Geissler Tubes (early 1900s) |
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The examples on display are relatively small (ca. 8" long) and simple
versions of the device invented by Heinrich Geissler in the mid-1850s.
Each tube is partially evacuated with an electrode at each end. When a
high voltage is applied the tube emits light - the color depends on the
type of gas in the tube. The yellow sections of these tubes are made of
uranium glass. Geissler tubes are the forerunners of modern neon and
fluorescent tubes. They were originally used for the spectroscopic
analysis of gases but they also served as curiosities for entertainment
purposes. Although they played no role in the discovery of x-rays, some of
the techniques developed for their production were used to construct x-ray
tubes.
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