Topic: The word "Foreign" on antique UK glass, can it be dated?

[Alastair]

I have an old scientific Maltese Cross tube which I'm keen to date. It has the word "Foreign" etched on it and I believe this was a legal requirement for some period in the first half of the 20th century.

Does anyone know when exactly?

Alastair

[krsilber]

What's a Maltese Cross tube?  Do you have a photo? 

Welcome to the board!

[Alastair]

Thanks for the welcome.

There's some Maltese Cross tubes at the top of this page -

http://members.chello.nl/~h.dijkstra19/page7.html

Alastair

[Frank]

Crookes Tubes are still made by scientific lampworkers on request and the glass and internals would be hard to date. The stand is the most likely way to date it but the best place to get information would be on the forums here
http://www.bulbcollector.com/

A picture is necessary.

[krsilber]

Wow, those are nifty!  What's up with the glass getting "tired" after being subjected to electrons for a while, and glowing less strongly?  Interesting.

[Alastair]

Crookes Tubes are still made by scientific lampworkers on request and the glass and internals would be hard to date. The stand is the most likely way to date it but the best place to get information would be on the forums here
http://www.bulbcollector.com/

A picture is necessary.

These tubes are notoriously difficult to date, that's why I thought the word "Foreign" etched on one of my tubes might help pin it down. The stands aren't as much use as you might think as there are no guarantees that a tube still has its original stand,

Alastair

[Frank]

I can't be certain but think Foreign on UK imports suggests 50s, 60s

[a40ty]

Crookes Tubes are still made by scientific lampworkers on request and the glass and internals would be hard to date. The stand is the most likely way to date it but the best place to get information would be on the forums here
http://www.bulbcollector.com/

A picture is necessary.

These tubes are notoriously difficult to date, that's why I thought the word "Foreign" etched on one of my tubes might help pin it down. The stands aren't as much use as you might think as there are no guarantees that a tube still has its original stand,

Alastair

What a fascinating website! I was able to ID an old lightbulb we have as a tantalum. Thank you :hiclp:

[Frank]

Triple check as most of my 'Tantalum' filaments turned out not to be when checked by more experienced researchers  post pics on their forum with the best close up of parts of the filaments possible to verify.

Tantalum are very rare.

[Alastair]

I have an old Siemens and Halske "Tantalrohre" X-ray tube. I believe the target is Tantalum. That one is easy to date because it's in their 1909 catalogue and designs were changing so rapidly back then.