Disk, radium

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Ingenium, 2002.0538.003
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OBJECT TYPE: N/A
DATE: 1920
ARTIFACT NUMBER: 2002.0538.003

MANUFACTURER: Radium Health Products of Canada
MODEL: Unknown
LOCATION: Toronto, Ontario, Canada

More Information

General Information

Serial #: N/A
Part Number: 3
Total Parts: 3
AKA: emanator
Patents: N/A
General Description: possibly uranium ore & cement

Dimensions

Note: These reflect the general size for storage and are not necessarily representative of the object's true dimensions.

Length: N/A
Width: N/A
Height: 3.3 cm
Thickness: N/A
Weight: N/A
Diameter: 11.8 cm
Volume: N/A

Lexicon

Group: Medical Technology
Category: Miscellaneous
Sub-Category: N/A

Manufacturer

AKA: Radium
Country: Canada
State/Province: Ontario
City: Toronto

Context

Country: Canada
State/Province: Unknown
Period: Presumably used in 1920s-1930s, and possibly later.
Canada: Made in Toronto, Ont. by Radium Health Products of Canada. Typical of containers designed, manufactured, sold and used in Canada for this purpose in 1920-1930s.
Function: To impart radium to water intended for human consumption.
Technical: Device popularized in 1920 -1930s as means of imparting "curative" properties of radon/radioactivity to drinking water for home/private consumption. Because radon cannot remain in water for any length of time before breaking down or escaping, jars like these were promoted as a means of 'making' radon-enriched water for drinking. The radon produced by the disk (.3) would dissolve overnight in the water filled jar.
Area Notes: Unknown

Details

Markings: Cast markings surrounding perimeter on one side of disk are illegible. Yellow decal has been applied to disk: reads "[radiation symbol]/ CAUTION:/ RADIOACTIVE MATERIAL" . UHN catalogue no. "998.6.1" has been printed by hand in black ink on this decal.
Missing: Several small chips in disk result in areas of loss.
Finish: Unfinished light brown disk has slightly rough texture. Centre is recessed and pierced by hole; raised area on both side presumably designed to prevent disk from adhering to container, and to allow water to some into contact with disk from both top & bottom.
Decoration: N/A

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If you choose to share our information about this collection object, please cite:

Radium Health Products of Canada, Disk, radium, circa 1920, Artifact no. 2002.0538, Ingenium – Canada’s Museums of Science and Innovation, http://collection.ingeniumcanada.org/en/id/2002.0538.003/

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