zenosx - 2-10-2014 at 11:15
My mother-in-law found this device I believe at an estate sale. I have spent several hours researching it to no avail. The end unscrews and seems to
have an electrical connector. I apologize for the photos. I tried to shrink them best I could with PS Express.
Edit: thought I would mention that the top of the wand is wood and very light weight.
[Edited on 2-10-2014 by zenosx]
bbartlog - 2-10-2014 at 11:29
Probably a standardized electromagnetic radiation source based on the V/r and the fact that Baldwin Instrument Co filed British Patent 689,857.
phlogiston - 2-10-2014 at 12:03
My guess is a Farmer Ionization Chamber (aka Farmer-Baldwin ionization chamber)
Internally, it contains a conducting rod centered along the length the chamber, which is connected to the
central small round metal pad at the end you are holding in the 2nd photograph. The outside is electrically connected to the outer casing of the
chamber.
When connected to an electroscope, ionizing radiation passing through the chamber will discharge the electroscope at a rate proportional to the
radiation level.
The electroscope serves both to apply the necessary high voltage and provide a readout.
Ask mum if there were any devices at the estate sale that might resemble a radiation source... lost Ra needle perhaps?
And tell here to carry a dosimeter next time.
[Edited on 2-10-2014 by phlogiston]
zenosx - 2-10-2014 at 17:09
I havent yet hit it with the gieger counter but think I will do so. 
. I did find
some info that it was used for dosage rates on persons after the nuclear weapons in Japan, notably dental exposures but was unable to access the full
artical. But I also found things about reverb measurements for nuclear weapon video taping. So basically it's probably a type of gieger'ish probe for
radiation measuring?
If anyone has more info that's great but with the V/r I was also going with maybe a calibration probe for some type of ionizing radiation. The high
voltage looking connector at the back also lead to that conclusion, however the light wood threw me. Perhaps it's more transparent to gamma/ect.
Ionizing radiation?
zenosx - 2-10-2014 at 17:45
Thanks bbartlog! Doh why didn't I search the patents!
AND
Thanks to phlogiston, you filled in the rest of my questions.. I knew someone here was smarter than myself
Thanks!
[Edited on 3-10-2014 by zenosx]
[Edited on 3-10-2014 by zenosx]
phlogiston - 2-10-2014 at 17:51
Are you sure it is wood, not bakelite or something of that kind?
The same kind of device is still in common use today for certain radiation measurements.
zenosx - 2-10-2014 at 19:07
No I am quite certain it is wood and not Bakelite or it's ilk... Not only the feel but scratch tests confirm it is wood.. It seems to be a hard wood,
but I cannot discern if the striations in the cylinder are from manufacturing or from usage....
zenosx - 2-10-2014 at 19:13
But yes, it is certainly made of wood, and not a light wood like balsa for instance. I am stumped but there were a lot of crazy medical devices made
at the turn of the 20th....
[Edited on 3-10-2014 by zenosx]
zenosx - 2-10-2014 at 19:15
Possibly it is a vernier of hard wood over an instrument casing?... If interested I will take out the obviously brass screws and disassemble this
device