All posts by Richard Johnston

Spirometer, McDermott, Program Controls, circa 1980

Photo and description are kindly provided by Dr. David Chinn, for an upcoming ARTP article.

Spirometer display showing tumblers for program setting (upper one), setting the time interval for the FEV (lower left hand) and BTPS temperature correction (lower right hand). The socket below the upper tumbler links to an XY plotter to print the flow-volume curve in delayed time. The jack plug socket marked ‘record’ provides an output to the cassette recorder.”

Spirometer, McDermott Dry Bellows Digital, circa 1980

Photo and description are kindly provided by Dr. David Chinn, for an upcoming ARTP article.

“McDermott, dry bellows, digital spirometer with calibrating weight and orifice, 1980 Garw Electronic Instruments, Glamorgan, South Wales

This 6V, battery operated, low resistance dry bellows spirometer was used extensively in epidemiological field studies from the 1970s to the 1990s. The example shown is a rigid frame model but another model with collapsible legs was available to increase its portability. The initial models of the spirometer displayed the FEV1 (or FEV0.75) and FVC. A later, digital version was developed that recorded volume expired in 10ms increments and displayed additionally the PEF, MEF50 and MEF75. The data could be processed to replay the flow-volume curve at a reduced speed on any cheap, slow responding XY printer. In addition, the increments could be stored digitally on a magnetic cassette tape for later processing in the laboratory. The spirometer was excellent for recording Helium-Oxygen flow volume curves and for generating off-line moments analysis applied to the spirogram (Mean Transit Time, Moments Ratio etc).”

Kymograph, Sherrington Stirling Recording Drum, C. F. Palmer, circa 1955

Photo and description are kindly provided by Dr. David Chinn, for an upcoming ARTP article.

Sherrington Stirling Kymograph Recording Drum (C F Palmer (London) Ltd), c. 1955

A strip of paper the width of the drum is held above a smoking gas flame, the smoke from which settles on the paper to leave a surface of carbon soot. The smoked strip is wrapped around the drum and secured in place. The drum is set to run at a suitable speed (speeds available of 1, 10, 25, or 640 mm.s-1) and a stylus from a water spirometer (or other physiological recording device) is held against the strip. The recording is ‘scored’ into the carbon surface. Afterwards a calibration mark is applied and the strip is removed and passed through a ‘fixing fluid’ to create a permanent record that, after drying can be measured. It was a convenient way to record physiological signals but could be a very mucky job!”

Spirometer, Poulton & Son, Barry, with Gaensler timed VC attachment, circa 1960

Photo and description provided by Dr. David Chinn, for the ARTP in an upcoming article.

Gaensler spirometer (Poulton & Son, Barry), 1960s.

This device was obtained from the MRC unit at Llandough Hospital, Wales after its closure in the 1980s. For demonstration purposes the timing device is shown attached to the upright where the counter balance weight would have been in place.”

EMCO Gasometer, Circa 1935

This gasometer was manufactured by the Pittsburgh Equitable Meter Company under the brand name EMCO.  The two patent numbers included on a nameplate are dated as being issued in 1929 and 1932, giving this gasometer an approximate manufacture date of the mid-1930’s.  This gasometer was rescued and restored by David Cowgill, Scientific Director of ATOR Labs and when found was covered with red paint and was being used to calibrate natural gas meters, which is probably close to its original purpose.  Photo courtesy of Sieggy Bennicoff-Yundt, Quality Director of ATOR labs.

EMCO Gasometer, Name Plate, circa 1935

Name plate on the side of the gasometer.  The patent numbers are 1723397, applied for in 1924 and granted in 1927, and 1862451, applied for in 1926 and granted in 1932.  This gasometer was manufactured by the Pittsburgh Equitable Meter Company under the brand name EMCO.  This gasometer was rescued and restored by David Cowgill, Scientific Director of ATOR Labs and when found was covered with red paint and was being used to calibrate natural gas meters, which is probably close to its original purpose.  Photo courtesy of Sieggy Bennicoff-Yundt, Quality Director of ATOR labs.

EMCO Gasometer, Thermometer, circa 1935

Closeup of the gasometer’s thermometer.  This gasometer was manufactured by the Pittsburgh Equitable Meter Company under the brand name EMCO.  The two patent numbers included on a nameplate are dated as being issued in 1929 and 1932, giving this gasometer an approximate manufacture date of the mid-1930’s.  This gasometer was rescued and restored by David Cowgill, Scientific Director of ATOR Labs and when found was covered with red paint and was being used to calibrate natural gas meters, which is probably close to its original purpose.  Photo courtesy of Sieggy Bennicoff-Yundt, Quality Director of ATOR labs.

EMCO Gasometer, Bell with measuring tape, circa 1935

A view of the gasometer bell at its full extension with a tape measure to give scale.  This gasometer was manufactured by the Pittsburgh Equitable Meter Company under the brand name EMCO.  The two patent numbers included on a nameplate are dated as being issued in 1929 and 1932, giving this gasometer an approximate manufacture date of the mid-1930’s.  This gasometer was rescued and restored by David Cowgill, Scientific Director of ATOR Labs and when found was covered with red paint and was being used to calibrate natural gas meters, which is probably close to its original purpose.  Photo courtesy of Sieggy Bennicoff-Yundt, Quality Director of ATOR labs.