Photomultiplier tubes

[Ocean]

Hey,

I pickep up a load of about 30-40 Photomultiplier tubes today, and I can see copper in them, gold plated pins and a gold plated plug on the end, and what looks like silver or silver plated wire.

Anyone have any interest in these?

 

[qst42know]

Is there a part number on these?

 

[Ocean]

Some are broken, but we haven't removed anything.

Here is a pic with the part info:

 

[pcecycle]

Those look like tubes from an old atomic absorption spectrophotometer. The gold plated (lightly plated) bowl was a reflector for the source beam. Might have some collector interest, but don't know about PM content. I used to use one back in the early '80s to measure magnesium in blood samples.

Mike

 

[turtlesteve]

May have some value if they work, probably none if they don't. I have an old broken one that collects dust, that came out of a scintillation counter (radiation detector). In these detectors the photomultiplier is coupled (via the glass window) to a crystal or scintillation detector of some sort. This part would be more valuable, if you have it, especially if still coupled to the (working) photomultiplier.

Steve

 

[Ocean]

I'm pretty sure they don't work as they came from a repair facility.

I guess we will smash the glass, pull the silver coated wire, pull the gold pins and plug, and remove the copper sheeting inside.

 

[qst42know]

If they didn't work why would they have saved them?

It wouldn't be unheard of to swap out tubes just because.

 

[Ocean]

I spoke with the warehouse manager, and he told me he ran tests on all of the equipment he was giving me.

They may be reusable, but how would I go about testing them? :|

 

[qst42know]

I don't know how to test them without the equipment they came from.

From what I've read the cathode should be made of an antimony cesium compound.

 

[Ocean]

Is that valuable, dangerous, or both?

 

[qst42know]

Some info can be found here.

http://www.toxicwatersolution.com/Human-Heavy-Metal-Toxicity-Symptoms-&-Testing/

You may find a broad range of metals and compounds in vacuum tubes. I would expect gloves and dust control a minimum precaution.

 

[Ocean]

Some info can be found here.

http://www.toxicwatersolution.com/Human-Heavy-Metal-Toxicity-Symptoms-&-Testing/

You may find a broad range of metals and compounds in vacuum tubes. I would expect gloves and dust control a minimum precaution.

Thanks