Oak-framed glass case; on four legs; reveals the inner working of the machine; external crank wheels are located at the back of the machine; there are brass and vulcanite protrusions from the front of the case; under which is a scalloped wooden ledge used to support accessories.
Oak-framed glass case; on four legs; reveals the inner working of the machine; external crank wheels are located at the back of the machine; there are brass and vulcanite protrusions from the front of the case; under which is a scalloped wooden ledge used to support accessories.
Number Of Parts
1
Provenance
Purchased by Dr. Frank Mellow a Queen's Medical school graduate of 1902; the machine was used in his home office in Uxbridge, Ontario in 1912; the Dr.'s main practice was on first floor; this unit was on the second floor where radiotherapy, massage,surgical procedures were performed with it; it was last used therapeutically in 1940 by Dr. Mellow.
"WAITE & BARTLETT MANF' CO. // NEW YORK" embossed on a metal plaque on the front right side of the case is a list of patent dates "PAT'D JUNE 18 1889 // PAT'D MAY 8 1893 // PAT'D FEB. 19 1901 // PAT'D APRIL 18 1901 // PAT'D MAY 28 1901"
Permanent Location
Storeroom W2
W2-538-Floor
Temporary Location
On display "Electricity and the Invisible Ray" in (North Gallery Room 1013) Museum of Health Care, Oct. 2006.
Dimension Notes
Length 208.2 cm x Width 177.7 cm x Depth 109.2 cm
Condition Remarks
There are a few spots where cleaner was not removed when the initial cleaning of the object was undertaken; there is a crack in one of the disks inside the case; there appears to be water damage on the top and back; the rest of the object appears to be as new.
Copy Type
Original
Reference Types
Book
JPG
Reference Comments
"Static Electricity and the uses of the Roentgen Ray", W.B. Snow, 1903, p. 12; "Electricity in Medicine", G.W. Jacoby & J.R. Jacoby, 1919, p. 110; "The Trail of the Invisible Light", E.R.N. Grigg, 1965, p. 69. "Aloe's Illustrated and Priced Catalogue of Superior Surgical Instruments, Physician's Supply and Hospital Furnishings, " 6th ed., A.S. Aloe Co., St. Louis, 189-, p. 754, item #9875; Duncan Robert Antiques; CD #2.
Research Facts
The machine worked by someone cranking the external fly wheels which rotated the glass disks and generated a static electrical charge; this charge was directed in a number of different ways by various instruments to a patient who would have been receiving treatment, radiation therapy or X-ray examinations; see file for more complete research.
NOTE: One glass cylinder cracked during the transportation. If the hand crank is used to make the glass cylinders spin, there is a great potential that it will shatter and potentially those near it. This machine will never be used.