X-Ray Tube

Made for William Henry Bragg by his assistant A.L. Rogers in June 1896, four months after the news of Rontgen's discovery of X-Rays in 1895.

Amorphous shaped main body of glass, with a small arm (closed tube) protruding from main body. Metal fittings on each end of main body. Glass has purplish to dark grey haze to it.

This small well-used x-ray tube of Jackson design is sealed and contains air at low pressure. When a high voltage was connected across the two electrodes an electricl discharge occurred in the gas, leading to the emission of X-rays from the positive electrode. In comparision with modern tubes the emission was weak and temperamental.