Unknown Plasma Tube

[Eidetic]

I recently acquired the plasma tube pictured below, and am trying to find out who made it and when. Any hints will be greatly appreciated. It's 18.5" long and 1.5" diameter. Thanks!

 

[ElektroFreak]

That's a HeNe, maybe between 7.5 and 10mW assuming it's 632.8nm.

 

[Prototype]

The label says 4.8mW, but at that size, that seems off, unless it's a GreeNe? :thinking:

It doesn't appear to be a Melles Griot tube, unless it's an old old one.

 

[Eidetic]

The electrodes sticking out the sides suggests to me that it wasn't in a cylindrical housing. The rectangular Brewster windows that look to be glued on says very old to me.

 

[ElektroFreak]

I like the construction, but I can't really say who made it..

 

[Solonar]

Looks like it could be an old Hughes tube.

Tubes of that length were generally in the 2-10 mW range back then.

 

[Hemlock_Mike]

It looks very old with the ends on the tube. The He has likely escaped from the tube by now. Did you try to light it up?
HMike

 

[Eidetic]

I'm hoping someone recognizes the label style. I haven't yet tried to light it up. There appears to be a getter between the anode pin and the pin next to it, and that looks OK. There's a hole in the little bulge seen on the end of the bore tube near the anode pin that lets the arc get into the bore. Also notice the glass tip-off on the side of the tube near the label.