Re: Identifying A HUGE Hydrogen Thyratron (fwd)

["Tesla list" <tesla@xxxxxxxxxx>]

---------- Forwarded message ----------
Date: Mon, 15 Oct 2007 18:13:59 -0500
From: Cameron B. Prince <cplists@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
To: Tesla list <tesla@xxxxxxxxxx>
Subject: Re: Identifying A HUGE Hydrogen Thyratron

Hi Bert,

Thanks for the help... I found a datasheet for the VC-1257 and based on the
size specs, that's what I have. Now, should it stay or should it go? That's
the question. I had planned to post it on eBay, but now that I know it's
such a rarity, I may hold on to it.

Take care,
Cameron

On 10/15/07 2:41 PM, "Tesla list" <tesla@xxxxxxxxxx> wrote:

> 
> ---------- Forwarded message ----------
> Date: Mon, 15 Oct 2007 12:13:32 -0500
> From: Bert Hickman <bert.hickman@xxxxxxxxxx>
> To: Tesla list <tesla@xxxxxxxxxx>
> Subject: Re: Identifying A HUGE Hydrogen Thyratron (fwd)
> 
> Tesla list wrote:
>> ---------- Forwarded message ----------
>> Date: Mon, 15 Oct 2007 09:18:18 -0500
>> From: Cameron B. Prince <cplists@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx>
>> To: Tesla list <tesla@xxxxxxxxxx>
>> Subject: Identifying A HUGE Hydrogen Thyratron
>> 
>> Hey guys,
>> 
>> Can any of you help me identify this MASSIVE tube I picked up at an estate
>> sale? The only markings are 4.8V Reservoir Voltage printed along the side.
>> 
>> http://www.rideware.com/images/eBay/20071011/DSC01254.jpg
>> http://www.rideware.com/images/eBay/20071011/DSC01255.jpg
>> http://www.rideware.com/images/eBay/20071011/DSC01256.jpg
>> http://www.rideware.com/images/eBay/20071011/DSC01257.jpg
>> 
>> I believe it's the same as the one shown on the Wikipedia page here:
>> 
>> http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thyratron
>> 
>> All I can make out from the photo is General Electric. Any ideas?
>> 
>> Thanks,
>> Cameron
>> 
> 
> Hi Cameron,
> 
> Nice find!
> 
> It looks like it may be an elusive VC-1257 - one of the largest glass
> thyratrons ever made, for use in high power RADAR power modulators - 33
> kV, 2 kA peak. Its a fine collectible tube and a sure conversation
> starter. The tube used a titanium hydride reservoir that could be
> carefully adjusted (via a separate reservoir heater) to keep the
> hydrogen pressure at an optimum level. If the H2 pressure is too low,
> the anode will overheat, and if too high, the tube may suffer from
> premature cathode-anode self breakdown.
> http://home.earthlink.net/~webdisk1/oddtubes/oddtubes.htm
> http://home.earthlink.net/~webdisk1/oddtubes/ChathamVC1257.htm
> 
> You can read a bit about thyratron history and the place held by this
> tube here:
> http://www.xs4all.nl/~aobauer/Evolution%20of%20Hydrogen%20Thyratron.pdf
> 
> BTW, here's a 50 MW line pulser that uses a 1257 in case you need
> something to go with your tube. 160 kV at 312 amps output... :^)
> http://tinyurl.com/25dkre
> 
> Bert