Victor X-Ray Corporation 10 MA Radiator Tube (ca. 1920-1926)

The photo shows an early Coolidge Radiator tube produced by Victor X-ray Corporation of Chicago. In 1926, when General Electric (GE) became the company's majority stock-holder, GE phased out the use of the Victor name. Since the etched logo on the tube indicates that it was manufactured by Victor, it probably dates from 1920 to 1926.

That it has seen some use is indicated by the bulb's purple color and the damaged target.

The anode is the long copper rod surrounded by the glass arm extending from the left side of the bulb. The enlarged right end of the anode, in the center of the bulb, is the copper heat sink for the tungsten target (embedded in the sloped face of the copper block). In use, a finned radiator would surround the 3 inch section of copper rod that extends outside the tube's glass envelope.

Inside the bulb, just to the right of the target, is the focusing cup for the anode.

Etched of the glass bulb is the rated current: 10 MA, i.e., the maximum recommended current at the voltage indicated by a 5 inch spark gap. At least for short periods, any combination of current and voltage could be used where the product of the current and spark gap was 50.

More information can be found in the description of a similar, but a later version of this tube, that was produced by GE.

Size: ca. 14 1/2" long (excluding rod for radiator fins), 3 3/4" bulb diameter

Kindly donated by children of Frederick G Ouellette, Sr., with special thanks to Jeanne and Tom.