Fusor Forums

Several years ago, I went to Rigby, Idaho, where the BBC filmed a segment about Farnsworth's "hayfield" moment when he conceived electronic television.

While I was there I visited the small museum that houses some Farnsworth memorabilia, and was quite surprised to find this remarkable artifact among the collection.

This is the cathode/grid from a Farnsworth fusor ca. early 1960s. It's an important design, because its purpose is both to have some heft to it AND permit particles - especially PROTONs, to escape the inner core.

I have no idea how such a thing found its way to Rigby... I tried to spirit the thing away but... alas, it remains there (so far as I know nearly a decade later...).

A stunning example of the Instrument Makers Art

well done Paul

Looks much like the Polywell structure. Might be what he got the idea from... yet another Farnsworth design.

Nice photo! Probably the most detailed I've seen. It'll be helpful in my project.

This was actually used in the Mark III fusor design 1962-1964 that never did anything much! I have published the image of the MKIII here before under the heading of "warp drive core" The famaous fabulous looking flop. Also known as the "pit fusor" Truly an impressive piece of failed hardware.

viewtopic.php?f=18&t=7749&hilit=warp+core#p55708

According to Gene Meeks this was originally damaged (Tungsten screening burned up) and this example shown was a repaired spare dynode that was never needed, but kept in reserve. Steve Blaising, (Farnsworth team member), has a photo of this same unit with the screening burned out taken back in 1964.

It took Hirsch and Meeks new designs in the "cave" along with the use of Tritium in 1963-64 time frame to start making decent neutron numbers. This "dynode" pictured here is seen mounted on a metal stalk for display. In the real MK II, Farnsworth got Linde to grow and machine two pure sapphire insulating 6" long, 1/2" diameter stalks for this item. (Linde had only recently perfected flawless artifical sapphire and ruby boule growing techniques.) One of these precious stalks broke in handling and mounting the MK III and the other broke later as the device was beening dismantled. (curiousity - some of the broken pieces were made into jewelry for Pem Farnsworth)

It is with sorrow that I must announce the passing of Fred Haak one of the last surviving members of the original Farnsworth team. To my current knowledge the remaining survivors are only Steven Blaising and Robert Hirsch. I am fortunate to have personally met with and extensively interviewed all 6 members of the original team except for Phil Farnsworth, himself. ( I have also met and talked with Pem Farnsworth - wife - now deceased also)

All are passed away now except Steve and Bob who were only part of the effort in the last 4 most productive years of the team effort.

viewtopic.php?f=18&t=7727&hilit=hirsch#p55686

The Hirsch meeks fusor shown in the URL here produced over 10,000 times the fusion of the MK III !!!


Richard Hull

I remember posting this "way back"
Looks like the same one "new"
Steve


viewtopic.php?f=6&t=2838&hilit=hirsch#p17345