Explorations into the Cathode Ray Tube: The Impact of Technology and Science Advancements on Learning and Research

By Lucia Cuomo

It is very interesting to understand the history of one of Southwestern University’s earliest science buildings, which was funded by the local county and was called the Williamson County Science Center. As new technology and information is released to the public, the demand for new knowledge emerges. Students in STEM use a variety of technologies throughout their time in various laboratory settings, yet rarely reflect on how the history of this technology and equipment has influenced much of their education and research. The following item is a cathode ray tube used by Southwestern University for various purposes during the time of the Williamson County Science Center. This piece is classified as a Westinghouse WL-616 high-voltage vacuum rectifier bulb and is constructed of metal and plastic encapsulated in glass. According to the Westinghouse Easy Guide of 1945, this particular piece would cost around $140, and would be used for scientific research involving x-ray and other high-voltage currents, electrostatic testing, and electrostatic precipitation.(1)This piece of equipment was purchased and used by Southwestern University in the 1940s, and used in the Williamson County Science Center until it tragically burned in the early 1950s. In examining the equipment used by the students and faculty, specifically the cathode ray tube, we gain a larger understanding of how science education and student life were affected by the ending of World War II and the emergence of the Cold War.

Examining various artifacts throughout history helps to give the public a better understanding into the types of activities that may have revolved around certain artifacts. Physical evidence is important for historians to better understand the physical uses of a particular object, and how the object was used in the daily lives of the individuals who lived during the time period. It is insightful to understand that the production of artifacts throughout history may or may not also demonstrate the scientific knowledge behind the artifact’s particular function. For example, the invention of the steam engine by James Watts was monumental for the Industrial Revolution, but when originally invented, there was no scientific knowledge released or being studied that proved that heat can be transformed into electrical power. When applying this concept to vacuum tubes, it is fascinating to understand the history of how these pieces of equipment came into use in the field of science, and how their uses have been modified throughout history to meet the demands of the scientific research that was being conducted. Originally introduced in 1914 by Saul Dushman, these vacuum tubes were generally larger in size to accommodate the need for the cooling of electronic equipment in the free ambient air. These tubes later became modified to fit particular technological equipment, as new science equipment emerged to meet the demands for political and economic advancements.

In the 1940s and 1950s, there was a surge in the desire to further obtain scientific knowledge with the ending of World War II and to expand the development of new technology such as synchrocyclotron which created high energy x-rays and the ENIAC, which was known as the first computer. With the presentation of these particular inventions to the public, there was further need to develop this new technology, as well as to better understand the work of other technological inventors in order to better understand the science being presented. Through understanding the uses of the vacuum tube by various other research groups, we can potentially gain a further understanding of the impact of this piece of technology on history and the development of technology.

Although the cathode ray vacuum tube was used by JJ Thomson in order to identify the presence of the electron within the atom in the late 19th century, this particular piece of equipment has wide use in the field of physics to visualize wave frequency. After the negative impacts of the world wars on the United States, strides were being made in the fields of nuclear and quantum physics. Early computational technology, including the invention of the ENIAC at the University of Pennsylvania in 1945, showed a need for high energy provided by the high voltage vacuum tubes. At Berkeley University in 1946, the success of the synchrocyclotron by Ernest Lawrence and his team was monumental in better understanding electromagnetic radiation and the power needed to produce x-rays.(3) In the 1950s, nuclear physics was a popular subject of study, and as a result, the government became more involved in scientific research, and many universities turned to government funded donors such as the Atomic Energy Commission for the expansion of their science programs. For the University of Berkeley, physics research centered around the creation of the particle accelerator, introducing a monumental tool for high-energy physics.(2)

Based on the context of history and research during this time, it can be predicted that this particular WL-616 bulb could either be used for the development of high-voltage x-ray technology or for the construction of early computation machinery. Based on the history of Southwestern that is known, the influential science professor Dr. Godbey produced an x-ray photograph in 1899. During his time teaching at Southwestern University, many advancements were made including the production of a telegraph.  It could be possible that the physics research at the time focused on high-energy physics, which would have a need for a high voltage vacuum rectifier such as the WL-616. This particular piece of equipment can be used to create x-rays by flowing high-voltage electricity through the tube. If continuing the work of Godbey or working on similar research projects, students and faculty could have used this artifact in the laboratory setting. The tube could have been used to show the production of x-rays or show how electrons can flow at different frequencies.

Another potential use for the cathode ray tube to consider could have been the production of early computers or computational technology. Due to the Cold War, there was a need for fast and efficient computations, and the development of early computers was on the rise during the time of this artifact’s use. The success of the ENIAC in 1945(4) proved the ability of technology and paved the way for the invention of the computer. This supercomputer used approximately 18 thousand vacuum tubes to help operate the machine, and they needed to be replaced every day or two. It is clear what the true use of the tube was during its lifetime, but due to the size and population of the university, it is unlikely that there was adequate space for a supercomputer. If used in technology during this time, it could be used to convert alternating current (AC) to direct current (DC), ultimately helping provide power and flow of current to a high energy mechanism, which was its primary function in technology such as the ENIAC. It was known that the science department worked on a telegraph, which showed knowledge of circuitry and physics. The vacuum tube could have been used to power higher energy and high-voltage electrical circuits. Overall, it was a tool used for research and education, and served an important purpose in the science education earned by students attending Southwestern in the 1940s and 1950s.

Looking at this artifact from the Williamson County Science Center has provided a larger understanding of what student life and science education was like after World War II. Through these pieces of history, we can gain further insight into the local history of Southwestern University, as well as the history of science in Texas during a time in which research and technological advancements were desired and needed. As shown by the presence of the Navy V-12 students that attended the university during wartime efforts, there was an increased presence of military cadets on Southwestern University’s campus. During this time, there was a need for further technological advancements, as researchers were learning to better understand technology that was just being invented, such as the radio. The vacuum tube could have been used in supplying adequate flow to these radio machines. Technology was a large part of the science community after World War II and many universities participated in this research, such as the University of Pennsylvania with their ENIAC (4) and the University of Berkeley and their cyclotron and their particle accelerator. Knowing that Southwestern was active in their research and with many students and faculty interested in world matters, it is possible that the cathode ray tube was used to help power various circuits in the physics laboratory and could have been used for other research efforts to help understand the technology as it was advancing.

After looking at the history after World War II and examining how cathode ray tubes could be used in various ways to help Southwestern students, it is clear that this piece of equipment was used to help them better understand the knowledge and science that existed, as well as the new technology that was emerging. Through exploring how other universities were aiding in the advancement of technology, we can better understand the motivations of the students and faculty at Southwestern during this time period.