Edison claimed that started experimenting them only
10 hours after saw the cable announcing Roentgen's
discovery. consisted wooden box coated
with photographic emulsion and vacuum tube that produced the
x-ray. Wilhelm Roentgen discovered x-rays the end of
1895. assembled all the equipment needed the lab;
including the high vacuum tubes used generate the rays. This was
called the fluoroscope. A
typical burst activity the laboratory, with Edison and
his team working night and day, duplicated Roentgen's
experiments and produced working device days. For example, was intrigued
by flying machines. had been experimenting this general
area since the lab opened. The laboratory staff turned many
of these ideas into reality, producing experimental models and
factory prototypes short time. trying find mechanical
duplicate the flapping bird's wings, Edison was
following the path taken many inventors flying machines
and was destined for failure. had several ideas for powered
flight, including disk shutters which were moved and
Q
down perpendicular piston.VII- 6
laboratory's work the nineteenth century testament to
the breadth his imagination. The object x-rayed was placed between the tube and
. shop order was started 1892, a
model built, and Edison spoke enthusiastically about his
experiments the Press.
The x-ray project shows that the laboratory had lost none
of the speed and flexibility that had characterized operations
in the 1880s
