Thyratron

After seeing the picture of the rectifier, taken by Max, I was inspired to share this picture of the largest mercury thyratron I have. These behave like a triggerable mercury vapour rectifier and now replaced by thyristors. This tube was manufactured by British Thomson-Houston perhaps better known for their induction and traction motors. It is interesting to note, as Max said, how many of the manufacturing techniques for lamp making originate from vacuum tube manufacture. This valve uses ‘uranium-glass’ for most of its construction. It contains in the order of one cubic cm of mercury. Some of the condensation can be seen on the outer envelope. The capped end is the anode. Its heater/cathode and trigger grid are concealed within the outer metal cylinder. I don’t have any technical information on the tube but it appears similar CV22 The tube measures about 270 x 65mm.