General Information

Serial #

N/A

Part Number

1

Total Parts

16

AKA

camera head

Patents

N/A

General Description

metal and synthetic components

Dimensions

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

Length

47.0 cm

Width

32.0 cm

Height

47.0 cm

Thickness

N/A

Weight

N/A

Diameter

N/A

Volume

N/A

Lexicon

Group

Medical Technology

Category

Radiology

Sub-Category

N/A

Manufacturer

AKA

Picker

Country

United States of America

State/Province

Ohio

City

Cleveland

Context

Country

Canada

State/Province

Saskatchewan

Period

Possibly used c. 1962+; not used after 2005.

Canada

Weyburn Mental Hospital in Weyburn, SK opened its doors in 1921 and closed (as the Souris Valley Hospital) in 2005. From the 1940s to 1971 it took part in controversial treatments for mental illness including lobotomy and electro shock therapy. It was also famous for its pioneering experiments with LSD in the 1950s and 60s. Dr. Humphrey Osmond, who coined the term "psychedelic" performed several experiments with patients and university students. In its heyday, the Weyburn was a well-equipped, self-sufficient health facility. Some complained that it was even better equipped than the local hospital. This x-ray machine [system component] would have been the workhorse for the institution. It was still in use after the building shut down a few years ago. It does not have direct ties to the more controversial history at Weyburn, but in colour and design, mirrored the institutional interior of Weyburn. Much of the old equipment and supplies went to developing countries when the shut-down occurred and some went to the University of Regina theatrical department. [Ref. 1]

Function

To direct radiation beam onto specific area.

Technical

Element of durable x-ray, fluoroscopic machine used for many purposes. It was part of a new generation of fluoroscopic technology following the invention of large image intensifiers in 1953. With these photomultiplier tubes, ordinary movie cameras could capture the moving pictures of the fluoroscopic images. Contrast agents such as barium would have been used to see bodily processes in real time. {ref. 1]

Area Notes

Unknown

Details

Markings

Silver metal plate fixed to camera head reads "Picker/ X-RAY", above vertical and horizontal adjustment scales [angle? intensity? pre-determined settings?] labelled "36", "40", "48" and "72", and "72", "48", "40" and "36". Oval plate on casing back reads "PICKER X-RAY CORPORATION/ WAITE MFG. DIVISION CLEVELAND - OHIO, U.S.A./ VOLTS/ 20/ AMPS/ 5/ CYCLES/ A.C./ STYLE/ 2098 J/ SERIAL/ [blank]". "SV4555" crudely incised in casing, below. Silver metal plate fixed to pale green casing, at attachment point with camera head casing marked "Dynamax/ FOCUS 1-2/ TYPE 60 CAT. S-36779/ INSERT 67B1 SER. N-96329/ THE MACHLETT LABORATORIES, INC. MADE IN U.S.A.".

Missing

Unknown. Unit was damaged when removed from Weyburn facility/in transit to CSTM. Casing is dented and/or cracked: there are some areas of loss. All cables were cut.

Finish

Predominantly metal construction. Drab and light green finish on casing; silver metal trim and minor fittings; cable have light grey synthetic (?) covering.

Decoration

N/A