General Information

Serial #

prototype

Part Number

1

Total Parts

2

AKA

Iscocon

Patents

N/A

General Description

Isocan: glass tube; metal and synthetic parts/ frame: wood frame; metal parts; fabric supporters; synthetic cord?

Dimensions

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

Length

13.5 cm

Width

11.0 cm

Height

67.0 cm

Thickness

N/A

Weight

N/A

Diameter

N/A

Volume

N/A

Lexicon

Group

Astronomy

Category

Research

Sub-Category

N/A

Manufacturer

AKA

ENGLISH ELECTRIC

Country

England

State/Province

Unknown

City

Unknown

Context

Country

Canada

State/Province

British Columbia

Period

circa 1965

Canada

The isocon was a experimental device used by Canadian astronomer Gordon A.H. Walker in the1960s to develop more sensitive detectors for astronomical observations. He was in the Dept. of Geophysics and Astronomy at the University of British Columbia and worked closely with staff (especially the tech staff during instrument development) at the Dominion Astrophysical Observatory in Victoria. Dr. Walker and his group at UBC were doing ground breaking research with these devices and they are (or almost) unique in Canada and rare world wide at least for astronomical use. Two or three groups were experimenting with similar technology in the US and UK. One of the major elements of Walker's research was to verify the accuracy of the systems compared to traditional techniques.

Function

An image isocon vacuum tube, part of an experimental system used to record images of astronomical phenomena in order to measure star fields and nebulae.

Technical

This device represents a major step from traditional photography based astronomical research and the associated equipment (e.g. microdensitometer (1998.0275), Cuffy Iris photometer) towards CCD based astronomical detectors. Its use enabled a large improvement in detector sensitivity and precision and made possible detection of rapid changes in astronomical spectra. Dr. Walker's system used the isocon as the detector for an astronomical spectrograph, directly digitized the camera output and stored the results on magnetic tape.

Area Notes

Unknown

Details

Markings

white lettering on tube reads 'ENGLISH ELECTRIC VALVE CO. LTD./ EE [logo]/ MADE IN ENGLAND'/ white lettering on black label reads 'WORLD PATENTS PENDING'/ red lettering on white label reads 'THIS ITEM IS FOR EXPERI-/ MENTAL PURPOSES ONLY/ WITHOUT OBLIGATION AS/ TO FUTURE MANUFACTURE'/ red and black lettering on label on frame reads 'SLINGPAK/ BRITISH PATENT No. 730729/ LEONARD GOULD & CO. LTD./ MAIDSTONE, 83152/3'

Missing

unknown

Finish

Isocon: colourless transparent glass, black and silvered glass; plated and metallic parts/ frame: unfinished wood; metallic parts; off-white fabric; black synthetic cord

Decoration

N/A