Images(7)

x-ray parts

Datecirca 1900

Inventory Number1998-1-0115

ClassificationX-ray Parts

Subject

Maker Radium Chemical Company fl. 1950s - 1983

Maker Standard Chemical Company founded 1911

Cultural Region

Place of Origin

Dimensionsbox: 8.5 × 31.5 × 14 cm (3 3/8 × 12 3/8 × 5 1/2 in.)

Material

Accessoriesmetal needles (2); black rubber tubes with one conical end (5); large black pellets with small metal tubes protruding from the center (2); brown rubber tubes (4); dumbbell-like objects (2); small black caps (4); large black objects with rectangles gouged out of them (2); black cylindrical canisters (4); a metal tube with a screw top; and a bucket of misc. objects

DescriptionThere are five gold radium canisters (NO 3133, NO 3136, NO 3137, NO3140, NO3991) covered in chrome, four of which are wrapped in tape. The top of each tube can be screwed off.

There are six tin boxes. The tin boxes may all be recycled tobacco boxes. Inside the lid of one: To the Consumers of / ..High-Grade Tobaccos..We desire to call your special attention to / EDGEWORTH TOBACCO It is the best com- / bination that can be made, only / finest selections of leaf being / used. Every box of it is guar- / anteed not to burn the tongue and to give satisfaction. / We will cheerfully refund money to any dissatisfied purchaser. / LARUS & BRO CO / Richmond, Va.

The first five tin boxes have typed labels affixed to the underside of their lids. The sixth box has a label on the top of the lid.

(Box 1) Inside of the box labeled Silver cap. / 1.8mm plat.filtration / 3.7 mm (wall thickness) there are three metal tubes;

(Box 2) The box labeled 1.7 ag Uterine portion / wall thickness / Platinum filtration / .8mm equiv is empty;

(Box 3) Inside of the box labeled Uterine Applicator 1.5mm filtration there is one long cylindrical metal tube and two shorter and stouter metal cylindrical tubes T-crossed with horizontal metal tubes;

(Box 4) Inside of the box labeled SWANBERG APPLICATOR / 2.2 karat gold covered / with aluminum there are four gold covered tubes of varying lengths;

(Box 5) Inside of the box labeled CLARK APPLICATORS there is a dark metal tube, five small metal tips, and a larger metal T-crossed object;

(Box 6) The sixth tin box for Gold capsules is empty and has a typed label on the lid.
There are a number of miscellaneous x-ray parts included in this object: metal needles (2); black rubber tubes with one conical end (5); large black pellets with small metal tubes protruding from the center (2); brown rubber tubes (4); dumbbell-like objects (2); small black caps (4); large black objects with rectangles gouged out of them (2); black cylindrical canisters (4); a metal tube with a screw top, and a bucket of miscellaneous objects.

Signedstamped on one side of gold/chrome tubes: RADIUM CHEMICAL COMPANY / DISTRIBUTORS / PITTSBURGH, PA, U.S.A.; stamped on another side of gold/chrome tubes: STANDARD CHEMICAL CO. / PITTSBURGH, PA. U.S.A.; etched into barbell: RADIUM CHEMICAL Co. INC / NEW YORK

Inscribedstamped on bottom of gold/chrome tubes: NO 3133, NO 3136, NO 3137, NO3140, NO3991; typed labels on underside of tin box lids: (Box 1) Silver cap. / 1.8mm plat.filtration / 3.7 mm (wall thickness); (Box 2) 1.7 ag Uterine portion / wall thickness / Platium filtration / .8mm equiv.; (Box 3) Uterine Applicator 1.5mm filtration; (Box 4) SWANBERG APPLICATOR / 2.2 karat gold covered / with aluminum; (Box 5) CLARK APPLICATORS; typed label on top of sixth tin box lid: Gold capsules / covered with AL. / 2.9mm wall thickness / 2.5mm plat. filtration;

Curatorial RemarksOn July 2, 1997 this box of items was with the x-ray tubes transferred from Countway Library, Harvard Medical School to the Collection. This box and 1998-1-0116 were brought back to CHSI and taken to Health and Environmental Safety. On Feb. 19, 1998 Neil Walters and Joe Ring of HU Health and Environmental Safety returned this box to us after having the contents tested in January 1998 for radiation. It was tested by Harvard's Radiation Protection Office and found to be safe.

FunctionThese objects are parts of an x-ray laboratory. Presumably, they were used in radiumtherapy, or the treatment of various ailments such as cancer and uterine bleeding with radium. The small tubes, which could hold radium, would be inserted into body cavities for intercavity treatment purposes.

ProvenanceCountway Library, Harvard Medical School. Transferred to CHSI July 2, 1997.