Object Details
- discovered x-rays
- Roentgen, W. C.
- Roentgen, W. C.
- Description
- This is one of the first x-ray tubes used by physicist Wilhelm Conrad Roentgen (1845-1923), who discovered this new form of radiation at the University of Wurzburg in Germany, on November 8, 1895. While experimenting with cathode rays by passing an electric current through a glass vacuum tube covered with black paper, he noticed an unexpected green glow on a little screen covered with phosphorescent paint lying on his bench. He quickly realized that some mysterious invisible rays were leaving the tube, going through the black paper, and causing the screen to become luminous. These unknown, or "x" rays were shown to pass easily through wood, cloth, and paper, but not denser material. He showed that they could even pass through the skin and reveal the bones of the human hand. The medical diagnostic and therapeutic implications of the x-ray were realized quickly. X-ray imaging remains the most widely used form of body imaging today.
- This tube was purchased from a private owner in Germany and presented to the Smithsonian Institution in 1956 by the General Electric Company's X-ray Department of Milwaukee, Wisc.
- Location
- Currently not on view
- Credit Line
- Gift of General Electric Company
- ca 1896
- ID Number
- MG.M-06905
- catalog number
- M-06905
- accession number
- 204068
- Object Name
- x-ray tube
- tube, x-ray
- Other Terms
- Case, Tube, Roentgen; x-ray tube; Diagnostic Medicine
- Physical Description
- glass (overall material)
- wood (overall material)
- Measurements
- overall: 6 in x 7 in x 10 in; 15.24 cm x 17.78 cm x 25.4 cm
- overall, case: 5 3/4 in x 10 1/4 in x 7 3/4 in; 14.605 cm x 26.035 cm x 19.685 cm
- Place Made
- Germany: Bavaria, Würzburg
- Related Publication
- Kendrick, Kathleen M. and Peter C. Liebhold. Smithsonian Treasures of American History
- See more items in
- Medicine and Science: Medicine
- Health & Medicine
- National Museum of American History
- Record ID
- nmah_727539
- GUID (Link to Original Record)
- https://n2t.net/ark:/65665/ng49ca746b2-9168-704b-e053-15f76fa0b4fa
