Kinraide coil
Datecirca 1900
Inventory NumberVT4811a
ClassificationInduction Coil
Subject
Inventor
Thomas Burton Kinraide
1864 - 1927
Maker
Howard Jackson
fl. 1900 - 1910
Seller
Swett & Lewis Company
fl. 1897 - 1910
User
Harvard Medical School
founded 1782
Cultural Region
Place of Origin
Dimensions36 x 46.8 x 66.8 cm (14 3/16 x 18 7/16 x 26 5/16 in.)
Material
Accessoriescondensers (VT4811b)
DescriptionThe system on top of a wooden base consists of a transformer, a capacitor, and two high-frequency Kinrade coils. These consist of two separate layers: an outer layer of wound copper ribbon, and a separate, inner coil of wound copper wire. The outer layers of the cones are part of the circuit while the inner ones, connected with each other, form the inductor.
The adjustable rods on top of cone coils are used to draw sparks and generate very high voltages for devices such as x-ray tubes. For more description, see the online catalogue of Swett & Lewis here.
The adjustable rods on top of cone coils are used to draw sparks and generate very high voltages for devices such as x-ray tubes. For more description, see the online catalogue of Swett & Lewis here.
Signedon plaque on base: Howard Jackson / Swett & Lewis Co. / Boston, Mass. USA / No [illegible] V 109 Cycles 60 / Patented
Inscribedon plaque: THE KINRAIDE COIL / MANF'D BY / HOWARD JACKSON / FOR / SWETT & LEWIS CO. / BOSTON, MASS., U.S.A. / NO. 110 V 109 CYCLES 60 / PATENTED
FunctionInvented by Thomas Burton Kinraide and manufactured by Howard Jackson for the Swett & Lewis Company, the Kinraide coil generated high voltage and frequency, but low current. It was one of the earliest mass-produced electrical inductors for producing x-rays . An alternating current was elevated with a transformer to charge a condenser. Upon its discharge, the current passes through two characteristically cone-shaped coils to a spark-gap where an x-ray tube is mounted. The spark-gap was an improvement over predecessors. Also used for "electrotherapy" and wireless telegraphy.
The Kinraide coil was described as portable in spite of being 65-75 lbs. It allowed x-ray equipment to moved ward to ward in a hospital or transported in a physicians buggy.
For more information on this type of instrument and Thomas B. Kinraide, see The Thomas B. Kinraide Collection, Turn of the Century Electrotherapy Museum here.
The Kinraide coil was described as portable in spite of being 65-75 lbs. It allowed x-ray equipment to moved ward to ward in a hospital or transported in a physicians buggy.
For more information on this type of instrument and Thomas B. Kinraide, see The Thomas B. Kinraide Collection, Turn of the Century Electrotherapy Museum here.
ProvenanceFrom the Harvard Medical School.
Thomas Burton Kinraide
Date: circa 1900
Accessories: is an accessory of Kinrade coils VT4811a
Object number: VT4811b
Date: late 19th-early 20th Century
Object number: RS0168
Radio Corporation of America
Date: 1923
Object number: RS0039
Date: 1890-1930
Object number: RS0508
See also/See also
