As part of my quest to develop and grow this web site, I have set a goal of making one update per month. It may be an addition of a radio from my radio collection, the introduction of a newly discovered magic eye, or the addition of historical information or data. Stay tuned for these updates coming soon:
Wide angle tuning
Magic Eye "Family Photographs"
Reproduction antique radio parts - an overview
how to connect a magic eye tube to almost anything
November 2007
This month in magic eye tube history
November 13, 1933: On behalf of Distillation Products Incorporated, Gerhard R. Nagel and Merriam E. Johnson file a patent for an ionization gauge circuit whose design incorporates two magic eye tubes.
November 29, 1950: On behalf of Siemens & Halske corporation of Germany, Werner Jacobi, Hermann Hinderer, and Karl Buchta file a patent for a for a magic eye tube design where the primary objective is for the illuminated pattern is narrow and long. They state "...providing for an indication in a manner that may be likened to the indication of a thermometer". Their designs clearly led to the development of tubes such as the subminiature 1M3 and DM21 types.
November 13, 1952: On behalf of North American Philips Company, Alexander Hans Adolf Siebenberg and Horst Edgar John Heinrich Stietzel file a patent for a for a magic eye tube design where "counter electrodes" are used to increase the visible distinction of the shadow area on the target. The design also uses a target of varying diameter that appears to be circular when viewed from the end, but would be elliptical at various cross sections. Much detail is contained in the patent regarding the physical construction of the tube. The concept is very interesting, but I have yet to see a tube designed in this manner.
November 30, 1954: Carmel Umina files a patent for a "micro sensitive leakage and heater current checker". The design, of course, incorporates the magic eye tube, specifically a 6E5. The patent indicates that the checker does not use any special method for testing, only that it is far more sensitive than what was available for testers at that time.
November 6, 1959: Andre Butticaz and Heinz Dembowski file a patent for a device that is used to control the flow of textiles, fibers, yarns, etc., and utilizes a magic eye tube. An operator could view the magic eye tube and use various controls to troubleshoot the textile machinery to find worn or damaged rollers, as an example.
My news
I recently acquired some new magic eye tubes that are very interesting and I hope to introduce to everyone soon. Unfortunately, I am working a six day work week that is taking up most of my free time, but I promise some updates in January 2009, including detailed instructions for adding a magic eye tube to a radio set. Thanks for visiting.
