. University of Toronto Archives B1972-0031 Box 004 File 43
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This artifact was originally accessioned as “PHY 77” on January 16, 1978.
Historical Notes: