Early and Unusual Revigator (ca. 1924)

Click here for a detailed history about R.W. Thomas, the Revigator and the Thomas Cone

Early and Unusual Revigator (ca. 1924)

This might well be something of a missing link between the standard version of the Revigator, which looks like a cooling tower, and its predecessor, the Thomas Radium C.R. jar. The most common version of the latter (unlike the barrel shaped example in the ORAU collection) has exactly the same size and shape as this. The only difference between the two is the name printed on the jars, but even then, the look and color of the printing is similar. The reddish ring on the lid is due to the glaze having been worn away, possibly by another jar sitting on top of it. Then again, this might not be the original lid—the color of the glaze and the shape of the lid seem a little off.

In a hypothetical phylogeny based on appearance, the version shown here would be the earliest of the jars to bear the name Revigator. In fact, there is a good chance it was manufactured by R. W. Thomas himself.

The name change from Thomas C.R. Radium jar to Revigator occurred in 1924.

Size: Approximately 9" high and 9" in diameter

Exposure rate: ca. 15 uR/hr above background at one foot

Early and Unusual Revigator (ca. 1924)

The above photo shows the instructions for use that are printed on the side of the jar. These are identical to the instructions found on the side of the "standard" and far more common version of the Revigator.

Early and Unusual Revigator (ca. 1924)
The photo shows the porous lining of the jar (made from uranium ore).