Wimshurst Electrostatic Generator

Experimental physicists of the 2nd half of the 19thcentury studied electricity and magnetism with the electrostatic generator as their power source. The electron was discovered as the basis of the “cathode rays” which flowed in evacuated glass Crookes tubes from negative to positive poles of these tubes. 

Roentgen discovered in 1895 that the “x-rays” which were emitted from metal targets bombarded by electrons would penetrate soft tissue and reveal boney abnormalities beneath. This rapidly led to medical uses. Our radiology display houses the first x-ray tube brought here to Sacramento in 1897 by Dr. F. G. Fay. In the photo of his office, the power source for his x-ray machine is shown as a Robbins and Meyer electrostatic generator with large rotating discs in office photo of the cabinet on the far wall. 

Our smaller demonstration model electrostatic generator has an output of 70-75 kilovolts DC. Like all Wimshurst machines it operates only in a low humidity environment.